Abstracts of the 2006 Statewide Forums on Careers in the Arts (Current and Follow-up)
2006 Statewide Forum Conveners
- Bryan Knicely, Maine Arts Commission
- Kippy Rudy and Kathy Ann Shaw, VSA arts Maine
The Maine Careers in the Arts Forum for People with Disabilities- sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, VSA arts and the National Arts and Disability Center at the University of California Los Angeles-will assess the educational and career needs of artists with disabilities, and develop and implement strategies to overcome barriers. The content of the Forum will be informed by the work of a primary planning committee, statewide advisory committees, and a series of artME workshops hosted by the Maine Arts Commission to be held in Maine communities throughout the spring and summer months. The Forum will seek to assess the state's resources for people with disabilities and document existing services, strengthen attending organizations' and agencies' combined ability to serve the needs of artists with disabilities and create partnerships between providers of disability services, cultural venues, artists with and without disabilities and state agencies in order to improve employment opportunities and services for adult artists with disabilities.
Program highlights will include workshops on such topics as How to Prepare for an Audition, How to Put Together a Portfolio, How to Develop a Critique Network, as well as Accessibility and Marketing to Audiences of People with Disabilities, specifically for arts administrators. Panel discussions will be offered based on art forms (visual arts, music, theater and other performance, writing.) The day-long Forum will also provide Assistive Technology demonstrations, a musical performance by a professional Maine opera singer with a disability, an exhibition of art by Maine artists with disabilities, an opportunity to visit an ASL interpreted tour at the Portland Museum of Art and an ASL interpreted performance of a Portland Stage Company theater production. The Forum will be held on November 14th, 2006.
- Lisa Hester, Tennessee Arts Commission
- Lori Kissinger, VSA Arts Tennessee
Arts Talk is a one and one-half day forum that will bring together artists, arts employers, arts administrators and service providers to identify barriers and develop strategies for the successful employment of artists with disabilities. Focusing on the theme of Communication, Arts Talk will dispel myths and promote understanding between artists and employers by creating an atmosphere of open dialog. Estelle Condra who is a nationally recognized author, storyteller and actress will be the keynote speaker for the event. Her performances and presentations encourage her audiences to continue on with persistence, creativity and a positive attitude.
Arts Talk is scheduled for October 6 and 7 on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University. It will include break-out sessions, entertainment and an abundance of resource materials. Forum participants will receive a booklet that will continue to assist them as they pursue careers in the arts or as they hire artists with disabilities.
Follow-up Monies Recipients
- H.L. McGill, Arkansas arts Council
- Becky Harris, VSA arts Arkansas
The Arkansas Arts Council and VSA arts Arkansas will conduct a one day strategic planning session in Little Rock, Arkansas in September 2006. The session will be a continuation and follow up on the “Careers in the Arts for Artists with Disabilities Forums” held by the Arkansas Arts Council in conjunction with VSA arts in 2003 and 2004. The objectives of the planning session will be designed to: 1) Further assist VSA arts Arkansas in establishing a statewide organization that will act as liaison for increasing career opportunities for artists with disabilities throughout the State of Arkansas; and 2) Allow artists and service providers the opportunity to dialogue on possible joint initiatives that will provide artists with disabilities the opportunity to be successful in the workforce.
- Morgan Lewis, Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs
- Marian Winters, VSA arts of Florida
- Chandra Daniels, VSA arts of Florida
VSA arts of Florida in partnership with the State of Florida, Division of Cultural Affairs proposed “The Arts- A Realistic Career Path”, a professional development initiative for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselors and students in the Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling Program at Florida’s state universities. The project includes a series of training sessions as well as follow-up activities. Training will consist of: a sixty minute presentation on arts as a career choice, handouts and resource list. The VSAFL Professional Development Coordinator and the VSAFL Artist Registry Coordinator will lead the training. Each training will include a presentation by a career artist with a disability. Additional activities include an informational one page newsletter related to careers in the arts, a quarterly phone call with regional VR supervisors to discuss follow-up training and additional resources and presentations to job placement counselors that work with individuals with disabilities and university job placement offices on careers in the arts.
- Ronald Yamakawa, Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
- David Asato, VSA arts Hawaii
VSA Arts Hawaii-Pacific and the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture & the Arts will conduct “HI Art”, an inclusive Hawaii arts magazine creating an inter-related publication (online and print) that focuses on a variety of topics of interest to artists with and without disabilities. Topics of related interest to non-disabled artists, the general community, and art patrons will include: features on emerging
and prominent artists, native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander artists, major shows, exhibits, critiques, reviews, a calendar of events for all major museums, and First Friday statewide events promoted by DBEDT and State Foundation and Tourism Industry. Standing section related to disability advocacy will include: training on a variety of business subjects related to self-employment and disabilities, a showcasing of artists with disabilities and their work, mentorship programming for
emerging artists with disabilities, creative vocational projects for transition age youth, a statewide network of artists with disabilities, federal and state healthcare and work incentives and programs for individuals with disabilities, and publicizing career development opportunities, conferences and/or meetings. “Hi Art” will be promoted and disseminated through online disability advocacy networks, mainstream Hawaii print and electronic media, as well as arts organizations throughout Hawaii.
- Monica Peterson, Indiana Arts Commission
- Gayle Holtman, VSA arts Indiana
- Jane Harlan Simmons, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
The VSA Arts of Indiana (VSAI) and the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) will develop a comprehensive, statewide Internet site focused on careers in the arts for people with disabilities. The content will include features on Indiana residents with disabilities working in the arts, information resources with extensive links to other relevant sites (including state SSA & RSA), a searchable database of events and networking/job opportunities, a discussion forum/electronic bulletin board, and an online directory of Indiana arts workers. The website will be a collaboration of IAC, VSAI, Indiana ArtWORKS, the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, and the Indiana Department of Family and Social Services.
- Gail Burke, Minnesota State Arts Board
- Craig Dunn, VSA arts Minnesota
The Minnesota State Arts Board and VSA Arts of Minnesota proposed to further develop the monthly-meeting artist-support network named the Artists with Disabilities Alliance (AWDA). Meetings will be hosted to serve as incubators for creating additional AWDA groups in five targeted regions around Minnesota. Staff from VSA Arts of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Arts Board will plan, market and conduct three meetings during the project period in three of the larger population center regions and one meeting in the two remaining locations. The meetings will bring together individuals who self-identify as artists with disabilities to locations relatively close to where they live and bring them in contact with disability employment service providers, State Social Security Administrators, art funders and other groups and individuals who may support their career development.
- Katherine Eckstrand, Ohio Arts Council
- Kimberly Murray, VSA arts Ohio
VSA Arts of Ohio and Ohio Arts Council will distribute their new career workbook (that they developed in the 2005 Statewide Forum on Careers in the Arts) and conduct training for rehabilitation and vocational representatives in its use, hold discussions with counselors, teachers and mentors about what really works and what doesn’t, and follow-up with Career Forum attendees to assess the value of the Forum and the workbook. The career workbook is designed to be a comprehensive tool to help artists with disabilities to successfully address 1) the barriers to success in the area of employment identified at the forum and 2) methods for developing their careers.
- Brenda Tharp, Texas Commission on the Arts
- Celia Hughes, VSA arts Texas
The Texas Careers Forum follow-up activities are delivered through ArtWorks, professional development opportunities that include the following: writing and performance workshops; copyright and other legal workshops; photographing and other documentation support; calls for art and assistance with exhibit set-up, marketing, etc.; master classes taught by artists with disabilities. Conducted in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and other communities as requested, these workshops reach people for whom transportation can be an issue. In addition to ArtWorks, the following activities are scheduled for the upcoming year:
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Exhibit with artist reception by Texas artists who are blind at University of Texas at Arlington Hereford Gallery, November 2006. Exhibit by artists with diverse disabilities scheduled to tour State; June - Aug 2007.
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Panel presentation and artist exhibit and reception at Texas Rehabilitation Action Network (TRAN) statewide training conference for DARS employees (Dept. for Assistive and Rehabilitation Services). Conference in Austin.
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“Making Self-Employment Work for People with Disabilities” workshop by David Hammis for employment and rehabilitation counselors, artists with disabilities and their families. Workshop in Austin.
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Panel presentation at Region 13 Education Service Center Transition Youth Conference. Conference in Austin.
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JazzArtSigns performance at One World Theater, Austin. Professional development and skills building workshops for transition age youth and adults with disabilities as part of Lisa Thornson’s residency.
- Bitsy Bidwell, Washington State Arts Commission
- Dan Schmitt, VSA arts Washington
Washington State’s project is Practical Professional Development; Tools for Joining the Market. This workshop will be held in early 2007 in the Puget Sound region of the state where the majority of artists with disabilities reside. Emerging artists with disabilities in the Seattle area are the targeted constituency. These workshops will introduce the basic portfolio that is needed by artists in various fields in order to compete in the artistic workplace. Topics to be covered include such items as: how to write an artist resume, artist statement essentials, tips about slide sheets, digital images, manuscripts, or audio/visual tapes and information on approaching galleries, getting the ‘gig’ and entering the established artistic marketing systems. Additionally, the workshops will provide information about dealing with self-employment within the disability funding and support system. A planning committee of partners in the arts, workforce and customized employment, and disability resources will develop the curricula, identify the presenters, and assist in implementation of the project. We anticipate that partners will be able to provide a limited number of artists with more extensive, individualized employment assistance.
(F) 202-429-0868