Arts for Youth: Inspiring the Next Generation

The Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts believes that the arts are more than enrichment—they are a universal language that helps young people understand themselves, connect with others, and explore the wider world. Through its Arts for Youth program, RFA brings that truth to life for Lancaster County students, offering experiences that spark imagination, build confidence, and nurture lifelong curiosity. 

Science affirms what artists have always known: music and the performing arts strengthen physical, mental, and emotional well-being. They help students regulate emotions, improve focus, boost mood, and develop the discipline and teamwork that carry into every part of life. Those benefits are woven into every Arts for Youth performance, workshop, and partnership.

To date, RFA has brought more than 160 professional performances to Lancaster County students and continues to maintain the Lancaster Elementary School auditorium as a vibrant home for K–6 performing arts. Through grants and community support, RFA presents high-quality productions that illuminate history, literature, and culture—from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to Latin Ballet of Virginia’s folk tales and the story of the Wright Brothers. Students encounter jazz, drama, puppetry, magic, and musical theater, all tied directly to classroom learning. The impact is personal and lasting.

RFA’s commitment extends beyond performances. Scholarships and support over the years for more than 20 local groups—including Etudes Ballet School, RAL Art Center, and the String Orchestra for Northern Neck Youth—ensure that creativity thrives across the community. To expand opportunities and experiences for students in grades 7-12, RFA recently joined forces with the Lancaster County Public Schools to plan and purchase—through a $450,000 fundraising campaign—state-of-the-art audio and lighting equipment for the Auditorium and Performing Arts Center in the new Lancaster High School.

Every On Stage season ticket helps sustain Arts for Youth, turning audience members into champions for the next generation. Through this program, RFA is building not only artists, but thoughtful, expressive, and inspired young citizens.