VSA arts Institute Hosts Eight Middle Eastern Countries in Cairo

April 12, 2007

VSA arts Institute Hosts Eight Middle Eastern Countries in Cairo

Washington, April 12, 2007 -- On April 17 educators, disability service providers, artists, and nonprofit leaders from eight Middle Eastern countries and the United States will convene in Cairo, Egypt for the VSA arts Institute. Participants in the Cairo Institute have registered from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates.

Over the course of three days, Institute participants will attend hands-on workshops to network and exchange ideas on how to employ effective strategies for teaching students with and without disabilities through the arts. They will share knowledge on how to create engaging lessons and learning environments that meet the diverse needs of all students. And they will hear from experts in education, disability studies, and the arts about successful partnerships, arts and learning and evaluating data in planning for a successful student.

“Our goal was to bring like-minded experts from all over the Middle East together to benefit children,” said Soula Antoniou, VSA arts president. “This is the latest in a series of VSA arts international trainings and we’re very happy to be here.”

Former Minister for Rehabilitation Dr. M. El Banna, Executive Director of VSA arts of Egypt, said “VSA Egypt was established in 1990 when Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith explained how art is extremely important in the lives of persons with disabilities and invited me to send artists with disabilities to the VSA arts International Festival in Washington. That was the start of a long, fruitful relationship and now to have this special Cairo Institute with VSA arts is gratifying and wonderful.”

VSA arts professional development trainings have been held in Hong Kong, China 2001, Lima, Peru 2001, San Juan, Puerto Rico 2002, and Athens, Greece 2003.

VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts. VSA arts provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities. Each year millions of people participate in VSA arts programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in more than 60 countries around the world. VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information visit www.vsarts.org

Media Contact:
Jean Wussow/VSA arts
(202) 628-2800 ext. 3892
jeanw@vsarts.org