A must-watch for every parent and every child with a dream in Los Angeles! From their website: Ryman offers "free out-of-school sequential studio courses that emphasize advanced drawing and painting skills, along with college and career planning. Courses, taught by professional teaching artists, foster students’ artistic development and personal confidence, and provide the knowledge they need to pursue higher education and careers in the arts. Ryman Arts is the only such program in southern California that is totally free and that selects participants solely on the basis of their ability and commitment. By doing so, Ryman Arts is able to serve talented youth from a wide variety of backgrounds without regard to their family’s financial status. Ryman Arts aims to inspire, nurture, and challenge the next generation of artists to reach their potential." Application to the program is open to all students enrolled in high school grades 9 through 12. The application process is competitive as a limited number of new students can be accommodated each semester. Final selection is made by a committee that reviews the applicant’s drawings, essay and completed application form using multiple criteria, primarily evidence of talent and motivation. Ryman Arts strives to create a diverse class of students from schools throughout southern California.

The next deadline for applications is December 4, 2010 for the spring semester starting in January 2011.

Rymanarts.org