Talented Young Artists Urged to Register for Prestigious National Arts Program
The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) is accepting 2006-2007 registrations from young artists for its renowned NFAA Arts Recognition and Talent Search(R) (ARTS) program. NFAA identifies and rewards exceptional students from across the U.S. in nine art disciplines: dance, film and video, classical, pop and jazz music, photography, theater, visual arts, voice and writing. High school seniors are encouraged to apply for an awards package including more than $500,000 in cash awards and the chance to be named a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, earning national recognition and opportunities for additional scholarships.
The NFAA ARTS 2006-2007 registration deadline is October 2, 2006 and the deadline to submit audition/portfolio materials is November 1, 2006. Students can register online at www.NFAA.ARTSawards.org. Eligible artists must be high school seniors during the 2006-2007 school year. Students who will not be attending high school are eligible for NFAA ARTS only if they are 17 or 18 years old on December 1, 2006.
Each year, NFAA invites up to 135 artists to participate in NFAA ARTS Week, a once-in-a-lifetime experience consisting of performances, master classes, workshops, readings, exhibits and enrichment activities with renowned artists and arts educators. NFAA ARTS Week takes place every January in Miami, Florida. NFAA pays all expenses, including airfare, hotel, meals and ground transportation.
Every student who participates in ARTS Week will receive one of the following awards:
w $10,000 ARTS Gold Awards given to up to 9 finalists
w $5,000 ARTS Silver Awards
w Additional awards ranging from $500 to $3,000
At the exclusive request of the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, NFAA nominates up to 50 ARTS Week Finalists for the Commission's consideration to be named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. The 20 young artists who are ultimately selected by the Commission join 121 other Presidential Scholars who are recognized for their academic excellence during National Recognition Week each June in Washington, D.C. It is only through NFAA's ARTS program that dynamic young artists are eligible for the Presidential Scholar in the Arts designation.
In addition, select students will be invited to participate in the 2007 Body & Soul performance and awards event, which will be held in late April in New York City. During last year's inaugural event at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, some of America's most-recognized artists, including actress Debra Winger, actor/playwright Sam Shepard, film director Arthur Penn, soprano Deborah Voigt, playwright John Guare, artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, jazz legend Ramsey Lewis and conductor Michael Tilson-Thomas, were on hand to bestow the highly-coveted Gold and Silver NFAA ARTS Awards.
NFAA ARTS 2006-2007 offers:
• $500,000 in cash awards, including individual awards up to $10,000
• $3 million in scholarship opportunities
• All-expense paid NFAA ARTS Week national finals in Miami, Florida for up to 135 National Finalists
• Presidential Scholars in the Arts award for 20 NFAA ARTS Week Finalists
• Participation in Body & Soul in New York City
• $250 Honorable Mention and $100 Merit Awards for those not named finalists for NFAA ARTS Week, but ranked in the top 5% and 10% respectively of the registrant pool
For more information, call 1-800-970-ARTS (2787) or visit www.NFAA.ARTSawards.org.