Become a San Mateo County Youth Arts Fellow!

This fellowship is a chance for you to share your art, connect with other youth artists in the County, and take on leadership roles by using your creativity to make a difference in local communities in collaboration with the San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture. You will learn how to plan and execute a public art program and how to use the arts to engage community.

One fellow from each district in the County will be selected. Each fellow will receive $1,000 for their term.

Fellowship Goals:

  1. To provide youth artists with leadership opportunities to use art in engaging communities
  2. To highlight the work of talented youth artists of varied media throughout the County
  3. To develop a supportive cohort of youth artists in the County
  4. To foster an appreciation of the arts by youth in the County and demonstrate the value of being an artist

Eligibility:

  1. Aged 14-19
  2. Reside in San Mateo County
  3. An artist specializing in one or more art disciplines that can include visual, performing, literary, and musical arts
  4. Experienced in community events, projects, or outreach is a plus
  5. Able to serve as a Youth Arts Fellow for the term October 1, 2026– June 1, 2027

Responsibilities of Youth Arts Fellows:

  1. Develop and execute an arts/culture-related project that will engage the community on issues important to you. This can include topics such as social justice, environment/sustainability, mental health, equity, and/or other societal issues impacting your respective communities. These programs can be in collaboration with organizations like libraries, community centers, schools, art spaces, etc.
  2. Attend and actively participate in up to six in-person meetings of the Youth Arts Fellows and intermittent virtual meetings.
  3. Support the cohort with feedback, program advertising, and help during events.
  4. Attend all Fellowship programs.

Applications open July 13 - August 28, 2026, will be available on July 13, 2026.

The Youth Arts Fellowship Program is a program of the San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture and supported by the Sam Francis Art Fund.