YoungArts

Media Contact:
305.377.1140
Nicolle Ugarriza, Director of Public Affairs x1201
nugarriza@youngarts.org
Kate McPherson, Manager of Communications x1203
kmcpherson@youngarts.org

Artists Selected by an Esteemed Panel During First Ever In-House Adjudication Process

Miami, FL (October 28, 2009) YoungArts, the core program of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, will begin its annual adjudication process which will run from November 12 – November 21, selecting up to 150 of the most talented 17-18 year old artists out of thousands of applicants from across the country, to participate in YoungArts Week. The process will take place in-house for the first time this year, in YoungArts’ new office space at the SunTrust building in downtown Miami. A panel of approximately 100 regional and national accomplished artists and arts educators will review and judge thousands of applications across nine disciplines in the performing, literary and visual arts. The panel identifies the most outstanding applications, and these students are invited to Miami for YoungArts Week in January, to participate in artistic enrichment experiences including workshops, performances and master classes.

YoungArts Week is just the beginning of the experience for many of the talented young artists YoungArts identifies. During the week the students continue to be adjudicated on their performances by the panel. At the end of the week they are assigned award levels ranging from the Gold award at $10,000, Silver award at $5,000, Level I award at $3,000, Level II award at $1,500 and the Level III award at $1,000.  Gold and Silver award winners are invited to continue on their artistic journey with YoungArts in New York City the following April for In the Studio, a second week of master classes and educational experiences unique to YoungArts. Finally, in June, 20 YoungArts finalists travel to Washington D.C to be named Presidential Scholars in the Arts in a White House ceremony; the visual arts and photography students display their work at the Smithsonian Museum and the dancers, singers and musicians perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. YoungArts is the exclusive nominating agency for Presidential Scholars in the Arts, and it is only through participation in the YoungArts program that students are eligible for this esteemed award.

This year YoungArts will open the adjudication process to the media to come watch the process on Saturday, November 21. This is the final day of the process when all of the judges will be present and reviewing applications across all nine disciplines. Interviews with panelists can be facilitated for media upon request. A list of the panelists is also available upon request. Contact Nicolle Ugarriza, nugarriza@youngarts.org 305.377.1140 x 1201, or Kate McPherson kmcpherson@youngarts.org 305.377.1140 x 1203.