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Showing Up for Youth Arts in Columbus: How to Support the Next Generation in 2026

Written by TJ Shockley


If you’ve lived in Columbus long enough, you’ve seen it happen. A child takes the stage for the first time. A dancer finds their footing at the barre. A student musician plays a solo that feels larger than the room. A young artist sees their work on a gallery wall and realizes, maybe for the first time: this is real.


Youth arts in Columbus don’t exist in isolation. Collectively, we weave them into after-school schedules, weekend rehearsals, carpools across town, quiet practice hours, and proud moments in crowded lobbies. Youth arts are built and sustained by families, teachers, volunteers, and organizations who believe that creativity matters. 


As we head into 2026, supporting youth arts in Columbus doesn’t require being an expert or writing a big check. It starts with something simpler: showing up. 


Here’s how to do that — and why it matters.



Be in the Room


There is no substitute for an audience, especially for young artists. Performing for others teaches lessons that can’t be replicated in rehearsal: how to manage nerves, how to recover from mistakes, how to connect with people they may never meet again. A room with people in it tells a young performer that their work is worth sharing. 


Columbus is fortunate to have a strong pipeline of youth-focused performing arts across theatre, music, and dance. These experiences allow students of all ages not just to train, but to step into the role of an artist early. That matters. Being seen changes how young people see themselves. In a 2025 report by The Wallace Foundation, research shows that youth arts can be “explicit about helping young people find their futures.”


When you attend a youth arts performance or exhibit, it’s formative. And for young performers, a full room isn’t just encouraging — it’s validation.



Invest in Arts Education for the Long Term


Arts education is not simply an extracurricular luxury in Columbus. It’s a developmental pathway. According to a 2025 report from the National Endowment for the Arts, arts completion among high schoolers was “linked with greater academic achievement, high school graduation, and post-graduation outcomes.” Through theatre, dance, music, and visual arts, young people learn discipline, collaboration, resilience, and empathy. These are skills that shape students regardless of whether they pursue the arts professionally. Your support of arts education can take many forms:


  • Sponsoring scholarships or tuition assistance

  • Donating instruments, costumes, or supplies

  • Volunteering at classes, rehearsals, or performances

  • Attending student shows with the same respect given to professionals


If we want Columbus, Georgia to grow and retain creative talent, we have to invest early.



Treat Youth Performances Like They Matter (Because They Do)


It’s tempting to think of youth performances as “practice” or “stepping stones.” But for the students involved, these moments are the real thing. A recital, concert, or student production represents months — sometimes years — of hard work. Showing up on time, staying engaged, and applauding generously sends a clear message: this work counts.


Supporting youth arts also doesn’t require comparing them to professional productions, but what you will find in Columbus is that we have an abundance of talent that rivals professional expertise. Go see a performance by the Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus (YOGC) or a production by The Columbus Ballet, and you will often see our city’s young talent performing alongside experienced professionals. Our local youth artists are meeting these professionals on the main stage and showing that they belong. The very least we can do is give their work the respect it deserves.



Make Space Beyond the Stage


Youth arts aren’t limited to the performances. Visual arts programs, exhibitions, and workshops give young artists something equally important: visibility. Seeing work displayed publicly — framed, lit, and taken seriously — can shift a young person’s sense of what’s possible. When youth art is treated as worthy of public display, it tells students that their creativity isn’t something to hide. It’s something they should continue to develop, refine, and share.


Support can be as simple as paying attention. Ask questions. Take time. Bring other people with you. Visual arts support doesn’t always require a ticket; it often just requires intention.


Volunteer Where Youth Arts Happen


Youth arts programs run on people. Behind every recital, rehearsal, and exhibition are parents, teachers, and volunteers handling logistics, costumes, music stands, programs, and schedules. Dance schools, music organizations, galleries, and theatre programs rely heavily on volunteer support. In fact, many of these programs survive because of volunteers who step in where needed. They don’t do it because it’s glamorous; they do it because it’s necessary.


For those who do have arts expertise, consider opportunities to mentor a young artist or volunteer at a local organization to lend your talents. But you don’t need an arts background to help. Skills in planning, writing, marketing, administration, or simple reliability are invaluable. Even showing up consistently at events or recitals makes a difference. 


If you’ve ever enjoyed a youth performance, there’s a place for you behind the scenes.



Advocate Casually and Consistently


Lastly, being a champion for youth arts doesn’t have to be formal or organized. It often shows up in small, everyday choices. Want to advocate for youth arts? Invite a friend to a student performance. Share a youth exhibition. Choose to spend a weekend afternoon supporting a youth concert instead of scrolling past it. Talk openly with friends, family, and co-workers about why arts education matters.


These small acts normalize the idea that creativity is essential. Advocacy reminds others that arts education is a vital part of learning. Theatre builds communication and confidence. Dance teaches discipline and focus. Music develops listening, collaboration, and patience. Visual arts encourage problem-solving and self-expression. These benefits extend far beyond the studio or stage.


Why Your Support of Youth Arts Matters


As Columbus continues to grow, the way we support youth arts directly impacts the kind of community we become. Supporting youth arts isn’t about creating future professionals. It’s about creating confident, thoughtful, engaged people.


It also isn’t about doing everything. It’s simply about doing something: showing up, contributing time, offering encouragement, or investing where you can. Because when young artists thrive in Columbus, Georgia, the future of our creative community does, too.


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For anyone wanting to stay connected to youth arts in Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley, the Columbus Cultural Arts Alliance offers a clear, community-wide view of programs, performances, and events. This can be an easy way to find where artists are learning, creating, and performing.


Also, while this is not an exhaustive list, here are a few organizations and resources shaping the next generation of artists in Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley. Want to get involved? Start with one. Show up once. Then do it again. That’s how youth arts grow!


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