Affiliates Worldwide

VSA arts works with affiliated organizations nationwide and in over 60 countries worldwide. Within the United States, VSA arts programs are conducted by a network of VSA arts state organizations with their own 501-c-3 status or in collaboration with an affiliated organization. Organizations within the VSA arts network maintain strong connections to the home office in Washington, D.C. in a relationship that includes funding, participation in conferences, networking, the use of resources, technical assistance and programming, as well as sharing best practices and strategies among peers. Domestic organizations apply annually for affiliation and funding in a process designed to ensure that they meet with fiscal and operational standards and as a way to gauge and encourage growth in all areas. International affiliates do not receive funding from VSA arts.

VSA arts defined four priority program areas to facilitate understanding the nature of affiliate programming from state to state. The four program areas were developed in response to VSA arts' guiding principles and affiliated organizations provide a range of innovative programs to meet the local needs of their state and communities. VSA arts' priority program areas are:

Educational Programs

Programs support academic learning through VSA arts 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

Intensive professional development for teachers, artists, and arts program staff addresses 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 arts needs the support of its affiliates. VSA arts' funding from the U.S. Congress, which is granted to the domestic affiliates after accreditation each year, enables the home office to connect with the millions of people that are served throughout the nation. This also ensures that consistent high-quality programs are available to people with disabilities in their communities. 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 VSA arts' affiliates, please visit a list of our United States affiliates or International affiliates.

to top