YoungArts: The Complete Student Guide to the National YoungArts Foundation
Published · Guide · Arts & Writing · Grades: 10–12
The National YoungArts Foundation runs one of the few competitions in the United States that recognizes student achievement across all major artistic disciplines in a single program. Cash prizes, intensive mentorship programming, and a direct pipeline to the Presidential Scholar in the Arts nomination make it a meaningful credential for serious arts students at the high school level.
Who can enter
Applicants must be in grades 10–12 or between ages 15 and 18 on December 1 of the competition year. They must be either a United States citizen, a permanent resident, or legally able to receive taxable income in the United States. Home school and dual-enrollment students are eligible.
For the 2026 cycle, the application opened in summer 2025 and closed on October 8, 2025, at 8 PM Eastern. Winners were announced November 24. Students applying for the 2027 cycle should expect similar timing; verify dates on the YoungArts website each year, as they can shift.
Disciplines
The competition accepts applications in ten disciplines:
- Classical Music
- Dance
- Design Arts
- Film
- Jazz
- Photography
- Theater
- Visual Arts
- Voice
- Writing
Students may apply in more than one discipline, paying a separate fee (or submitting a separate fee waiver) for each application. A student who writes and plays an instrument, for example, may submit to both Writing and Classical Music as separate applications.
Application fee and fee waivers
The application fee is $35 per submission. Fee waivers are available: a simple request letter from a parent, teacher, or counselor uploaded through the application portal is sufficient documentation. YoungArts does not publicize a hard income threshold for waivers; the letter-based process means cost should not be a barrier to applying.
Award levels and what they mean
Applicants who advance receive recognition at one of several levels. Award recipients at all levels receive cash prizes ranging from $250 to $10,000, depending on the level of recognition. The top tier of award winners are invited to National YoungArts Week (NYAW), the organization’s flagship programming event.
YoungArts evaluates submissions against defined criteria for each discipline rather than ranking students against one another on a single scale. The number of awards given each year reflects the quality of the applicant pool, not a pre-set quota.
National YoungArts Week
National YoungArts Week is a multi-day intensive held in Miami in January, bringing together finalists across all disciplines for master classes, workshops, and mentorship sessions led by professional artists. The program is designed as a working residency, not a ceremony — students spend the week making work alongside established artists in their field.
YoungArts covers the cost of the program itself for invited participants; students and families are typically responsible for travel to Miami, though need-based travel assistance has been available in past cycles.
The Presidential Scholar in the Arts connection
YoungArts is the sole nominating body for U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts. High school seniors who participate in National YoungArts Week are eligible to be nominated for this designation, which is awarded by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars. Only 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts are named each year nationally. For a student pursuing professional arts training or conservatory admission, the credential is among the strongest available at the high school level.
The nomination happens through YoungArts — students who earn NYAW recognition do not apply separately to the Presidential Scholars program.
Writing discipline specifics
The Writing discipline accepts work in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, dramatic writing, and spoken word. Applicants submit a portfolio-style submission for their chosen form. The judges are professional writers and editors. YoungArts writing alumni include students who have gone on to publish in major literary journals and to win subsequent competitive awards in MFA programs.
For students interested in both Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and YoungArts: the programs are separate competitions with different judging panels and different timelines. A work that earns Scholastic recognition can be developed further for YoungArts submission, or vice versa, but check both programs’ rules regarding previously recognized work before submitting the same piece.
How to prepare a strong application
YoungArts is looking for artistic seriousness at the high school level, which means the application should reflect what the student actually does in their discipline rather than what they think judges want to see. For writing applicants: the strongest submissions tend to be work that takes formal or thematic risks, shows an identifiable voice, and has been revised deliberately. For performing and visual arts disciplines: the submission requirements (video, portfolio, audition) vary and should be read carefully in the official application guidelines for each discipline.
About this profile: Meli Review publishes contest profiles for students and families. Eligibility dates and award amounts described here were accurate to our review at publication; confirm current details at youngarts.org before applying. See also: Scholastic Art & Writing Awards guide, high school writing contests directory.