Youth Art Exchange presents Art is Essential: The 10th Annual San Francisco Youth Arts Summit, a celebration of young artists and their vibrant contributions to the creative and cultural fabric of San Francisco. Now more than ever, art is essential for connection and reflection, social change, and building community, especially for youth.

The San Francisco Youth Arts Summit, a project facilitated by Youth Art Exchange, is an annual gathering of young artists and arts educators, and the only event of its kind in the Bay Area. As we pivot online, we will be hosting a week-long virtual Youth Arts Summit from November 30 - December 4 with various workshops, panels, and professional development opportunities throughout the week. The Youth Arts Summit week culminates with the main event, the Youth Arts Celebration on Friday, December 4th from 4-5:30pm.

At the Summit, young artists lead and participate in workshops, interactive installations, exhibits, and performances. The Summit kicks off with a series of Professional Development opportunities, panel conversations and workshops Monday 11/30-Thursday 12/3 (see below for full schedule). The Summit features a variety of workshop offerings, some geared towards youth, some geared towards teaching artists and arts education professionals, and some are designed to be intergenerational. Workshops will be presented by Youth Art Exchange’s Faculty Artists; Youth Art Exchange’s Youth Advisory Board; RYSE Youth Center; de Young Museum; California College of the Arts; SFMoMA; Teaching Artist Guild; Arts Education Alliance of the Bay Area; San Francisco Art Institute; BAVC; CULK and more. 

The Youth Arts Summit Celebration on Friday 12/4 from 4-5:30pm will feature exhibitions of youth work, performances, and speakers from across the Bay Area arts education landscape, co-hosted by YAX’s Youth Advisory Board. In bringing together young artists from across the Bay Area, the Youth Arts Summit represents the next generation’s most innovative artists, filmmakers, architects, musicians, performers, and writers. 

The online gallery of work by youth from across the Bay Area can be viewed here starting on Monday 11/30. 

For more information on the Youth Arts Summit Week Workshops click here.