To provide recognition, financial support and mentoring from renowned professionals to South Florida’s promising young artists through a regional competition.
Winner: National Foundation for Advancement of the Arts
Amount: $600,000
About the project: Though it is a Miami-based organization, the National Foundation for Advancement of the Arts has focused its programs on a national audience. This grant will create a regional program that will train and support local artists in their senior year of high school, a critical juncture. YoungArts/Miami will provide promising local artists with master classes taught by renowned artists, along with financial support and networking opportunities. Top-scoring applicants will receive cash awards at a local awards ceremony. Their teachers will be honored, as will the recipients' schools. Also, all applicants – no matter their score – will receive detailed feedback on audition materials. The foundation hopes to use this program as a national model for other major cities.
Project Web site: http://www.youngarts.org
About the winner: YoungArts is the core program of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA). youngARTS identifies the nation's most talented high school seniors in nine different disciplines. The program offers unique educational opportunities as well as scholarships and awards to artists who demonstrate extraordinary talent. Each year YoungArts hosts a week of exceptional master classes, performances and exhibits for up to 150 students. Since 1981, youngARTS has facilitated more than $80 million in scholarships for higher education institutions throughout the country and has given over $6 million in awards. youngARTS is the exclusive nominating agency to The Commission on Presidential Scholars for the annual selection of the Presidential Scholars in the Arts; the selected few receive their awards at the White House each summer. Alumni include Broadway actors, award-winning playwrights, published authors and numerous esteemed musicians and visual artists.
Web site: http://www.nfaa.org