The TOArts Youth Arts Leadership Academy is an eight-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 are now open for YALA 2024-25 below!
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 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. We are in the process of approving the YALA curriculum for college credit and are hopeful that this process will be completed in time so that our 2024-2025 YALA cohort will earn college credit for this program.
Last Years Schedule
Session 1 – Welcome, Introductions, Program Orientation & Financial Management – November 16
Session 2 – Project Management, Production Operations, and Social Marketing – December 14
Session 3 – Theatre & Live Event Production – January 18
Session 4 – Visual Artist & Writing Artist Development – February 15
Session 5 – Polishing a Show – March 21
Session 6 – Capstone Event Production Planning & Production Logistics – April 18
Session 7 – Capstone Logistics & Operations – May 9
Capstone Event – Week of May 20
Session 8 – Wrap-Up & College Admissions/Industry Panel – June 6
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 $400 with an additional scholarship available.
The program dates for YALA 2024-2025 will be October 14, November 7, December 5, January 16, February 6, March 6, April 7, May 8, and June 5 from 6 to 9pm, as well as tech and the capstone event the week of May 19, 2025.
Once your application is received, we will follow up with you to schedule a zoom interview.
The deadline to apply is October 1st, 2024.
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 email ethan@toarts.org or call (805) 449-2710
Sponsored in part by The Oaks Mall
