---
title: Youth Arts Journalism Initiative | Arts Council of Greater New haven
description: Arts Paper initiative to train 6-8 students from New Haven and Hamden public high schools to independently research, draft, and publish articles about hyperlocal visual, performing, and culinary arts.
image: https://www.newhavenarts.org/hubfs/Arts%20Paper/April%202023/YAJI%20Students/YAJI2023Bios%20-%2010.jpeg
---

[![vast.png](https://www.newhavenarts.org/hubfs/acnh-header-border.svg "vast.png")](https://www.newhavenarts.org/?hsLang=en) 

[** ](https://www.newhavenarts.org/yaji#)

[![JOIN](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4332862/f2d9e7b3-7aef-4e69-aa6e-7bf55be287a8.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4332862/f2d9e7b3-7aef-4e69-aa6e-7bf55be287a8)

[DONATE](https://www.newhavenarts.org/donate?hsLang=en)

![Hero](https://tools.impactbnd.com/placeholder/1200x300.jpg)

# Youth Arts Journalism Initiative 

###### Welcome to the application for YAJI Summer 2026! If you are a high schooler attending a New Haven, Hamden or West Haven public school and have an interest in writing and journalism, read on and spread the word!

Welcome to the application for the ninth cohort of the Youth Arts Journalism Initiative (YAJI). If you are a high schooler attending a New Haven, Hamden or West Haven public school and have an interest in journalism, read on. Applications are open **Friday, March 27-Friday, May 1, 2026**. 

The mission of the Youth Arts Journalism Initiative (YAJI) is to introduce high schoolers to grassroots journalism through The Arts Paper, the daily publication of the Arts Council of Greater New Haven. Students independently research, report, draft, and publish articles covering arts, culture, and community in New Haven and the greater New Haven region. Many YAJI alumni stay on as freelance reporters after the program ends. If you want to get a feeling for some of that reporting, you can read their work [here](https://www.newhavenarts.org/arts-paper/articles/tag/youth-arts-journalism-initiative?hsLang=en). 

The next semester starts **June 29-July 3** (following the end of the NHPS, WHPS and HPS academic years) with a week-long "intensive” followed by seven weeks of pitch meetings, group writing/reporting time at the New Haven Free Public Library and 1:1 professional mentorship. We ask students to produce between one and four publishable articles over the course of the program.

Student pay starts at $100 per article. In addition, all students receive a $400 stipend for participating in the program. The Arts Council of Greater New Haven disburses half of the stipend after the week-long intensive, and the second half after attendance in and completion of the program

The 2026 summer intensive will be held in person Monday through Friday June 29 through July 3 at the Ives Main Branch of the New Haven Free Public Library, 133 Elm Street in New Haven, and the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, 70 Audubon Street in New Haven. 

Your commitment to the program includes:

- Weekly sessions with program mentors, teaching artists & visiting journalists
- Developing story ideas
- Conducting interviews on the phone and in person 
- Writing publishable articles
- Ten hours a week to work on articles independently

**NOTE:** Participation in YAJI is a significant time commitment. If you cannot commit at least 10 hours a week to conducting interviews, writing independently and working with mentors to edit and revise your articles, this program may not be for you (and that's ok!). In the past, students have underestimated this time commitment and struggled to complete the program. 

**Important dates to remember:**

**March 27, 2026: **Applications open  
**May 1, 2026: **Applications due  
**May 8, 2026:** Applicants notified  
**May 15, 2026:** Applicants accept or decline entry to the program. **Waitlist regrets by May 18.**  
**Program begins: June 29, 2026 **(note: we usually start earlier, but NHPS ends later this year due to snow days!)      
**Program ends: August 21, 2026**

Participants who successfully complete the summer program may be invited to continue writing stories for The Arts Paper as a freelance writer.

For questions, email [lucy@newhavenarts.org](mailto:lucy@newhavenarts.org). Fill out the application below to apply.

## ![YAJI1 - 1](https://www.newhavenarts.org/hs-fs/hubfs/YAJI1%20-%201.jpeg?width=500&height=333&name=YAJI1%20-%201.jpeg)

 

## Want to Stay in the Loop?

Become an individual member of the Arts Council for the latest upcoming YAJI opportunities!

[![Join Today ... it's free!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4332862/088bd6ea-dc3e-4a91-a102-0b657c04783b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4332862/088bd6ea-dc3e-4a91-a102-0b657c04783b)

 

 

## YAJI Funders

![Screen Shot 2018-08-08 at 12.35.07 PM](https://www.newhavenarts.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202018-08-08%20at%2012.35.07%20PM.png?width=177&name=Screen%20Shot%202018-08-08%20at%2012.35.07%20PM.png)

Our sincere thanks to the following foundations, institutions, and local businesses who have and continue to help make YAJI possible!

*Interested in supporting YAJI? Contact our Annual Fundraising Manager [Mina Khokhar](mailto:mina@newhavenarts.org) for more information.*

| [![Pincus_logo_521x200](https://www.newhavenarts.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Pincus_logo_521x200.png?width=200&name=Pincus_logo_521x200.png)](https://pincusfamilyfoundation.org)   | [![NBC CT T TAG RGB S 011419@4x transparent](https://www.newhavenarts.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NBC%20CT%20T%20TAG%20RGB%20S%20011419@4x%20transparent.png?width=200&name=NBC%20CT%20T%20TAG%20RGB%20S%20011419@4x%20transparent.png)](https://www.nbcuprojectinnovation.com)   |
| --- | --- |
| ![CarolynFoundation-1](https://www.newhavenarts.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CarolynFoundation-1.png?width=202&height=130&name=CarolynFoundation-1.png) | ![Arts, Culture, and Tourism](https://www.newhavenarts.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Arts%20Awards%2043%202023%20Future/Arts%20Awards%2043%202023%20Sponsor%20logos/Arts%2c%20Culture%2c%20and%20Tourism.png?width=133&height=174&name=Arts%2c%20Culture%2c%20and%20Tourism.png) |
| [![Otaru-Sushi](https://www.newhavenarts.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Otaru-Sushi.jpg?width=200&name=Otaru-Sushi.jpg)](http://www.sushiotaruct.com)   | [![Edgehill-logo](https://www.newhavenarts.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Edgehill-logo.png?width=200&name=Edgehill-logo.png)](https://www.edgehillrealtors.com)   |
| [![Atticus_Circle+Emblem_Gray-01](https://www.newhavenarts.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Atticus_Circle+Emblem_Gray-01.png?width=200&name=Atticus_Circle+Emblem_Gray-01.png)](https://atticusnhv.com/)   | [![WholeG-transparent](https://www.newhavenarts.org/hs-fs/hubfs/WholeG-transparent.png?width=200&name=WholeG-transparent.png)](https://www.wholeg.com/)   |

 

### Have a question? We've got answers!

**

**GIVE WITH PURPOSE: YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS**

The Arts Council supports hundreds of individual artists and creative organizations helping to reach thousands of residents every year. 

Want to help support the Arts Council in other ways? [Learn more here](https://www.newhavenarts.org/support-your-arts-council?hsLang=en).

No thanks

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "Organization",
  "contactPoint" : [ {
    "@type" : "ContactPoint",
    "contactType" : "customer service",
    "telephone" : "(203) 772-2788"
  } ],
  "legalName" : "Arts Council of Greater New Haven",
  "logo" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/4332862/acnh-logo-2.png",
  "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/artscouncilofgreaternewhaven", "https://twitter.com/NewHavenArts", "http://www.youtube.com/user/ACGNH", "http://www.instagram.com/newhavenarts" ],
  "url" : "https://www.newhavenarts.org"
}
```