The TOArts Youth Arts Leadership Academy is a nine-month program at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center open to high school and collegiate students. Over the course of the program, you will work alongside industry professionals to explore a wide array of professions under the arts umbrella. Through teamwork and collaboration, you will engage with the community as artists and critical thinkers, while also refining the personal skills needed to succeed with a career in the arts.
Applications for the 2025-26 YALA Cohort are now closed
The goals of this program are to nurture the development of well-rounded students by exploring careers in performing and visual arts, as well as arts administration, with guidance from industry professionals.
You’ll work together to manage a real budget and conceptualize, design, and execute a capstone community event—led entirely by YOU, the students.
This program will present an inspiring picture of what’s possible in the world of the arts through inherent skill-building, all anchored with real-world application.
The Youth Arts Leadership Academy is a selective program, with strict attendance and student accountability requirements. In partnership with California Lutheran University, YALA students will receive 1 college credit in theatre arts upon successful completion of the program.
This Year’s Schedule
Session 1 – Welcome, Introduction, Program Orientation & Overview – Monday, October 6, 2025
Session 2 – Thursday, November 13, 2025
Session 3 – Thursday, December 4, 2025
Session 4 – Thursday, January 15, 2026
Session 5 – Thursday, February 12, 2026
Session 6 – Thursday, March 5, 2026
Session 7 – Thursday, April 16, 2026
Session 8 – Thursday, May 7, 2026
Capstone Event – Week of May 18, 2026
Session 9 – YALA Culmination & Artistic Journeys Panel – Monday, June 8, 2026
Application
The value of the YALA program is $6,500 per student, but thanks to our incredible community of donors, the program is offered for only $250 with an additional scholarship available.
The program dates for YALA 2025-2026 will be October 6, November 13, December 4, January 15, February 12, March 5, April 16, May 7, and June 8 from 6 to 9pm, as well as tech and the capstone event the week of May 18, 2026.
Once your application is received, we may follow up with you to schedule a Zoom interview.
Applications are now closed for the 2025-26 Cohort
YALA Year 2 Retrospective
Congratulations to the second graduating cohort of the Youth Arts Leadership Academy!
The second YALA Cohort’s capstone project was the Limitless Arts Event which offered workshops in music and visual arts for elementary students, and a teen Broadway audition masterclass for middle and high school students.
There was a student gallery, arts vendors, dinner, dessert booths, and an interactive group art project.
The day culminated in a performance from our YALA teens, featuring the workshop elementary students and a showcase of the teen masterclass students. In the end, the YALA students raised over $6,000 for relief for the 2025 LA fires between their capstone event and a benefit concert, both organized and run by students!
YALA Year 1 Retrospective
The First YALA cohort organized a free arts festival on the lawns of the Civic Arts Plaza for their capstone. The festival was complete with food trucks, small business arts vendors, visual arts displays, live performances and even a create station manned by Art Trek. They managed a budget, communicated with vendors, identified necessary licenses, stage-managed and emceed the lineup of diverse talent, and even performed themselves! An estimated 500 people enjoyed this festival and we are incredibly proud of what this cohort accomplished.
For additional information, reach out to Casey Comstock-Mills at casey@toarts.org