The YoungArts Backyard Ball performance and gala is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser, and the culmination of National YoungArts Week in January — the signature national program celebrating the nation’s most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary and performing arts. Every year, more than 800 prominent artists, alumni, community leaders, philanthropists and celebrities gather at the Backyard Ball to honor the achievements of these talented next generation of artists for an evening of artistic immersion with powerful performances by YoungArts alumni. In addition, honorees are recognized with the Arison Award and the Arison Alumni Award for their invaluable commitment to the arts. Previous awardees include Kerry Washington, Robert Redford, Adrian Grenier, Rita Moreno, Andrew Rannells, Rosie Perez, Robert Wilson, Tony Yazbeck, Tarell A. McCraney and others. A YoungArts alumnus/a will also be announced during the evening as the second annual Jorge M. Pérez Award recipient.

Sandra and Tony Tamer will serve as Honorary Chairs, and Co-Chairs for the 2020 YoungArts Backyard Ball are: Sarah Arison and Tom Wilhelm, Jay Franke and David Herro, and Oxana and Steve Marks. Join this illustrious group for an evening of fine dining, dancing and performance vignettes with YoungArts alumni cast, directed by John Heginbotham. Attire is artistic black tie.

Tickets are $1,500 per person and can be purchased  by emailing gala@youngarts.org or calling 305-377-1140, Ext. 1808.

About National YoungArts Foundation

National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) was established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison. YoungArts identifies the most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary and performing arts, and provides them with creative and professional development opportunities throughout their careers.

Entrance into this prestigious organization starts with a highly competitive application process for talented artists ages 15–18, or grades 10-12, in the United States, that is judged by esteemed discipline specific panels of artists through a rigorous blind adjudication process. In their first year, YoungArts award winners, who represent the top 10% of applicants, receive valuable financial awards of up to $10,000; presentation opportunities at renowned institutions; and the chance to learn from notable artists and mentors such as Debbie Allen, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Frank Gehry, Wynton Marsalis, Salman Rushdie and Mickalene Thomas in intimate settings.

YoungArts award winners are further eligible for exclusive opportunities including: nomination as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students; a wide range of fellowships, residencies and awards; presentation opportunities at major venues nationwide; additional financial support; and access to YoungArts Post, a free private digital network for YoungArts artists to connect, collaborate and learn about additional opportunities. YoungArts award winners include accomplished leaders in their fields such as Daniel Arsham, Terence Blanchard, Camille A. Brown, Viola Davis, Allegra Goodman, Josh Groban, Judith Hill, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Andrew Rannells, Desmond Richardson and Hunter Schafer.

For more information, visit youngarts.org, Facebook or Twitter.
To watch a brief video about YoungArts, click here.