ARTSEDGE Young Artist Showcase Worlds Fair
Young Artist Showcase


Developed in the Spring of 1977, the Kennedy Center IMAGINATION CELEBRATION (IC) is a network of performing arts festivals that celebrates and showcases young people and the arts. The IMAGINATION CELEBRATION is held at the Kennedy Center and four other national sites: Albany, NY; Fort Worth, TX; Dallas, TX; and Colorado Springs, CO.

The IMAGINATION CELEBRATION program is developed around community-wide partnerships between artists, cultural institutions, schools, businesses, and local governments. The IMAGINATION CELEBRATION program provides an opportunity to present major performing arts groups for young people in all arts disciplines (dance, visual art, music, and drama.) Numerous events including workshops for teachers and arts-based activities take place in the schools prior to the culminating IMAGIN ATION CELEBRATION festival. The festivals encourage family participation from all ethnic and economic backgrounds.

The four goals of the IMAGINATION CELEBRATION are:

  1. To demonstrate the value of the performing and visual arts as essential to learning through year-round educational programs and services for young people and their families;

  2. To develop partnerships between the community's arts and cultural resources and its schools, businesses, professional organizations and local government;

  3. To stimulate imagination and creativity in young people through the presentation of performances, exhibits, workshops and arts-based activities; and

  4. To recognize outstanding achievements in the arts for and by young people.
Return to the Young Performing Artists Showcase