This is not a fundraising campaign. We do not need money, just your signatures and testimonials!!!!

The New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA) is a highly competitive and intensive summer arts residential program funded by the New York State Education Department. A Governor's School, it includes seven different programs covering varying disciplines and has served high school students from across the State of New York since 1970.

Unfortunately and without explanation, for the summer of 2022, New York State has suspended ALL programs (on-site and virtual) entirely. Amid a huge influx of federal dollars and a budget surplus, no clear reason for this decision has been provided and perhaps more importantly, no guarantee has been given for if and how the programs will resume for the 2023 season.

NYSSSA provides a unique opportunity for young aspiring artists to work on college campuses with professional artists to build and expand their interests and skills to guide them towards their next steps in their artistic growth. Tuition to attend NYSSSA is government subsidized, making it possible for many families to send their students to participate in this immersive educational experience.

As many of you in the NYSSSA community know, a summer at NYSSSA can be a life altering experience. It has always been an inclusive community that has helped expand minds, elevate artistic skills and techniques, deepen knowledge of the histories of each discipline, and has been a venue to forming life-long friendships.

We are all too familiar with the abrupt termination of arts programming and funding. We hope that through this petition and gathering of testimonials, that New York State will understand the gravity of their decision to defund the NYSSSA program for 2023 which in effect, deprives young artists an opportunity of a lifetime.  We hope also that they will make a commitment to making sure that NYSSSA will be fully funded in 2023 and return in full force.