National Junior Board
Nurturing the Next Generation of Arts Leaders
About the Program
Arts India US has been working on Behind the Curtain, a national research report on the challenges that mainstream arts organizations face in presenting traditional art forms. One of our most striking preliminary findings: the field is critically short on trained administrators who have a full understanding of these forms, which often results in a lack of confidence in presenting them.
With the Arts India US Junior Board, we are training a new generation of leaders who will be both practitioners and institution-builders: individuals who not only cherish and perform these art genres, but who also know how to fund and present them.
The Arts India US National Junior Board is a selective leadership program for current 8th–11th graders who are deeply engaged in Indian classical music or dance. Modeled after a real nonprofit board, our Junior Board advises Arts India US on programs, strategy, and direction. Through their service, members will gain experience in governance, fundraising, budgeting, and organizational decision-making. They will have an impact on the organization, and thus, also on the national Indian classical arts ecosystem.
Applications Due: April 15, 2026
What Makes this Experience Valuable
A National Platform
You will have a seat at a table with peers from across the country, influencing the future of the U.S. Indian classical arts ecosystem as you learn about its current landscape and the problems that plague it.
Earned Leadership Roles
Elected and appointed leadership roles such as Junior Board Chair, Vice Chair, Committee Chair, and Regional Director may be earned through legitimate participation and genuine contribution.
Real Training, Real Skills
We are helping you develop skills that will be useful for any career path you ultimately take. As a member of our Junior Board, you will receive training in nonprofit management, fundraising strategy, budgeting, and organizational decision-making.
Certificate and Opportunity to Renew
Every member receives an official signed certificate from Arts India US upon completion, documentation of national board service. Additionally, members may be invited to renew their service each year until they graduate, allowing for longer-term contributions.
What the Experience Looks Like
Serving on the Junior Board is a meaningful commitment but one designed to be manageable alongside school and artistic training. Members should expect a professional, respectful, and intellectually engaging experience throughout their term. Junior Board members serve a one-year term, but those who demonstrate engagement and fulfill commitments may be invited to renew their position each year through high school graduation. Members participate in:
Four Full Junior Board Meetings (Quarterly, 90 minutes each, via Zoom)
These mirror real board sessions — organizational updates, strategic discussions, and advisory input. You will see how a real nonprofit operates from the inside.
Four Committee Meetings (Quarterly, 60 minutes each, via Zoom)
Each member serves on one committee for the year, allowing for deeper engagement in a focused area. Committees are led by Arts India US staff.
Committees likely include:
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Programs & Artist Support — How do we serve working artists better?
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Outreach & Engagement — How do we build new audiences and communities?
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Development (Fundraising) — How does a nonprofit sustain itself?
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Future Directions for the Field — Where is Indian classical arts in America headed?
Fundraising Responsibility
Just as most board memberships, Junior Board members are expected to commit to minimum annual fundraising contributions, which may be raised through their respective networks or may be personally contributed.
Fundraising is an incredibly valuable skill for future leaders in any industry. The good news is that it is learnable through practice! With our tools, templates, talking points, and peer support, Board Members will be equipped to make a compelling case for others to give. With this experience, we hope that Members feel empowered in the future to solicit financial support for other ideas and causes.
For the 2026-2027 term, the minimum fundraising commitment for each Junior Board member will be $500.
Who Should Apply?
The National Junior Board is designed for students who:
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Are current 8th–11th graders
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Have sustained training in Indian classical music or dance, and/or have shown meaningful engagement with Indian classical arts in any form
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Are curious about leadership, institutions, and the bigger picture
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Want to contribute to sustaining these art forms at a national level, not just performing them
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Are ready to show up with substantive participation and contribution, not just attendance and observations
We welcome applicants across all traditions, geographies, and backgrounds.
The College Admissions Case
Selective colleges are not just looking for depth in one area. They are looking for layering — students who contribute towards their passion at a macro level. However, Indian classical arts students do not have that opportunity in this country. At the same time, Indian classical arts training is profoundly rigorous. However, admissions officers often do not know how to weigh it, especially because they see a large number of candidates with this proficiency on their application. The National Junior Board changes this narrative entirely.
When you serve on the Junior Board, you are not only a dancer or a musician, you are also a national arts leader who is helping an established organization think strategically about the future of Indian classical art forms. That is a fundamentally different story than your training and performance, and one that colleges are more likely to recognize, appreciate and value.
We can help you tell that story well. If you are a senior serving on the Junior Board, and are interested, we would be happy to offer guidance on how to frame your arts leadership and board service in your application, such as providing specific feedback on an essay about your involvement with the arts and how to describe your experience in an activities section. (Note: we are not offering comprehensive college counseling, but a meaningful, one-on-one consult grounded in our expertise on certain parts of your application.)
Applications Due: April 15, 2026