Washington Youth Arts Leadership

WA Youth Arts Leaders:

• Refine multimedia communication skills with mentorship and peer feedback.
• Practice engaging with communities as both an artist and collaborator.
• Develop an understanding of arts education advocacy.
• Build statewide, arts-focused community through collaboration.
• Explore career opportunities in the arts and cultural sector.

Applicants to the WAYAL Program must be:

• Between the age of 16-19 (at time of application).
• A Washington State resident.
• Engaged in the arts (an artist!) beyond school-related assignments.
• Interested in building leadership skills.
• Interested in building community with other young artists across the state.
• Able to attend (9) monthly 2-hour seminars and (3) events throughout the year (all meetings and events are paid and held online).
• Interested in receiving mentorship from arts and cultural professionals

Screening for Eligibility

WA Youth Arts Leadership Program applications submitted by the deadline are reviewed by ArtsWA staff for completion and eligibility. Complete and eligible applications are sent to a scoring panel for evaluation. If ArtsWA receives many applications to the program, ArtsWA staff will conduct a preliminary scoring round using the evaluation criteria below. Top scoring applications from the preliminary round will then be sent to the scoring panel for final evaluation.

Evaluation and Scoring Panel

A panel of arts education professionals, ArtsWA Commissioners, and ArtsWA staff evaluate eligible applications to the WA Youth Arts Leadership (WAYAL) Program. Panelists use scoring criteria to give a numerical score to each application. An application’s final score is the combined average of all panelists’ scores. Top scoring applications from each ArtsWA-defined region are selected for the WAYAL program.

Panelists will assign each application a score between 0-24 using the evaluation and point system below. 24 points is the highest possible score for this application.

1. Aspiring Artist (12 points possible)

The applicant demonstrates:

• Engagement and ongoing interest in pursuing an artistic practice. (4 points possible)
• Clear passion for the arts beyond and independent from classroom assignments. (4 points possible)
• Interested in exploring careers in the arts and cultural sector. (4 points possible)

2. Community Engagement and Leadership (12 points possible)

The applicant demonstrates:

• Experience building community and engaging in collaborative practices. (4 points possible)
• Interest in a diversity of arts and cultural programs in their local communities. (4 points possible)
• A commitment to increasing access to arts and cultural opportunities for youth in their communities. (4 points possible)

Program Guidelines