YoungArts is the only national organization that supports artists across 10 disciplines at all stages of development, beginning with the critical moment when they decide to pursue a life in the arts, and continuing throughout their careers. For many young people, applying to YoungArts may be the first step in affirming “I am an artist.”
The YoungArts Competition is part of the YoungArts National Arts Competition, where artists across 10 disciplines come together and earn a chance to win cash awards, receive mentorships from accomplished artists, get lifetime professional support, and achieve national recognition. Artists aged 15–18, or grades 10–12, in the United States are encouraged to apply in the discipline of their choice: Classical Music, Dance, Design, Film, Jazz, Photography, Theater, Visual Arts, Voice, or Writing.
All applications are evaluated by esteemed discipline-specific panels of artists through an adjudication process that includes multiple rounds of review. Finalists of the competitions are invited to National YoungArts Week, an intensive, weeklong, all-expenses-paid program in Miami, Florida. Finalists are eligible for financial awards of up to $10,000, as well as for nomination as US Presidential Scholars in the Arts.
Award winners get to collaborate with peers across all disciplines, develop their craft with internationally recognized leaders in their fields, and create lifelong connections. Additionally, all award winners receive access to YoungArts Post, a free, private online platform on which they can connect with other artists, share their work, access professional development resources, and discover new creative opportunities, such as skills-building workshops, masterclasses, and residencies, as well as professional opportunities designed to help advance their careers and build their networks.
The 2027 YoungArts application period opens on July 21, 2026. The deadline for the 2027 National Arts Competition application cycle is October 6, 2026, at 8 p.m. (ET)/5 p.m. (PT).