The window is closing for students in grades 10-12 to submit to the 2024 YoungArts National Arts Competition as the deadline, October 13, approaches. YoungArts offers amazing opportunities such as making connections with other artists, and cash prizes. YoungArts is on a mission to amplify the potential of young artists and invest in their futures. Through their collaborative work, they are providing a space for development that welcomes all to the arts. Their core values are excellence, collaboration, inclusivity, experimentation, respect, and integrity.
What started as an artistic competition has evolved into a community that supports up and coming artists through a wide range of funding and learning experiences. Ted Arison, co-founder of YoungArts, declares, “I think that the arts are the soul of our nation. I felt that the arts had almost become an endangered species and I realized, especially with young people, that YoungArts will ensure the future of our soul.”
At midnight on October 13, the 2024 YoungArts National Arts Competition application closes, and the winners will be announced by November 30. There are 10 submission categories: Classical Music, Dance, Design, Film, Jazz, Photography, Theater, Visual Arts, Voice, and Writing. Competition winners will receive cash prizes of $250-$10,000 and participate in professional development programs including workshops or mentorships with experienced artists. Senior students who win may be nominated for U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts and recognized with the honor once chosen by The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars.
Senior dance major and winner of the 2023 YoungArts National Arts Competition, Jesibell Davila, agreed to an interview with OCSA Ledger. She submitted two videos, one solo and one showing technique, in Spanish Flamenco. Davila said, “I didn’t really quite understand why I was chosen until I was able to go to the YoungArts lab… The whole point of the workshop was to understand why you were chosen and that you are an artist.”
During the weekend in Miami at the National YoungArts Foundation building, Davila met many other professional artists, “I met somebody in film who goes to NYU. I met a dancer who goes to Purchase.” The State University of New York teaches conservatory dance at Purchase College. “I was with someone who went to Alvin Ailey company, which is like the best company in the United States for modern dance or just dance in general.”
Davila exhibited excitement the entire interview while talking about her experience. She was torn between going to prom on that same weekend or to Miami, “but then I ended up going and it was the best experience I’ve ever had.” Her confidence in what she puts on stage has improved, “It wasn’t just normal people in the world that may not quite know the art, but somebody who actually specifies [specializes] in that art and being told ‘you are doing good, I love what you’re doing’ it’s amazing for the soul.”
Out of 7,000 applications considered for the 2023 YoungArts National Arts Competition 700 winners were chosen. Good luck to all of the hopeful applicants for the 2024 competition cycle.
