FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – WASHINGTON, DC – Young Audiences Arts for Learning is proud to announce the Congressional designation of March 26–April 11, 2026, as National Young Audiences Arts for Learning Week (YA Week). Introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives on April 2, the 2026 YA Week Resolution honors the contributions Young Audiences Arts for Learning (YA) has made to students and schools nationwide, reaffirming Congress's recognition of the arts as a critical component of a well-rounded education.
Observed annually each spring, YA Week shines a national spotlight on the impact of Young Audiences Arts for Learning and its dedicated network of affiliates who make this work possible in classrooms and communities across the nation.
“Whereas Young Audiences Arts for Learning impacts over 5,020,107 participants annually with valuable arts-in-education programs…”
The 2026 YA Week Resolution was introduced Rep. Suzanne Bonamici [OR-1], with Rep. Nydia Velázquez [NY-7], Kevin Kiley [CA-3], and Chellie Pingree [ME-1] serving as co-sponsors. This year's YA Week builds on the momentum of our 2026 National Arts in Education Conference, held last month in Washington, D.C., where advocacy teams met with their members of Congress to share stories demonstrating why the arts are and should remain essential. Conference attendees had the privilege of meeting Rep. Bonamici, who addressed the group at our National Reception.
Throughout YA Week 2026 and beyond, the national YA network will amplify stories demonstrating how the arts inspire young people and strengthen school communities, while working to ensure equitable access to high-quality arts learning opportunities for all students.
We invite our partners and supporters nationwide to join us in celebrating YA Week and to advocate for policies that ensure every child has access to meaningful arts experiences. For more information about YA Week and ways to get involved, visit YA.org/YAweek.
READ THE YA WEEK RESOLUTION
About Young Audiences Arts for Learning
Young Audiences Arts for Learning is the nation’s leading arts-in-education network, serving millions of children each year through performances, workshops, and residencies that integrate the arts into learning. Through its national network of affiliates, YA advances the impact and reach of arts education by connecting teaching artists with schools and communities to foster creativity, learning, and achievement.
