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Cultivating

Creativity.

SAVE THE DATE | Creative Youth Awards submissions open October 15th

Our Impact

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$400K+

Awarded in Cash

Youth Served

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6.4K

Students Awarded

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2K+

Bay Area Counties

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All 9

Arts Reviewers

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100+

Creative Disciplines

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7

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We believe in the power of creativity.

The Creative Youth Awards (CYA) supports creative ideation and exploration through its annual awards program. Offering more than $100k in cash awards for youth, the CYA invites high school students across the San Francisco Bay Area to submit original submissions in creative writing, dance, film, music, photography and visual art. All qualified submissions are hosted in our virtual Creative Gallery. In addition to this recognition, artists receive a free one-year subscription to the online learning platform, MasterClass.


The Awards culminate in the annual Creative Youth Celebration (CYC) - a free public event that features student artwork, performances, hands-on art activations and panel discussions from distinguished professional artists. This major event has become the most anticipated annual youth arts event in the Bay, providing a space for inspiration, creativity, learning, and community. 

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CYA Creative Categories

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Black and white illustration of a person holding an umbrella walking through rain, with large umbrella against the cloudy sky.
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Creative
Writing

Dance

Film

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Visual Art

Photography

Music
Performance

Original
Music

ABOUT THE CYA

TO OUR CAUSE

OF PAST YEARS

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CYA Voices

Meet the next generation of artists, storytellers, and changemakers. This video series highlights standout Creative Youth Award awardees, Review Panelists and others from our community as they share their work and creative journeys across film, writing, visual art, and more. Experience the originality, courage, and passion that each bring to their art — and get inspired to create your own.