| | Are you ready for the 2027 CYAs? |
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| Submissions for the 2027 Creative Youth Awards are set to open on October 14th!
This FREE program is a great opportunity for Bay Area high school students to submit their original creative work - including creative writing, dance, film, music, photography, and visual art - for professional review, recognition, feedback, and cash awards.
Wondering what it’s like to participate? Hear directly from past Creative Youth Awardees as they share what the experience meant to them - and why they encourage other young artists to take the leap and submit their work. |
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| We’re ready! Are you?
Get started on your creative piece, learn more about submission guidelines, and get ready to apply on October 14th! |
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| Looking for a fun-filled day for the whole family? Enjoy a selection of films for kids and families, then keep the day going at the OAC with free, all-ages activities and entertainment.
Families can mix and match their activities throughout the day!
Start Date: Sunday October 11 Time: 12-4PM
Cost: Free and Open to the Public Location: Sequoia Cinema + Outdoor Art Club, Mill Valley
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| Get creative and make your own self-published mini-magazine at this hands-on zine-making workshop! Participants will explore the history and culture of zines while experimenting with playful collage techniques, including image transfers, Play-Doh printing, and different binding methods. The workshop will wrap up with a zine-trading session, giving participants a chance to share their creations with fellow zine-makers.
No previous art experience is required. Open to ages 11-18.
Date: Sunday October 4 and 18 Time: 1-3:30PM
Cost: Free Location: Mitchell Park Community Center, 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94303
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| 826 Valencia invites SFUSD high school seniors to register for this opportunity to receive additional support as they write, revise, and edit their personal statements. The program aims to support more than 200 students again this year.
Date: Friday, October 16 Time: 4:30-6:30PM
Cost: Free with Registration Location: 826 Valencia St. San Francisco, 94110
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| Experience San Francisco’s rich entertainment and theater history during a one-night-only celebration on Market Street. The evening brings together independent venues, local artists, and landmark theaters for a walkable arts experience throughout the corridor.
Expect free public performances, ticketed shows, and a variety of arts and cultural activities at venues along Market Street. With performances and events spanning the city’s independent and historic arts scene, the festival offers an opportunity to discover the people, places, and creative traditions that make San Francisco unique.
Date: Saturday, October 17 Time: 4-10PM
Cost: Free Location: Market St, San Francisco (Please see specific events and locations on website).
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| Celebrate the vibrant Bay Area music scene at the 19th annual SF Music Day, presented by InterMusic SF. This free, daylong event brings more than 20 ensembles to the historic SF War Memorial + Performing Arts Center, with performances taking place throughout the venue—including Herbst Theatre, the Green Room, and the Taube Atrium Theater. Come discover an exciting range of local music, all in one unforgettable day.
Date: Sunday, October 25 Time: 12-6PM
Cost: Free with Registration Location: San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102
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| The Directing Change Film Contest invites young people ages 12–25 to use filmmaking and creative expression to make a difference in their communities. This free, educational film contest encourages students and young adults to create short films exploring mental health, suicide prevention, and substance use prevention.
Through its “Learn, Apply, Share” approach, the program incorporates learning objectives directly into the film submission criteria—giving participants an opportunity to develop their creative skills while raising awareness around important issues.
Submission Deadline: March 1, 2027 Who: Individuals 12–25 of age
Award Amount: $1,000 Submission Categories: Suicide Prevention, Mental Health, Substance Use Prevention, Walk in Our Shoes (for middle school students), Through the Lens of Culture, Boys and Young Men’s Mental Health Media Challenge
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| | Collaborators: Flynn Rossington, Alex Powell, Renn Smith
Windward is a documentary shaped by listening—both to Walt Raineri’s story and to the natural world that restores him. My artistic process centered on translating an internal journey into a sensory experience, using sound, texture, and pace to mirror Walt’s way of navigating the world without sight. Rather than portraying blindness as limitation, the film aims to reveal the power and emotional depth within adaptive sports and the communities that make them possible. I approached the visuals with restraint and atmosphere, letting some silence, wind, and water carry meaning where images alone can’t. Working closely with Walt and BAADS, I learned to think about space, orientation, and storytelling in new ways—guided by touch, sound, and trust. I hope viewers come away feeling that resilience can be discovered in unexpected places, and that nature has the capacity to expand our world when it feels like it’s closing in.
See Windward screened at Mill Valley Film Festival Free Family Day |
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| | | Cultivating Creativity Together |
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| Support the work we do to foster a society that embodies creative spirit, art, and innovation. Make an impact today with a one-time or monthly gift, a donor-advised fund contribution, stock donation, Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), or employer match. |
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