(MIAMI) May 21, 2010 – The Peacock Theater at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts was energized with the creative spirit of several hundred Miami-Dade high school students, parents, teachers and arts supporters on Saturday, May 15 as the national YoungArts program launched its new regional laboratory initiative, YoungArts Miami.

          Open to Miami-Dade high school juniors and seniors in nine disciplines in the visual, literary and performing arts, YoungArts Miami offers participants informative monthly workshops; the opportunity to meet their artistic peers; access to resources and scholarships in the arts; career guidance; portfolio development; and other unique experiences including master classes, showcase performances and exhibitions.

          During the Saturday kick-off celebration, students were encouraged to  register for the prestigious national YoungArts program, which includes opportunities for recognition as one of 150 YoungArts finalists, and a chance to be nominated to the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars as one of 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts.

          The highlight of both the day program, for students, parents and teachers, and the evening event – for community arts patrons – was an hour-long original performance by YoungArts alumni. Evening guests included YoungArts Founder Lin Arison; YoungArts Board Chair Jim Dubin and his wife, Susan; Knight Foundation Miami Program Director and Vice President/Arts Dennis Scholl and his wife, Debra; Nancy and Jon Batchelor; Mark Steinberg and Dennis Edwards; Debi and Larry Hoffman; Marian Davis and David Parker; Judy and Woody Weiser; and Ana Codina Barlick and Rob Barlick.

YoungArts Miami is made possible in part through a generous challenge grant by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knight Arts Challenge, and with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, and in part by The Children’s Trust.