Application/Submission Process

Adjudication

Alumni

Notification

Recognition and Awards

Regional Programs

General

 

 

 

Application/Submission Process

What is my deadline to apply to YoungArts?

The 2013 YoungArts  program application opens on March 13, 2012 and continues through October 19, 2012. Your deadline for applying and submitting all of your materials (audition, portfolio, submission form and other required materials according to the discipline for which you are applying) is October 19, 2012. 

How do I apply?

Applying to the YoungArts program is a 2-step process: 1) First you must complete the Application Form online.  As soon as you complete your Application Form, you will receive an email with a submission upload link.  This is a personal, unique link that identifies you with your submission materials, so do not share it with others.   2) When you are ready to upload your submission materials (your portfolio, audition video and other submission materials), you will follow the specific instructions to upload your submission.

Do I have to submit my portfolio or audition as soon as I apply?

No, you can fill out your Application Form, and then prepare your submission materials (portfolio or audition) for uploading at a later date. Your application will be on hold until you complete the submission process. Just be sure to upload everything by  October 19, 2012.

What are the YoungArts age eligibility requirements?

As of December 1, 2012, you must be between the ages of 15-18 years old OR in high school grades 10-12.

If I am graduating high school in 2013, may I apply to the YoungArts program?

Yes, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements: as of December 1, 2012, you must be between the ages of 15-18 OR in high school grades 10-12.

What type of high school programs qualify?

You may be enrolled in a public, private or parochial school, or be in a home school program.

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to apply to the YoungArts program?

You must be a citizen or legal resident of the United States or U.S. Territories.

Can I apply to YoungArts if I was a previous winner?

Finalists who have attended YoungArts Week are not eligible. However, Honorable Mention and Merit Award winners are eligible to re-apply provided they meet all other requirements.

What is my YoungArts ID number?

Every applicant is assigned a unique YoungArts ID number. Your number will be provided in an email sent to you once you fill out the Application Form online. Since your work will be judged on its own merit in a blind adjudication process, your unique YoungArts ID number and upload submission link will be the only way that YoungArts will match your identity with your submission. Please do not share this number with anyone.

Can I apply in more than one discipline?

Yes, you may apply in more than one discipline, but there is an application fee per category that you select.

What is the fee for applying to YoungArts?

If you apply between March 13-July 9, 2012, your application fee is $25 per category selected. If you apply between July 10-October 19, 2012, your application fee is $35 per category selected.

What is the application fee for?

We have an application fee to help cover the costs of the materials, submission, judges and the processing that takes place once a student submits their audition material.  The fee is minimal compared to other competitions and applicants also receive a FREE listing in the nationwide Scholarship List Service that universities and colleges subscribe to in order to find talented young artists to award scholarships to.

How do I pay my application fee?

You may pay your application fee online with a credit card. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards are accepted.

What if I cannot afford the application fee?

Fee waivers are available to qualified applicants. In order to receive a fee waiver you must submit a proof of hardship letter from your high school principal, counselor, teacher or similar person, indicating, for example, that you qualify for free or discounted lunch program (or equivalent). The letter should be on your school’s letterhead.

Please send in your documentation to our office, Attention: Programs Department. You may either fax to (305) 377-1149, email to apply@youngarts.org, or mail to 2100 Biscayne Boulevard Miami, FL 33137. We must receive these materials by October 19, 2012.

Can I get a refund after I pay the application fee?

Your YoungArts application fee is non-refundable even if you are disqualified for failing to follow the specified requirements, become ill or injured, have a family emergency and/or choose not to submit audition/portfolio materials.

How do I submit my portfolio, audition or other submission materials?

The submission process is entirely online.  As soon as you fill out your Application Form online, you will receive an email with instructions about how to upload your submission materials.

What are the requirements?

Each discipline has its own requirements for submission.  There are different requirements for each category within each discipline for those that have more than one category.  Please click on the page for your particular discipline (i.e., Cinematic Arts, Dance, Jazz, Music, Photography, Theater, Visual Arts, Voice and Writing) for specific submission requirements.

Is there any way to review what kind/type of work past Winners have won with?

The best way to see what work has won in the past is to view the performances during YoungArts Week. Click here to view YoungArts Week 2012 performances. These performances include pieces that Winners submitted to the program and what Panelists chose as their best work.

 

 

 

Adjudication

How will my work be judged?

Your submission will be evaluated on its own merit in a blind adjudication process by a panel of  judges. The  panel  consists of nationally and internationally renowned master artists within each of the nine disciplines in the visual, literary and performing arts.  Panelists adjudicate the annual submissions and identify the national winners in each discipline on each level.  Select members of the adjudication panel also work with  the  Finalists during YoungArts Week.

How many applications does YoungArts receive and how many winners are there?

YoungArts received more than 5,000 applications for the 2012 program. Of these, 597 were selected as YoungArts winners, with 152 of the winners being chosen as Finalists.

 

 

Alumni

What is a YoungArts Alumnus/a?

YoungArts Alumni are the gifted young artists who have applied to the YoungArts program and received an award (Finalist, Honorable Mention and Merit).  YoungArts Alumni go on to the top colleges, universities and conservatories across the country and become leading professionals in their fields.  From Juilliard to Harvard, New York City Ballet and Alvin Ailey Dance Company to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, YoungArts Alumni are a strong presence in the arts world.  Alumni become principal dancers in major companies, members of prominent orchestras, recognizable faces on stage and screen, accomplished authors and respected visual artists. They hold leadership positions across the nation, and bring the same dedication and enthusiastic work ethic to their careers that they invested with YoungArts.

What is the YoungArts Alumni Association?

The YoungArts Alumni Association creates a community for the 16,000+ YoungArts Alumni in order to assist and support them in their educational, artistic and professional development.  Once you receive an award (Finalist, Honorable Mention and Merit), you are officially a YoungArts Alumnus/a and therefore part of the YoungArts Alumni Association.

What are the benefits of being a YoungArts Alumnus/a?

YoungArts always looks for new and different ways to maintain a relationship with our Alumni by integrating them into our national and regional programs and events.  We also support Alumni projects and seek ways to promote their artistic ideas.

Benefits of being a YoungArts Alumnus/a include access to the top colleges, universities and conservatories and scholarships.  YoungArts has facilitated more than $100 million in scholarships for our winners at the nation’s leading colleges, universities and conservatories.  In fact, a recent survey shows that in the class of 2011, 105 of the 500 winners amassed almost $6.5 million in scholarship dollars.

YoungArts utilizes Alumni in events, performances and exhibitions across the nation. YoungArts Alumni are encouraged to submit their work on our ‘Casting Call’ – a site dedicated to cataloging Alumni talents for future event opportunities.

Our Alumni are privy to special partnerships that include internship positions and fellowships.

YoungArts also hires Alumni to serve as Resident Advisors, Discipline Coordinators, Panelists and Master Teachers. For more information, email alumni@youngarts.org.

YoungArts also has expanded its Alumni benefits by forming a partnership with Fractured Atlas. YoungArts Alumni now have access to liability and health insurance, online courses, special offers and discounts and the opportunity to become members of the Fractured Atlas Fiscal Sponsorship program. For more information, click here.

 

 

Notification

How will I be notified if I am a YoungArts winner?

By mid-December, you will be notified by mail or email if you are a YoungArts winner. If you have not received a notification by the beginning of January 2013, please contact us at (800) 970-ARTS (2787) or email us at info@youngarts.org.

 

 

 

Recognition and Awards

What types of awards can I win?

There are three levels of recognition: Finalist, Honorable Mention and Merit.

Finalists participating in YoungArts Week will be further adjudicated and are eligible to receive awards from $1,000 to $10,000. YoungArts Week is held in Miami, with all expenses paid for (air travel within the 50 United States, meals, transportation and lodging).

Honorable Mention winners receive a congratulatory letter and certificate along with a monetary award of $250.

Merit winners receive a congratulatory letter and certificate. Merit awards are impressive national honors as these young artists are chosen from thousands of applicants to YoungArts from throughout the U.S.

Winners at all levels who reside in the Greater New York City or South Florida areas are eligible to participate in Regional Programs in those cities.

Honorable Mention and Merit winners are encouraged to reapply for the YoungArts program as long as they still meet the eligibility requirements.

All winners are placed on the Scholarship List Service (SLS), which notifies colleges of your award and flags you to be eligible for more than $3 million in scholarship opportunities exclusively for YoungArts participants.

All winners become part of the 16,000+ member YoungArts Alumni Association.

Is my school recognized as well?

All high schools of winners at all levels will receive a congratulatory letter and award, engraved with winners’ names, for display in the school.

What is PSA (U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) and how does it relate to YoungArts?

YoungArts is the exclusive pathway to the U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, the highest honor that can be awarded to any artistically talented graduating high school senior.  Up to 60 YoungArts Finalists will be nominated to be one of 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts selected by the White House appointed Commission on Presidential Scholars.  U.S. Presidential Scholars are honored each year in June, and perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and exhibit their work at the  Smithsonian.  Finalists must be a high school senior graduating between January 1-August 31, 2013 and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be eligible for the nomination.

What if I’m chosen as a Finalist but I’m not a high school senior?

If you have been chosen as a  Finalist but do not meet the eligibility requirement to be nominated to become a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts due to the fact that you are not yet a high school senior, YoungArts will hold your name and submit it as appropriate in future cycles, if and when you do meet the eligibility requirements.  YoungArts will ask that the Finalist submit updated materials at the time they are being considered for PSA eligibility to ensure they are still appropriate for U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts consideration.

Is it possible to be a winner in more than one discipline?

Yes, it is possible to win in more than one discipline and more than one category within a discipline. If you are chosen as a Finalist in more than one category, you will be asked to select the category for which you would like to participate in during YoungArts Week. You will be recognized in all categories for which you were selected as a winner.

What happens with the other category I was selected as a Finalist for?

Once you have selected which category you would like to participate in during YoungArts Week, the category NOT selected will be honored as a “Finalist Award”. A monetary award in the amount of $500 will be issued for this category.

When are award checks mailed?

Anyone receiving an award check from NFAA/YoungArts must submit a W-9 to the YoungArts office.  The W-9 must be in the name of the person receiving the award.  This is the only way we can process your award check.  Once we receive your W-9 checks will be issued based on the following chart:

W-9 received by December 31  /  Award check mailed in February
W-9 received by March 31  /  Award check mailed in April
W-9 received by May 31  /  Award check mailed in June
Last day to receive W-9 is June 30 annually  /  Award check mailed in July

 

 

Regional Programs

What is a YoungArts Regional Program and where are they located?

In an effort to offer the YoungArts experience to a greater number of deserving young artists in the visual, literary and performing arts (beyond the 150  Finalists each January), all YoungArts winners from the South Florida and Greater New York City area, are invited to participate in YoungArts Miami and YoungArts New York, respectively. We have also recently added a YoungArts LA program from the Greater Los Angeles area.

These young artists will enjoy the rare opportunity to take master classes and interdisciplinary workshops from world renowned artists, including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Bill T. Jones, James Rosenquist and other masters in a variety of artistic disciplines, and will perform at the New World Center in Miami and the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City, among other venues.  The YoungArts Miami and YoungArts New York experiences are in addition to the recognition, monetary awards and college scholarship opportunities that  YoungArts winners receive, as well as continued support and artistic development afforded to them as YoungArts Alumni.  YoungArts Miami and YoungArts New York are part of a plan to expand the YoungArts reach and impact through regional programs.

Regional Programs will be held in other cities in future years.

When are the Regional Programs held?

In spring of 2013, YoungArts will host three Regional Programs: YoungArts LA from February 6-11, 2013; YoungArts Miami from April 10-14, 2013; and YoungArts New York from May 6-11, 2013.

 

 

General

What artistic disciplines does the YoungArts program recognize?

The YoungArts program consists of nine disciplines in the visual, literary and performing arts. They are: Cinematic Arts, Dance, Jazz, Music, Photography, Theater, Visual Arts, Voice and Writing.

What is YoungArts Week?

Each January, YoungArts invites approximately 150  national Finalists, s to participate in YoungArts Week in Miami.  This week-long experience includes final adjudications and life-changing experiences, including master classes with world renowned artists, as well as performance and exhibition opportunities at venues such as the New World Center and the Miami Art Museum.  YoungArts Week provides once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for students. They receive training from some of the country’s most notable artist including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Edward Albee and Frank Gehry, to name a few. Many of the students say that their experience at YoungArts Week is what solidified their conviction to pursue their dream of having a career in the arts.

What is a Master Teacher?

YoungArts Master Teachers are some of the most distinguished and accomplished artists in the world. They understand the importance of the YoungArts mission to cultivate and inspire the next generation of artists. They lend their time and expertise to teach and mold YoungArts students. Their unique perspectives on their art forms provide students with an insight to some of the most brilliant artistic minds of our time. Students come away from master classes and one-on-one time with these visionaries with an experience that will change their lives forever. Many of them have grown up idolizing these artists, and YoungArts is able to provide the unique and rewarding experience of learning from them in an intimate setting.