AZ Youth Arts Council

Established in 2019, the AZ Youth Arts Council advises the Arts Commission on grant programs and initiatives that directly affect young people. As they do so over the next 9 months, they will review issues related to arts and culture programs and services for young people and learn about policy related to equal access to the arts for all young people in Arizona.

2024-2025 Youth Arts Council

Lily Charley
Kayenta

Hello, My name is Lily Charley or Lennox. I enjoy drawing and animating. But I’m known for playing in MVHS advance guitar class and playing other string instruments. Such as the guitar, ukulele, and the banjo.

Sallie Choi
Globe

My name is Sallie Choi and I’m a sophomore in high school. Between playing bass, musical theater, and writing, the arts have always been significant in my life. Outside of reading Frank O’Hara and journaling, I like to perform bass at open mics and craft with my friends. I’ve also been learning how to produce music and play the drums on the side. I’ve been helping run creative workshops out on the Reservation and at local schools for a few years now, motivated by the goal of spreading an interest in art. This has led me to the AZ Youth Arts Council, so I’m looking forward to making a difference in my community–and state–through the arts.

Ashton Dolce
Phoenix

“My name is Ashton, and I am a 12th-grade student attending BASIS Scottsdale. My interest in art stems from creating murals in my school and creating action art to support the Phoenix youth climate movement. I serve on the board of my school’s National Art Honor Society where I helped start the first three mural projects bringing color and creativity to once bare walls. In my free time, I enjoy creative pursuits like painting and printmaking. I also love to bake tarts, croissants, and other chocolate bakes.

Robyn Foley
Tempe

My name is Robyn Foley and I am a freshman at Arizona School for the Arts. I am a multidisciplinary performing artist. I am a percussionist in my school’s band and percussion ensemble, a choral singer who has participated in both regional and national ACDA honor choirs, a performer at various local youth theaters, and dancer at Ballet Theatre of Phoenix. Performing arts bring me so much joy, and as a council member, I hope to share that joy with other young people in Arizona.

Archana Gurudu
Phoenix

My name is Archana Gurudu, a junior at Paradise Valley High School. As a visual artist, I enjoy using oil, acrylic, and drawing media to achieve a loose realistic style in my work. Engaging with art organizations across Phoenix has given me the opportunity to recognize the valuable intersection between the arts and the development, resilience, and self-expression of youth. I look forward to advocating for equal access to the arts and learning from the diverse perspectives of our council members this year!

Shea Lee
Chandler

My name is Shea Lee, and I am a senior at BASIS Chandler. My passions include using music to connect with different populations, such as youth with disabilities and employing visual arts as a way of educating the community on health issues. Art and music have always influenced my life by teaching me not only how to interact with others but also how to lead and connect with those who share similar passions as me. My goal is to educate young people on how to express themselves through the arts and use their talents to advocate for and give back to their communities. I am excited to serve on the AZ Youth Arts Council this year and continue making a positive impact in our community!

Carlos Madrid
Tucson

Hi my name is Carlos Madrid, I’m a senior at University High School in Tucson, Arizona. For me art has always been a big part of my life from dance, to music, to artwork. I have a passion for learning about different cultures artworks, and traditions. I have aspirations of eventually becoming a museum curator focusing on Latin American Artwork. I’m so excited to represent my community of Southern Arizona on the Youth Arts Council.

Adam Michelson
Kingman

I am an onstage performer with years of experience in acting, singing, dancing, and improvisation. I have been in dozens of plays and other productions from the local Beale Street Theater community, so I am knowledgeable about how to organize and execute a community play.

Savannah Molenar
Yuma

Hi! My name is Savannah Molenar! I am 17 years old and a senior in high school. I am the Student Body President, the National Honors Society Vice President, and a member of the Veterans Heritage Club. My whole life I have grown up surrounded by artists and creative people, and I have a deep passion for the arts. Specifically, I enjoy working with ceramics and textile arts. I am excited to represent Yuma and to make a difference in the Arizona Youth Arts Council!

Dahlin Mungkieatskul
Ajo

Hi, my name is Dahlin. Currently, I am in GED and I just turned 18! I dabbled in drawing when I was younger and love writing poetry, but what I am pursuing the most is jewelry making and pottery. I learned metalsmithing in a beginner’s jewelry class in 2023 at Mesa High and am studying pottery at my local studio. I am very nervous and excited to be part of the AZ Youth Arts Council. I live in a small town with fewer resources, I am working on starting my own jewelry business, and would honestly love to learn more forms of art. There is so much I want to learn not only for myself to grow as an artist, but also for the difference I hope I can create with my community and the art community.

Imani-Love Riggs
Tucson

Imani-Love Riggs is a visual artist specializing in watercolor on paper and acrylic on canvas. She is an High School student at Compass High School in Tucson, Arizona, where she practices Woodworking and Fashion Design. She enjoys baking cakes, skating, and making art. As an artist, she continues to submit work into art shows and she plans to study Real Estate as one of her future endeavors.

Ava Rios
Flagstaff

My name is Ava Rios! I’m a sophomore in high school and I love theater and the performing arts! I love to sing and act and I love to be on stage! The stage is my home and when I’m participating in a show I feel so welcome and loved. My love for the performing arts is never ending and My goal is to share that love with everyone!!

Blanca Velasco
Somerton

Hello :D! My name is Blanca. I’m 15 years old and attending Kofa high school. I am originally from Mexico but moved to Arizona some time ago. The art I do includes digital, traditional, felting, theater, and writing. I’m also very into fashion design, and sculpting. For me, art has always been a way to express and depict any thoughts or ideas in a way which is visually appealing or interesting. I, with certainty, believe that anything is art as long as it holds a genuine meaning to the artist. I am excited and looking forward to working alongside my fellow youth art council members.

Clarice Villanueva
Prescott

“My name is Clarice Villanueva and I’m a senior at Prescott High School. A couple of years ago I requested a set of watercolors on a whim thinking it might be fun to give it a whirl. I instantly fell in love with the medium and I continue to explore and grow in my discovery of art, not just in watercolor, but in all my artistic endeavors. I make an effort to experiment with natural light and my goal is to instill a sense of life and soul into every piece I create. My community has given me many opportunities and shown a lot of support in my artistic journey and I would love to return the favor. I look forward to helping promote art engagement in Arizona with the AZ Youth Arts Council.

Keeshaun Young
Phoenix

As a hopeful contributor to my community, I envision making significant impacts on those around me. I believe the world can improve, and I’m determined to advocate for that progress. Art, in its beauty, serves as a powerful means of expression and a catalyst for change.

2023-2024 AZ Youth Arts Council

Lola Arvizu, 18
Tucson

My name is Lola Arvizu and I attend the University of Arizona for Art History and Chemistry. I enjoy making and talking about art, as well as getting involved in Tucson local art scene. I attend and volunteer at various local art galleries and I am part of a small local band. I paint, play bass, make prints, and more.

Amaya Bailey, 17
Gilbert

My name is Amaya, I’m 17 and a senior at Gilbert High School. I love any kind of art you put in front of me including metals & jewelry, photography, painting, and ceramics. I am an active member of my school’s first Black Student Union and hope to make art more inclusive for everybody.

Nessa Choi, 16
Globe

My name is Nessa Choi, and I am a junior in high school. I’ve always enjoyed art in all forms: painting tiny canvases, making frog families out of clay, hot gluing fabric scraps into doll clothes. These days I still paint and sew, and I also play the bass and do musical theater. Last spring, I costumed a production of Willy Wonka Jr., which involved designing and sewing outfits (I can use a sewing machine now, so no hot glue), teaching younger kids to make their own candy accessories to wear in the show, and helping hand-letter and paint sets.

Paulina Fontes, 17
Rio Rico

I’m Paulina, I’m a senior at Rio Rico High School and have a passion for art and animals. I have 2 younger brothers at home, a dog and cat, whom I adore. I love art in general and work with multiple media such as oil/chalk pastels, watercolor, acrylic painting, ceramics, and graphite drawings. I’d say I have a broad range of interests like surrealism, expressionism, realism, abstract, and more.

Thank you,

Jordan Harris

Archana Gurudu, 15
Phoenix

My name is Archana Gurudu, and I am a sophomore at Paradise Valley High School. Visual art has been a passion of mine for over 8 years, and I have always been fascinated by its ability to promote self-expression and creativity. By working with art students at the Scottsdale Artists’ School, as well as observing my own self-growth from art, I have come to recognize the transformative power that visual arts programs can have on youth. I look forward to working with the AZ Youth Arts Council to help increase youth art equity in our state.

Olivia Hanson, 15
Surprise

My name is Olivia Hanson and I’m a sophomore at Paradise Honors High School. You’ll usually find me typing up scripts or singing through my favorite musicals with friends. The arts have always made up a big part of my life. This is thanks to the amazing communities I’ve gotten to be part of for both writing and music. Through these experiences, I’ve learned knowledge and community are the most powerful tools in one’s arsenal. I believe this should be made accessible to every young artist and that’s what I intend to do as a member of this council.

Jordan Harris, 14
Phoenix

My name is Jordan Harris, I’m currently 14 years old and a sophomore at Xavier College Preparatory. I’m a self-taught artist who started young and falls into the line of visual arts, specifically painting, drawing, and occasionally digital art. I joined the AZ Youth Arts Council in hopes of making a difference in art and exploring different cultures through art in itself while attempting to flourish in mine. I can’t wait for the year to come and am excited to see what it brings.

Sophia Lin, 16
Scottsdale

My name is Sophia Lin, a junior at BASIS Scottsdale. I find inspiration in the beauty of art through painting, dancing, writing, and speaking. I advocate for social justice through my paintings displayed at the State Capitol and Congressman’s office. Having danced all dance styles for ten years, I spread the joy as a performer and dance instructor for nonprofit organizations. Serving as an ambassador for FreeArts for Abused Children and the president of iReach, I focus on bridging Arizona’s education gaps. I aspire to learn about policy and advocate for equal access to the arts for Arizona youth!

Addie Omerza, 18
San Tan Valley

My name is Addie and I am a sophomore theatre major at Eastern Arizona College. I am very passionate about the arts. I have been performing since I was seven years old and has loved every minute of it.

Molly McIntier, 14
Yuma

My name is Molly McIntier, I am a 14-year-old freshman student at Yuma High School. I have always been involved in the arts whether it is drawing, musicals, or music. I’ve played the piano from the age of 5 to 13, I’ve been playing the flute since 7th grade, and I plan on going all through high school with it. I am also vice president of Yuma Highs Creative Crims Art Club and a part of the Mastery of the Arts program. I am super exited to make a difference in art around my community.

Mateo Pena, 15
Prescott

I am Mateo, a 15-year-old passionate musical theatre enthusiast. I have attended Trinity Christian School for nine years, and I love all the arts. I hope to become a professional actor on the screen or the stage.

Stephanie Polasky, 18
Kingman

My name is Stephanie Polasky. I just graduated High School from Lee Williams High School and I am currently attending Mohave Community College and working on my AA in Liberal Arts. My main art focus is technical theatre, but more specifically lighting and stage management.

Nathan Spencer, 14
Prescott

My name is Nathan, and I’m a sophomore at Prescott High School. My background is in piano and violin. Recent highlights include winning first in the Flagstaff Piano Festival Competition and the Prescott Center for the Arts Scholarship Competition (in both piano and violin) this spring and being the only freshman at my school accepted into the All-State Honors Orchestra last school year. In February, I will be a soloist with the Prescott Pops Symphony.

Saomy Valentin, 15
Glendale

Hi, my name is Saomy Valentin. I’m a 15-year-old sophomore at Centennial High School. I have dedicated my life to dance since I was 3. I currently compete in dance competitions, assist classes at my studio and school. Every year I perform with my studio Onstage Dance Academy at community events like Glendale Glitters, the State Fair of Arizona, and others. I love drawing and expressing my emotions through them and have had my art displayed at the Peoria Arts Festival since 2nd grade.

Jaden Wu, 16
Tucson

My name is Jaden, and I’m a high school senior at BASIS Oro Valley. I’m super excited to be a part of the youth council this year! I play the piano, dabble in graphic design, and am passionate about using the arts to elevate youth voice. I’m looking forward to working with this group to increase access and provide opportunities for youth!

Apply Now to serve on the 2024-25 AZ Youth Arts Council!

The Arizona Commission on the Arts invites teen creatives to join the AZ Youth Arts Council to ensure that Arizona’s youth perspective is heard in arts programming and policy.

Who Are We?

We’re an agency of the State of Arizona dedicated to creating opportunities for all Arizonans to participate in and experience the arts.

Who Are You?

You’re a creative, passionate, community-minded Arizonan, age 14-19.