Alameda Co. Teen Artists, Writers, Dancers, Performers Invited To Apply To Summer 2016 Arts Program

News from the Alameda County Arts Commission:

The California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) invites all talented and motivated high school students to apply for admission to the 2016 summer session held from July 9 - Aug. 5, 2016.

Applications are found online at csssa.ca.gov and are due on Feb. 29.

CSSSA is the only state-supported arts summer school on the West coast. This creative, cutting-edge, and immersive four-week residential program draws the most talented students to learn from college-level faculty and professional working artists.

Students have seven artistic disciplines to choose from, including: Animation, Creative Writing, Dance, Film & Video, Music, Theater and Visual Arts.

Held on the campus of the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Valencia, approximately 500 students each year attend from around California. All students are selected by their submission of an application and work sample that is reviewed by a panel of educators and professional artists. It is only after the student is accepted into the program, that financial need is considered.

CSSSA’s Foundation has made it possible for every young artist to attend so no one is turned away due to financial hardship. Upon acceptance to CSSSA, each student is designated as a California Arts Scholar, the highest designation offered by the State of California for young artists. Last year, 47 Alameda County high school students were selected to attend the summer school program.

CSSSA Arts Scholar Network

CSSSA Arts Scholars Network is a collective of local arts agencies at the county level, including the Alameda County Arts Commission, who helps CSSSA reach out to highly motivated and talented students. Beginning in June of 2016, the agencies will host recognition events for these young California Arts Scholars, to honor the students from their county who have been accepted to this highly prestigious summer program.

CSSSA Foundation Provides Future Opportunities to Alumni

Students who have attended CSSSA are given opportunities by the CSSSA Foundation to continue seeking higher arts education and pre-professional programs. In partnership with The Herb Alpert Foundation, each year 21 CSSSA students are selected to receive college scholarships. The awards include three students in each of the seven disciplines. Within each category, one student is selected for a $40,000 college scholarship.

As a direct result of attending CSSSA, students can also receive scholarships from a variety of generous foundations and institutions, including: Mel Swope Performing Arts Scholarship, Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation: Scholarships for Contra Costa County, Art Center College of Design, California College of the Arts, Bennington College, California Institute of the Arts, Cornish College of the Arts, Otis College of Art and Design, Pacific Northwest College of Art and San Francisco Art Institute.

CSSSA applications may be found online for the CSSSA Summer 2016 Program at www.csssa.ca.gov.

For more information visit www.acgov.org/arts (click on “What’s New”) or contact the Alameda County Arts Commission by email artscommission@acgov.org or phone at (510) 208-9646.

--Photos courtesy of CSSSA on Facebook.