TRANSFORMATIONS Commissioning Program and More Set for YoungArts' 2016-17 Season

The National YoungArts Foundation today announces a dynamic roster of new performances, showcases, exhibitions and cross-disciplinary collaborations for its 2016-2017 season.

This year's programming prominently features YoungArts alumni and master teachers, highlighting the caliber of the organization's community of more than 20,000 emerging and established artists nationwide.

In addition to YoungArts' signature programming-including National YoungArts Week and Regional Programs in Miami, Los Angeles and New York-the 2017 season will feature the organization's first-ever commissioning program, "Transformations," which pairs alumni across disciplines to create a series of five short films that will be unveiled to the public this fall; In Process, a new interdisciplinary residency program for alumni artists; and visual arts exhibitions and Salons with a range of creative luminaries and art world leaders in Miami, New York and Los Angeles.

"From launching our first commissioning program and cross-disciplinary residencies to presenting programs featuring alumni that reach our supporters across the country, YoungArts is more poised than ever to nurture emerging artists across disciplines, and to provide a vital platform for artistic and professional development," said Carolina García Jayaram, YoungArts' newly appointed President & Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to welcoming the 2017 class of YoungArts winners in January, and to celebrating the unique ideas and contributions of this next generation of American artists."

On Tuesday, September 27, the season will kick off with the third annual YoungArts Awareness Day, which promotes the arts as a viable and rewarding career path, celebrates the outstanding achievements of YoungArts alumni, and encourages emerging artists to apply to the organization's 2017 program. This year's Awareness Day celebration includes MouthWater, an exhibition curated by YoungArts Master Teacher Robert Chambers, that will open with a free public reception, and presents work by established visual arts alumni-including Hernan Bas (1996 Winner in Photography and Visual Arts), Naomi Fisher (1994 Winner in Visual Arts) and Nicole Eisenman (1983 Winner in Visual Arts)-alongside that of recent winners. On view in the YoungArts Gallery through November 21, 2016, the exhibition underscores YoungArts' role as a platform for dynamic dialogue between artists across generations. In Washington, D.C., an interdisciplinary performance directed by Caleb Teicher (2011 Winner in Dance) at Millennium Stage at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will feature five emerging artists, all YoungArts alumni, in "A Very Brief History of the United States"-a whirlwind experience of our nation's watershed moments from the Revolutionary War, to the birth of jazz, to the Civil Rights Movement and modern politics, and a celebration of the power of improvisation, creativity and collaboration.

The season continues with "Transformations," a film-commissioning initiative celebrating YoungArts' commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration in honor of its 35th anniversary. The initiative has connected alumni across disciplines to create five unique works for film that capture the transformative power of creativity. Selected alumni are working together in trios, from conception to production, and include Adam O'Farrill (2013 Winner in Jazz), Devyn Tyler (2009 Winner in Theater and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts), Thomas Carr (1982 Winner in Photography), Kate Vrijmoet (1984 Winner in Visual Arts), Tatev Yeghiazaryan (2005 Winner in Voice) and Da'Shawn Mosley (2012 Winner in Writing and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts), among others. The final films will premiere to the public on November 5, 2016, during YoungArts' Outside the Box program. Other Outside the Box interdisciplinary programming at the YoungArts Campus includes a live classical performance directed by YoungArts Master Teacher Daniel Bernard Roumain and a multi-disciplinary dance performance directed by Yara Travieso (2005 Winner in Dance).

The organization's signature program, National YoungArts Week, will follow in January, when approximately 170 YoungArts Finalists come together in Miami to work with distinguished artists in intensive master classes, workshops and seminars. Finalists have the opportunity to share their work with the public each evening through performances, writers' readings and screenings, as well as an exhibition curated by Pérez Art Museum Miami Director Franklin Sirmans. The week will culminate in YoungArts' annual Backyard Ball performance and gala on January 14.

Additional season highlights include a new program, In Process, which offers pairs of YoungArts alumni across disciplines the opportunity to collaborate in a residency setting. In addition to access to space and time to create work, residency artists will be offered a stipend. Participants include Delali Ayivor (2011 Winner in Creative Writing and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts), Nicole Mouriño (2006 Winner in Visual Arts), Brittany Bailey (2008 Winner in Dance), Conrad Tao (2011 Winner in Music and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) and Lee Heinemann (2011 Winner in Visual Arts and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts), among others.

The year also will feature YoungArts' Salon Series of panel discussions, with renowned and emerging artists in conversation around themes such as Artists as Citizens; Rebellion & Innovation; Discovery & Emerging Talent; Women & Words; and Art & The Next Wave. Salons will take place on the YoungArts campus in Miami, as well as in Los Angeles and New York, and participants include Chat Travieso (2003 Winner in Visual Arts and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts), Michael Clark, Rachel Moore (1982 Winner in Dance), Mel Chin, and Doug Aitken (1986 Winner in Visual Arts), among others.

YoungArts' Regional Programs in Miami, Los Angeles and New York will take place in February, March and April, respectively. In the spring, an alumni photography exhibition curated by Michele Dunn Marsh will be presented at the YoungArts Gallery. The season will conclude in June with an alumni exhibition at the Flomenhaft Gallery and a Salon at New York Live Arts in New York City, and "A Salute to the 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholars" performance and exhibition at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Additional information on programming follows below, and further details will be announced in the coming months at www.youngarts.org.

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NATIONAL YOUNGARTS FOUNDATION 2016-2017 SEASON:

YoungArts Awareness Day
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Taking place on the heels of National Arts in Education Week, YoungArts Awareness Day serves as a platform for acclaimed YoungArts alumni to inspire young artists ages 15 to 18 years to apply to become a part of the next class of YoungArts Winners by October 14, 2016 at www.youngarts.org/apply.

MouthWater
Curated by Robert Chambers
Opening reception on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at 7:00 pm
Exhibition on view through November 21, 2016
YoungArts Gallery
Admission is free with RSVP
Gallery hours and information is available at http://www.youngarts.org/youngarts-gallery.

A Very Brief History of the United States
Directed by Caleb Teicher
Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at 6:00pm
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Grand Foyer
2700 F Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20566
Admission is free and open to the public, and a live stream of the show will be at https://www.kennedy-center.org/Video/Upcoming.

Outside the Box
Launched in 2014 with a grant from ArtPlace America, the Outside the Box series in Miami is open to the public, and features performances by artists across disciplines to engage the community. YoungArts provides rehearsal space, technical and production assistance, and other resources to encourage participants to innovate and collaborate with other alumni and emerging artists.

Transformations
November 5, 2016
YoungArts campus
Admission is free and open to the public

In celebration of YoungArts' 35th anniversary, the "Transformations" series will premiere on November 5, 2016 featuring five short films created by groups of alumni in various disciplines. The program provides selected alumni an opportunity to collaborate, exchange ideas and create new work that reveals unique interdisciplinary connections-such as between dance and writing; voice and cinematic arts; jazz and photography; music and design; and visual art and theater.

Daniel Bernard Roumain
March 18, 2017

Yara Travieso
May 20, 2017

National YoungArts Week
January 8-15, 2017

During National YoungArts Week, which takes place in Miami each year, approximately 170 YoungArts Finalists in the visual, literary, design, and performing arts work with distinguished master teachers in their field. Past master teachers include Debbie Allen, Marina Abramovi?, Sarah Lamb (1998 Winner in Dance and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts), Doug Blush (1984 Winner in Cinematic Arts), James Rosenquist, Rosie Perez, Campbell McGrath and Bobby McFerrin. Throughout the week, artists have the opportunity to share their work with the public through an exhibition curated Franklin Sirmans, performances, readings and screenings.

YoungArts Week culminates with the Backyard Ball, the organization's annual gala, presented by Max Mara, which brings together prominent artists, community leaders, philanthropists and celebrities to honor the 2017 YoungArts Winners. Three distinguished awardees will be recognized at this event for their vital commitment to the arts.

YoungArts also offers annual Regional Programs in Miami (February 21-26, 2017), Los Angeles (March 28-April 2, 2017) and New York (April 25-30, 2017). Modeled on the experience of YoungArts Week, each Regional Program engages YoungArts Winners from all award levels in a series of multi-disciplinary programs and performances.

Support for National YoungArts Week is provided by our National Premier Sponsor, Carnival Foundation; the Legacy Master Series Sponsor, Aon; the Design Arts Discipline Sponsor, Arquitectonica; the Visual Arts Discipline Sponsor, The Related Group; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

In Process @ Ted's
A new residency program pairing YoungArts alumni of different disciplines, In Process provides a rare glimpse into a range of artistic processes and techniques (admission is by invitation). The program's inaugural line-up includes:

· October 15, 2016 | Delali Ayivor (2011 Winner in Creative Writing and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) and Nicole Mouriño (2006 Winner in Visual Arts)

· November 11, 2016 | Brittany Bailey (2008 Winner in Dance) and Maya Ragazzo (2013 Winner in Cinematic Arts)

· February 4, 2017 | Paris Williams (2016 Winner in Voice), additional artist to be announced

· May 6, 2017 | Conrad Tao (2011 Winner in Music and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) and Lee Heinemann (2011 Winner in Visual Arts and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts)

Salon Series
The YoungArts Salon Series brings together creative alumni voices and offers audiences an opportunity to engage with internationally renowned and emerging artists. Salons take place in Miami, New York and Los Angeles, and have featured Daniel Arsham (1999 Winner in Visual Arts), Jason Moran (1993 Winner in Jazz), and Niia Bertino (2005 Winner in Voice), among others. This year, Salons will center on themes that engage key topics in the art world today.

Doug Aitken
October 5, 2016
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
Los Angeles, CA

Artists as Citizens:
Teresita Fernandez
Chat Travieso
Mel Chin
October 19, 2016
YoungArts Campus
Miami, FL

Rebellion & Innovation:
Michael Clark and Brittany Bailey
Presented with ICA Miami
November 9, 2016
YoungArts Campus
Miami, FL

Rachel Moore
December 8, 2016
The Music Center
Los Angeles, CA

Rules of the Game feat. Jonah Bokaer & Daniel Arsham
February 8, 2017
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

Discovery & Emerging Talent
February 15, 2017
YoungArts Campus
Miami, FL

Critical Junctures: Visual Arts
March 5, 2017
New York Live Arts
New York, NY

Women & Words: Ellen Bryant Voight and Natalie Diaz
April 12, 2017
YoungArts Campus
Miami, FL

Critical Junctures: Music
May 14, 2017
New York Live Arts
New York, NY

Art & the Next Wave:
Yara Travieso
May 17, 2017
YoungArts Campus
Miami, FL

Critical Junctures: Performance
June 4, 2017
New York Live Arts
New York, NY

Photography Exhibition
April 17 - July 1, 2017
Curated by Michele Dunn Marsh
Featuring work by YoungArts alumni
YoungArts Campus

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The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) was established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison to identify and nurture the most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary, design and performing arts, and assist them at critical junctures in their educational and professional development. Through a wide range of annual programs, regular performances, and partnerships with some of the nation's leading cultural institutions, YoungArts aspires to create a strong community of alumni and a platform for a lifetime of encouragement, opportunity and support.

YoungArts' signature program is an application-based award for emerging artists ages 15 - 18 or in grades 10 - 12 from across the United States. Selected from a pool of more than an average of 11,000 applications (in 2015, the organization received a record-breaking number of more than 12,000 applications), YoungArts Winners receive valuable support, including financial awards of up to $10,000, professional development and educational experiences working with renowned mentors-such as Debbie Allen, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Rebecca Walker, Plácido Domingo, Frank Gehry, Jeff Koons, Wynton Marsalis, Salman Rushdie and Carrie Mae Weems-and performance and exhibition opportunities at some of the nation's leading cultural institutions, including The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, D.C.), The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), The Museum of Modern Art (New York) and New World Center (Miami). Additionally, YoungArts Winners are eligible for nomination as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students who exemplify academic and artistic excellence.

YoungArts Winners become part of a network of over 20,000 alumni artists, which offers them additional professional opportunities throughout their careers. YoungArts alumni who have gone on to become leading professionals in their fields include actresses Viola Davis, Anna Gunn, Zuzanna Szadkowski and Kerry Washington; Broadway stars Raúl Esparza, Billy Porter, Andrew Rannells and Tony Yazbeck; recording artists Josh Groban, Judith Hill and Chris Young; Metropolitan Opera star Eric Owens; musicians Terence Blanchard, Gerald Clayton, Jennifer Koh and Elizabeth Roe; choreographers Camille A. Brown and Desmond Richardson; visual artists Daniel Arsham and Hernan Bas; internationally acclaimed multimedia artist Doug Aitken; New York Times bestselling author Sam Lipsyte; MacArthur "Genius" Fellow Tarell McCraney, and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Doug Blush.

Support for YoungArts programs is provided by the YoungArts National Premier Sponsor Carnival Foundation; the Legacy Master Series Sponsor, Aon; the Design Arts Discipline Sponsor, Arquitectonica; the Visual Arts Discipline Sponsor, The Related Group; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; Wells Fargo; and the YoungArts Corporate Partners.

For more information, visit youngarts.org, facebook.com/YoungArtsFoundation or twitter.com/YoungArts. To watch a brief video about YoungArts, click here.

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