Meet the 2026-27 AZ Youth Arts Council!

Overview

The Arizona Youth Arts Council is a group of 15 exceptional young people who serve as peer-review panelists for the Creative Youth Grant and advise the Arizona Arts Commission on investments that directly affect young people.

Term & Responsibilities

Over the next seven months, council members 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.

2026-27 Council Members

• Shireen Arora (Chandler, Maricopa County) – Kathak dance, nonprofit arts access work
• Nadia Ashley (Chandler, Maricopa County) – Arizona State University student, arts as platform for self-expression
• Bella Castaneda (Clifton, Greenlee County) – Creative and artsy pursuits
• Kaitlyn Causer (Cameron, Coconino County) – Drawing, sketches, writing
• Lennox Charley (Kayenta, Navajo County) – Promoting arts in community
• Srinidhi Chervu (Yuma, Yuma County) – Creative writer, poetry, prose, nonfiction
• Sallie Choi (Globe, Gila County) – Bass guitar, photography, poetry, musical theater
• Zaiden Dillard (Maricopa, Pinal County) – Composer, producer, designer, cellist
• Gabriela Hernandez (Nogales, Santa Cruz County) – Drawing, ceramics, fashion, traditional arts
• Ashlee Horgan (Pima, Graham County) – Illustration, watercolors, graphic design, animation
• Miras Nguyen (Oro Valley, Pima County) – Violin
• Victoria Nicolia (Douglas, Cochise County) – Painting, drawing, oil paints
• Clara Spencer (Prescott, Yavapai County) – Piano, cello, acrylic painting
• Damien Valdez (Kingman, Mohave County) – General arts interest
• Gowri Vinay (Chandler, Maricopa County) – Classical viola, poetry, short fiction