VSA arts of Alabama
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1915 4th Avenue South |
Patti Hendrix Lovoy |
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Tel.: (205) 307-6300 |
Website: |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 5 |
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The mission of VSA arts of Alabama is to provide opportunities in the arts for people with chronic illnesses and disabilities.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
AIDS Alabama; Alabama Power Foundation; Alabama Department of Rehabilitation/Children’s Rehabilitation Services Clinics; Alabama State Council on the Arts; Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind; Arc of South Talladega; The Arc of Jefferson County; The Arc of the Shoals; Mobile ARC; The Arc of Walker County; AT&T Alabama; Brookwood Medical Center/Tenet Foundation; The Bell Center for Early Intervention; Birmingham Arts and Culture Commission; Children’s Dance Foundation; Children’s Health System; Clarke County ARC; Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham; CVS Caremark; Daniel Foundation; Eastern Shore Art Center; Epic School; HealthSouth; Independent Living Center Mobile; Independent Presbyterian Church Foundation; Kids on the Block; Joseph S. Bruno Charitable Trust; JBS Mental Health/Mental Retardation Authority Deaf Services; Lakeshore Foundation; Mitchell’s Place; McCoy Adult Day Care; Rittenhouse Senior Living; South Highland Center; United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham; United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville; University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Occupational Therapy and Department of Physical Therapy; University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Palliative Care; 1920 Club; Region’s Charity Classic Foundation; United Way of Central Alabama; Vent Kids; Wachovia Foundation; Walker Area Community Foundation; Workshops, Inc.
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
VSA arts of Alabama provides arts education for students in grades prekindergarten through 12 in inclusive educational settings, and to adults with chronic illnesses and disabilities through community partnerships.
CreativeFest
CreativeFest is an annual inclusive visual arts exhibition that can be integrated into the state’s educational curriculum through a statewide call for art (grades 1–11). The Children’s Hospital of Alabama will partner with VSA arts of Alabama to host the exhibition, along with a celebratory reception and mini festival in the spring. A portion of the exhibition will be selected to travel throughout the state as part of VSA arts of Alabama’s traveling exhibition, providing an educational venue for the arts and disability awareness.
Artist Residency
VSA arts of Alabama will partner with the Alabama School for the Deaf and Blind to offer a 20-week residency in drumming and rhythm, facilitated by teaching artist and master rhythm facilitator John Scalici. Visual artist residencies will be provided at the Bell Center for Early Intervention and at United Cerebral Palsy of Birmingham’s Hand in Hand Early Learning Center. A multidisciplinary residency will take place at Birmingham’s Epic School beginning in June 2009.
Young Soloist
VSA arts of Alabama will participate in the VSA arts International Young Soloists program by hosting a live showcase of Alabama’s young performing artists at the Children’s Hospital of Alabama. The event will be adjudicated by judges from Birmingham’s music and performing arts communities. The winners of the state program, held in December 2008, will be considered for participation in the May 2009 VSA arts international program.
ArtPartners
ArtPartners is a year-round program in Birmingham, Mobile/Fairhope, and Sylacauga. The program partners children and adults with disabilities with community artists to create artwork collaboratively and build mentoring relationships. A culminating exhibition will be held in August 2009, including an artists’ recognition and awards ceremony, the opportunity for participants to showcase their work to the public, and a fundraising event.
Arts in Health Care
VSA arts of Alabama is working to bridge the gap between the state’s world-renowned health care institutions and our vibrant arts community by bringing the healing power of the arts to health-care settings. Through Arts in Healthcare, the affiliate will provide arts programming to the Children’s Rehabilitation Services Clinics at Children’s Hospital and the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services; the UAB Center for Palliative Care; and the UAB Division of Hematology/Oncology and the Psychiatric Units at Children’s Hospital of Alabama. All programming is ongoing throughout the fiscal year 2008–09.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Creativity—Art in the Magic City
Creativity—Art in the Magic City will be held in the spring of 2009 at the Alabama AT&T Operations Center. It will be the 17th annual statewide art exhibition featuring work created by Alabama’s adults with disabilities. The exhibition will be on display during March and April and will end with a closing reception and awards dinner to honor our artists. Selected works will be chosen for a traveling exhibition that will conclude at the Alabama State Capitol. VSA arts of Alabama works with the participating artists to develop their professional, artistic, and social skills.
Board and Staff Professional Development
The board and staff of VSA arts of Alabama will attend professional workshops offered by the Nonprofit Resource Center of Alabama. VSA arts of Alabama’s executive director will attend the VSA arts regional meeting and the Society for Arts in Healthcare Conference in the summer of 2009. A staff and board member will attend the VSA arts national meeting. VSA arts of Alabama will have an annual staff retreat and a board retreat in 2009.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
Cultural Access
VSA arts of Alabama offers tuition for dance instruction at a reduced rate by partnering with Children’s Dance Foundation. The VSA arts of Alabama Web site also serves as a resource for cultural access.
ASL Interpretation
VSA arts of Alabama provides an ASL interpreter at all VSA arts of Alabama events and acts as a Web resource for cultural organizations needing ASL interpreters.
Kids on the Block
One staff member will serve as a puppeteer with the Kids on the Block puppet show once a month. The shows are for children in kindergarten through fifth grade and cover various topics dealing with disabilities and other social issues.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Festivals
VSA arts of Alabama participates in public festivals and community arts events throughout the state, including Art in Avondale Park in Birmingham, the Magic City Arts Connection, and ArtWalk in September. Outreach efforts are designed to reach the general public to increase awareness of VSA arts of Alabama and its mission.
Gallery Spaces
VSA arts of Alabama maintains gallery spaces featuring the work of Alabama artists with disabilities at VSA arts of Alabama’s rotating gallery; the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Spain Rehabilitation Center; Red Mountain Theatre Company; UAB Resource Center; UAB Civitan International Research Center; and UAB Medical Scientist Training Program Office. In 2009, VSA arts of Alabama will open gallery spaces at the United Way of Central Alabama and KPS Group (architecture firm).
Public Relations Tools
VSA arts of Alabama utilizes its Web site, artist and supporters newsletters, presentations for community and professional organizations throughout the year, its Annual Report to the Community as public awareness tools.
(F) 202-429-0868