On October 22, 2018, the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the nonprofit organization that presents the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, was honored with the Arts Education Award from Americans for the Arts at the annual National Arts Awards.

For more than fifty years, Americans for the Arts has been an advocate for advancing the arts in the United States. A nonprofit organization, their mission is “to build recognition and support for the extraordinary and dynamic value of the arts and to lead, serve, and advance the diverse networks of organizations and individuals who cultivate the arts in America.”

Alumnus and fashion designer Zac Posen presented the award to our Executive Director, Virginia McEnerney, after sharing the lore of his very own Scholastic Art & Writing Award. The Alliance was celebrated alongside fellow honorees Mavis Staples, Ai Weiwei, Justin Peck, and Ann Ziff. Another Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Alumnus, John Baldessari, was the featured artist.

The event was held at Cipriani in New York City, and the awards were designed by artist Jeff Koons. Vogue covered the event in their online magazine and shared some great photos from the night!

The Alliance was deeply honored to receive the award as it highlights our efforts to empower student voice through art and writing, and to showcase their creative works to a wider audience.