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Emerging Young Artists | International Young Musicians | Playwright Discovery 2027 Applications Now Open! Know a talented young artist with a disability* who is interested in pursuing a career in the creative economy? Encourage them to apply to one of our Creative Careers Programs! These programs shape the future of the arts by amplifying the work of young, disabled visual artists, musicians, and writers. We support their career goals through business-development workshops, networking opportunities, and mentorship. *Disability is a broad umbrella that covers a variety of lived experiences. Eligible applicants may have apparent, physical, and/or sensory conditions as well as less apparent conditions like chronic illness/pain, or neurodivergence like anxiety, ADHD, depression, PTSD, OCD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and more. Applications are due Thursday, November 19 at 11:59p.m. ET. Learn more about the Creative Careers ProgramsAccess/VSA Emerging Young Artists Program  “This was such a cool opportunity, I made lots of friends and gained so much confidence going forward into my career as a professional artist!” — 2024 Participant Thrive is a juried career development program and exhibition of work by visual artists with disabilities, ages 16-25. This year’s exhibition theme asks artists to consider how their life and their art are flourishing. As an artist how is your work evolving and changing? As a disabled person, how are you vigorously developing and growing? Show us your thrive!  Fifteen winning artists each receive a financial stipend and have one of their submitted pieces included in an exhibit. Winning artists are required to attend virtual workshops (April 3, May 1, and June 5), and a series of all-expenses-paid in-person experiences June 14-18, 2027. Apply for Emerging Young Artists ProgramAccess/VSA International Young Musicians Program  “This program is making my goals a reality.” — 2023 Participant For nearly five decades, outstanding musicians with disabilities from around the world have been selected to participate in the Access/VSA International Young Musicians Program. This annual opportunity is open to disabled musicians ages 14-25 of any instrument or genre including classical, jazz, hip-hop, rock and more! In addition to performance opportunities, program participants engage one-on-one with a professional mentor in the music industry, attend career development workshops addressing key industry topics, and expand their professional connections through networking events.  Winning musicians are required to attend virtual workshops (February 20 and March 6), and a series of all-expenses-paid in-person experiences activities March 18-21, 2027. Apply for International Young Musicians ProgramAccess/VSA Playwright Discovery Program  “[This program] truly changed my life and [gave] me a renewed confidence in who I am as a disabled artist.” — 2024 Participant For over forty years, outstanding disabled writers from around the world have been selected to participate in the Access/VSA Playwright Discovery Program. In addition to receiving financial stipends, these talented young writers enrolled in secondary school (generally, ages 14-19) participate in a script development program and explore the theater, film, and television industries through exclusive workshops, networking opportunities, and mentorship. Winning writers are required to attend virtual workshops (April 3, May 1, and June 5), and a series of all-expenses-paid in-person experiences July 11-15, 2027. Apply for Playwright Discovery Program Questions? Join Our Webinar! Join us Tuesday, September 22 at 7:30p.m. ET for a free webinar where our team will provide application platform tips and practical advice on how to present your best application for the 2027 Creative Careers Programs. Captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided. Register for Webinar For U.S. participants, the contents of these programs were developed under grant H421F240164 from the U.S. Department of Education (Department). The Department does not mandate or prescribe practices, models, or other activities described or discussed in this document. The contents of these programs may contain examples of, adaptations of, and links to resources created and maintained by another public or private organization. The Department does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. The contents of these programs do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department. These programs are not intended to represent the views or policy of or be an endorsement of any views expressed, or materials provided by any Federal agency (EDGAR 75.620). EYA Logo by Inked Designs IYM, PDP Photo: Hitchcock Creative Webinar Photo: Justin Kaneps Contact: Office of Accessibility & VSA A Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program 2700 F Street, NW | Washington, D.C. 20566 Tel. +1.202.416.8898 Email vsainfo@kennedy-center.org Connect: Facebook |
