Filmmaker and photographer María Alvarez Named Winner of the 2026 YoungArts Jorge M. Pérez Award
Gala Emceed by Multidisciplinary Performer Alaman Diadhiou and Tony and Emmy Nominee Brandon Victor Dixon; YoungArts Award Winners Performances Directed by Chanel DaSilva
What:
YoungArts—the national foundation for the advancement of artists—hosted nearly 300 of Miami’s top artistic luminaries, community figures, celebrities, and cultural stewards at their YoungArts Miami Gala. YoungArts raised $1.1 million at the annual fundraiser, sponsored by Oscar de la Renta, to advance their steadfast and unparalleled support of artists nationwide and across generations. The winner of the annual YoungArts Jorge M. Pérez Award, filmmaker and photographer María Alvarez, was honored that evening.
The gala celebrated the culmination of the 44th National YoungArts Week, which brought 171 YoungArts Award Winners with Distinction, including the nation’s most accomplished artists ages 15-18 spanning disciplines, to Miami for a week-long, all-expenses-paid experience. Students developed their respective crafts in masterclasses with distinguished YoungArts alumni, including Kennedy Yanko, Willa Bennett, Camille A. Brown, and more; came together to host public performances and share their artistic talents; and create lifelong bonds with fellow artists.
Who:
YoungArts Jorge M. Pérez Award Winner: María Alvarez (2014 YoungArts Winner in Film)
Artists, curators, collectors, and scholars: Derrick Adams (artist); Luis Alverez (artist); Germane Barnes (architect); Michael Chuapoco (artist); Alex Gartenfeld (Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami); Nadege Green (artist); Dave Guy (artist); Nikolai Haas (artist); Simon Haas (artist); Amanda Krische (artist); Amani Lewis (artist); Sam Moyer (artist); Don Rubell and Mira Rubell (collectors); Jean Shin (artist); Franklin Sirmans (Pérez Art Museum); Cornelius Tulloch (artist); and Kennedy Yanko (artist)
Philanthropy, culture, and business leaders: Mario Cader-Frech (philanthropist); Jeff Davis (Miami City Ballet Board of Trustees); Alberto Ibarguen (philanthropist); Michael Miller (philanthropist); Kristina Newman Scott (Knight Foundation); Sidney Stern (philanthropist); Pam Tatge (Jacob’s Pillow); Sandra Tamer (philanthropist); and Robert Wennett (philanthropist).
Gala Co-Chairs: Sarah Arison and Thomas Wilhelm, Chloe Berkowitz, Molly and Bill Ford, Dr. Christina Pérez MacLean and Nicolas MacLean, and Brynne McNulty Rojas and Julio Rojas
Emcees: Multidisciplinary performer Alaman Diadhiou (2016 YoungArts Winner in Dance & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) and Tony- and Emmy-nominated actor, singer, and producer Brandon Victor Dixon (1999 YoungArts Winner in Theater)
Performance Director: Chanel DaSilva (2004 YoungArts Winner in Dance & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts)
YoungArts Award Winner Performers: Gabrielle Chou, Alaman Diadhiou, Codelia King, Rodrigo Rodriguez, Shoshana Sklar, Penelope Shvarts, and Nicole Streger
Gala Committee:
Germane Barnes
Basil Chidi Funk
Rona and Jeff Citrin
Alexandra Codina
Naomi Fisher
Danielle Garno
Rosie Gordon-Wallace
Simon and Nikolai Haas
Alex and Carolyn Hurst
Sam Hyken
Lisa and Adam Koffler
Michi and Charles Jigarjian
Richard and Amy Kohan
Gordon Myers
Kristina Newman-Scott
Oti and Remi Roberts
Edward Manno Shumsky and Susan D. Kronick
Julia Steyn
Sandra and Tony Tamer
Cornelius Tulloch
Randi Wolfson and Chris Adamo
Kennedy Yanko
Maurice Zarma
When:
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Where:
The Rubell Museum
1100 NW 23rd St.
Miami, FL 33127
Images:
Available here.
About the YoungArts Jorge M. Pérez Award:
Established in 2018 and one of YoungArts’ largest financial awards, the YoungArts Jorge M. Pérez Award honors a previous YoungArts award winner who has strengthened their community through their artistic endeavors with an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000. Support for the award is provided by the Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation. Winners ages 25 and over are invited to apply, and selections are made by the Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation. Recent recipients include Diana Eusebio (2016 Visual Arts Winner & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts), Cornelius Tulloch (2016 Visual Arts & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts), Juan Jose Cielo (2015 Visual Arts), Malaika Temba (2014 Visual Arts), Ilana Harris-Babou (2009 Visual Arts) and Mateo Nava (2013 Visual Arts & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts).
About the YoungArts:
YoungArts—the national foundation for the advancement of artists—was established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison to identify exceptional young artists, amplify their potential, and invest in their lifelong creative freedom. YoungArts provides space, funding, mentorship, professional development and community throughout artists’ careers. Entrance into this prestigious organization starts with a highly competitive application for talented artists ages 15–18, or grades 10–12, in the United States that is judged by esteemed discipline-specific panels of artists through a rigorous adjudication process.
For more information, visit youngarts.org, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
Media Contacts:
Dave Adams, YoungArts
dadams@youngarts.org / 305.377.1140 x 1308
LeAnne Bugay / Shreya Labh / Francesca Kielb, Resnicow and Associates
youngarts@resnicow.com / 212.671.5163
