There’s immeasurable power in personal expression.  It’s the reason that, since its inception, Adobe Youth Voices has worked to encourage personal expression and creativity in students around the world and – along the way – empower them with 21^st century digital communication skills.

Shantanu, CEO, announces the Adobe Foundation Creativity Scholarships

Adobe is especially passionate about this mission, not only because creativity is our business, but because we know that outlets for creativity and expression for students aren’t a given.  In fact, according to a new “State of Creativity” benchmark study just released by Adobe, nearly 60% of those surveyed globally feel that creativity is actually being stifled by their education systems.

This statistic has to change.

So today, the Adobe Foundation proudly announced the creation of a $1 million Adobe Foundation Creativity Scholarship initiative, giving select Adobe Youth Voices students the chance to go to college and pursue a creative arts field.  We hope our scholarship recipients will be ambassadors for a more creative culture, finding creative ways to improve their communities, and becoming role models for the next generation of the creative workforce. We plan to announce more details on the scholarship application process later in the year.

Now more than ever, this investment in young people and in creativity is critical.  We’re honored to play a part.

As we enter the new school year, we’re excited to move forward with a plan to put the spotlight on our students work, rolling out a new theme each month and inviting the online community to view, comment on and share these amazing creations.

Month by month, youth-produced films will be posted to the Adobe Youth Voices Youth Media Gallery. We will highlight this content through this blog and via our social networks: Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

We invite you to check back often to view newly posted work, artist statements, and updates from our Adobe Youth Voices website, then share what you’ve seen with others!

Congratulations to all of our students, mentors and educators on beginning a new school year. We wish you all the best and we look forward to another year of sharing your work with the world!

Stacey Long, Adobe Youth Voices