Traci Slater-Rigaud
The National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award is the nation’s highest honor for the field of out-of-school time arts and humanities programs, particularly those that reach children and youth with tremendous potential, but limited opportunities. It is a signature initiative of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Every year the President’s Committee and our cultural partners present National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards to 12 outstanding programs across the US and one International Spotlight Awardee. Thirty-eight finalist programs also receive certificates of excellence for their work.
Since the award’s inception in 1998, we have recognized 247 diverse programs throughout the United States and around the world. Each year, the First Lady confers these awards in a White House ceremony, affirming the achievements of the programs as national models of success in their field.
Organizations that receive the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award are a part of the field of Creative Youth Development. Creative Youth Development programs are dynamic in that they not only deliver excellent learning opportunities in the arts, humanities, and sciences outside of the regular school day, but they support and promote the development of skills necessary for success in the 21st Century such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. These programs excite and engage a broad range of students, cultivating imagination, promoting discipline and mastery, and academic success, all with demonstrable results.
Moreover, these programs don’t just parachute down 30,000 feet into underserved communities to simply teach ballet or visual arts. They take a holistic approach by providing wraparound services such as mentoring, tutoring, college application assistance, they engage parents, and integrate social services that include counseling and referrals.
Because the award is presented by the First Lady on behalf of the President’s Committee and the three federal cultural agencies, the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards make a highly visible and powerful statement about the value of Creative Youth Development, so the rigor with which award applications are evaluated comes as no surprise.
The multi-tier award application peer review process brings together teams of experts who are accomplished in a number of sectors and disciplines within the arts and humanities, including practioners, professional artists, museum educators, historians, funders, and librarians. These panelists are tasked with reviewing the pool of 350+ National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award applications submitted annually. In order to be competitive, applicants must present evidence of the following:
- A sustained, sequential curriculum that immerses students in an ongoing series of learning activities that provide in-depth exposure and exploration of the arts or humanities that take place outside of the regular school day.
- Proof of student learning and program impact as evidenced by data and statistics from surveys and evaluations as well as honors and awards.
- Dedication to enhancing the lives of youth by offering activities that support the overall development of students as individuals by promoting positive relationships with peers and adults, tenacity and grit, and a sense of civic responsibility.
- Commitment to supporting achievement and mastery beyond the discipline of focus by integrating tutoring, mentoring, and college readiness into the program continuum.
- Guiding the students are highly qualified, professional artists and scholars who have been trained in teaching and working with young people.
- Investment in the maintenance of a stable, well-run organization with a track record of five years or more. Also demonstrates a history of partnerships with other organizations and funding from a range of sources, including support from state/local arts or humanities agencies.
While many of the applicants may meet this criteria, only a few exceed these standards and are selected to be recognized as one of the 12 award winners. Recipients of the award receive a $10,000 grant and the opportunity to visit the White House and receive the award from First Lady Michelle Obama. The Awardees also receive ongoing capacity-building and communications support that is designed to make their organizations stronger.
We believe that by shining a light on excellent out-of-school time arts and humanities programs, we create awareness and support for the work that they do, as well as showcase national models and best practices to enhance and build the Creative Youth Development field.
More information on the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards and Creative Youth Development can be found at www.nahyp.org.
