About VSA
VSA is an international nonprofit
organization founded more than 35 years ago by
Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society
where people with disabilities learn through,
participate in, and enjoy the arts.
VSA
programming and initiatives are guided by four
essential principles:
-
Every
young person with a disability
deserves access to high quality
arts learning experiences.
-
All
artists in schools and art
educators should be prepared to
include students with
disabilities in their
instruction.
-
All
children, youth, and adults with
disabilities should have
complete access to cultural
facilities and activities.
-
All
individuals with disabilities
who aspire to careers in the
arts should have the opportunity
to develop appropriate skills.
VSA
defined four priority program areas to facilitate
understanding the nature of affiliate programming
from state to state. VSA
arts' priority
program areas are:
Educational Programs
-
Programs support academic learning through
VSA
educational resources such as Start with the
Arts and Express Diversity!
-
Artist residencies bring
professional artists to
pre-kindergarten through 12th
grade populations to teach in
school and community settings
-
Educational programs often
involve family and community
partnerships
Professional Development
-
Professional development for
teachers, artists, and arts
program staff addressing
critical information for
including students with
disabilities and integrating
arts into the classrooms
-
Programs that support the career
development of artists with
disabilities
-
Technical assistance to cultural
institutions focused on
improving physical and
programmatic access for people
with disabilities
Cultural Access
-
Services that ensure people with
disabilities have opportunities
to experience the arts as
audience or artist - for
example, audio description,
American Sign Language (ASL)
interpretation for arts
performances and exhibits
-
Physical and programmatic access
services such as accessibility
site surveys of cultural
organizations
Public Awareness Outreach
-
Arts
presentations for the community
including galleries, festivals,
exhibits, and performances
-
Awareness materials and
activities such as newsletters,
community presentations, and Web
site production to educate the
public about arts, education,
and disability topics
In order to reach nearly five million people annually,
VSA
needs the support of its affiliates. The efforts
of the affiliate network create a greater awareness
and understanding of the power of the arts to
change people's lives, especially people with
disabilities. To learn more about
VSAs'
affiliates, please visit
www.vsarts.org
