Young Artist Award facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Young Artist Award
The Young Artist Award statue.
Awarded for	Excellence of young performers in movies, television, theatre, and music.
Presented by	Young Artist Foundation
Country	United States of America
First awarded	1979

The Young Artist Award is a special prize given by the Young Artist Foundation. It was first called the Youth In Film Award. This foundation started in 1978. Its goal is to celebrate young actors and singers under 21. They get awards for their great work in movies, TV shows, theater, and music. The foundation also helps raise money. This money helps talented kids go to special schools for arts.

The very first Youth In Film Awards happened in October 1979. They were held at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Hollywood. These awards honored young performers for their work in 1978 and 1979.

About the Young Artist Foundation

The Young Artist Foundation is a charity that began in 1978. Maureen Dragone, a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press, started it. The foundation helps raise money for young artists. This money lets them attend special schools. There, they can study acting, singing, or other arts. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is one of the biggest supporters of this foundation.

Young Artist Awards: Celebrating Young Talent

Award History and Name Change

The Young Artist Awards are given out every year. The Young Artist Foundation presents them. For the first 20 years, they were known as the Youth In Film Awards. In March 2000, for the 21st awards show, the name changed. It became the Young Artist Awards. Some people even call them the "Kiddie Oscars." This is because they are like the Academy Awards for young people in Hollywood.

Maureen Dragone started these awards in 1979. She wanted to recognize child actors and singers. She felt that young performers did not have a fair chance. They often competed against adults for awards like the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Award. For example, in those early years, Ricky Schroder in The Champ and Justin Henry in Kramer vs. Kramer competed with adults. The awards ceremony used to be in November or December. Now, it usually happens in March or April.

The Award Statue

The first Youth In Film Award was a small statue. It looked a bit like a tiny Academy Award statue. It showed a small golden person holding a laurel wreath. This person stood on a large base, like a sports trophy.

The new Young Artist Award statue still looks like a small Academy Award. But now, the golden person holds a star above their head. The base is much smaller. This makes it easier for young children to hold. All winners receive this golden statue. Children who are nominated get a special plaque. This plaque helps them remember their nomination.

How Winners Are Chosen

To be considered for a Young Artist Award, children must be between 5 and 21 years old. Their agent or manager first suggests their names. These suggestions must be in by late January or mid-February. About a month later, the Young Artist Awards holds a party. At this party, they announce the names of the nominated children. The Youth In Film Awards used to honor young artists up to age 21. Now, most of the awards go to children under 18.

The Young Artist Association chooses the winners. This group was first called the Hollywood Women's Photo and Press Club. It had 88 journalists and photographers who worked in the arts. Today, the Young Artist Association has over 125 members. These members include journalists, agents, and even former child performers. The Young Artist Association and past nominees vote by secret ballot to pick the winners.

Award Categories

In 1979, the first Youth In Film Awards had 11 categories. Some early categories for young artists were:

• "Best Juvenile Actor and Actress in a Motion Picture"
• "Best Juvenile Actor and Actress in a TV Series or Special"
• "Best Juvenile Actor and Actress in a Daytime TV Series"
• "Best Male and Female Juvenile Recording Artist"

The awards also recognized studios and networks. They gave prizes for family-friendly films and TV shows.

Today, there are many more categories. Some new ones include:

• "Best Young Actor and Actress in an International Feature Film"
• "Best Young Actor and Actress in a Short Film"
• "Best Young Supporting Actor and Actress in Film"
• "Best Young Ensemble Cast"
• "Best Young Recurring Actor and Actress in a TV Series"
• "Best Young Guest-starring Actor and Actress in a TV Series"

Many categories are now split. This means children age 10 and under have their own separate awards. Over the years, the Young Artist Awards has also honored children for work in other arts. These include theater, dance, commercials, journalism, radio, and stand-up comedy.

Special Honorary Awards

Some original categories, like "Best Juvenile Recording Artist," are no longer competitive. Instead, they are now given as special "Honorary" awards.

Two well-known Young Artist Honorary Awards are:

• The Jackie Coogan Award: This award goes to movie studios, producers, or directors. It recognizes their "Outstanding Contribution To Youth Through Entertainment."
• The Former Child Star Award: This is a "Lifetime Achievement Award." It is given to adults who were once famous child stars.

The Awards Ceremony

The awards ceremony happens every year in Hollywood. It is the most formal awards event for child actors. Young nominees and their parents are expected to dress up. Many arrive in long cars called limousines. Reporters and photographers are invited to the red carpet before the show. They take pictures and talk to the young stars. The child stars also sign autographs for fans. The children chosen to announce the winners are usually past winners or nominees from the current year. After the ceremony, there is a formal dinner. Then, there is dancing with live music from popular child singers.

The first Youth In Film Awards took place in October 1979. It was at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Hollywood, California. Other places where the ceremony has been held include the Ambassador Hotel's Coconut Grove, the Globe Theatre, the Beverly Garland Hotel, and the Sportsmen's Lodge.

See also

In Spanish: Premios Young Artist para niños