VSA California
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PO BOX 2482 |
Troy Botello |
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Tel.: (714) 299-1813 |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 1 |
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VSA California makes the arts accessible to people of all abilities through providing arts, education, and cultural opportunities by, with, and for people with disabilities. Guiding principles and beliefs include: respecting people and focusing on their abilities; utilizing the arts to promote understanding and communication among all people; expanding artistic inclusion to reach all schools; promoting accessibility to community cultural facilities; and helping to ensure that everyone who aspires to a career in the arts has the opportunity to develop those skills.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission; Sacramento City Unified School District; CarMax Foundation; CVS Caremark All Kids Can; Wells Fargo; Sacramento Region Community Foundation; Setzer Foundation; RiverCats Foundation; Office Depot Foundation; Arata Brothers Trust; Active 20–30 Club; Suburban Kiwanis.
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
I Can Do That!
I Can Do That! brings professional teaching artists to targeted schools where they work with integrated groups of students with and without disabilities—all of whom become artists creating, producing, and displaying or performing their works of art for the community. I Can Do That! provides students with opportunities for learning in the arts, which help them build self-esteem, achieve independence, and increase academic skills—all as an integral part of the regular school day.
Students gain capabilities in core academic subject areas, as well as performing and visual arts skill areas, while acquiring essential living skills and becoming productive, innovative, and self-directed members of society. I Can Do That! programming also targets the development of communication, socialization, and improved behavioral skills. Learning goals adhere to the California Department of Education Standards in Language Arts and Mathematics.
Artshift
Artshift is an ongoing arts education program that provides weekly artistic instruction to young people in hospitals or residential convalescence units receiving long-term care. Artshift introduces the arts into the hospital setting, where it is used to accomplish larger educational goals: 1) making the hospital environment seem less isolating and frightening; 2) assisting children in creating artwork that promotes a sense of individual accomplishment and feelings of community; and 3) providing access to the arts as a tool for accomplishing the educational and vocational goals set by the hospital’s credentialed teaching staff.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
VSA Artists Community
The VSA California Artists Community provides opportunities for California artists with disabilities to exhibit or present their art online. It also creates opportunities for these artists to network, gain knowledge, and advocate for any and all changes that allow adult artists with disabilities to forge their own artistic contributions and abilities. VSA California’s goal is to work through the Artists Community to enhance employment and exposure to and for artists with disabilities—providing information, advocacy, and support.
Open Eyes…Open Hearts
Open Eyes…Open Hearts is a training program that builds awareness and acceptance of children with disabilities within the schools and community. The program provides teachers, artists, and program coordinators with ideas for using the arts to reach the whole child, the whole class, and the whole community in a positive manner that builds self-esteem.
Participants learn to perceive children with disabilities in terms of their strengths and their abilities; develop a “can-do” attitude; assist children without disabilities in understanding, approaching, and interacting with children with disabilities; and minimize fear and negative reactions regarding teaching and serving children with disabilities.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
ARTS ALIVE!
Arts Alive! is a cultural access program with three main objectives:
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to enable children and adults with disabilities to attend high-quality community visual art exhibitions and performances in integrated groups;
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to conduct accessibility site surveys at arts organizations within the Sacramento community, assessing their physical and programmatic access services (e.g., audio description, ASL interpretation, or live captioning services for arts performances or exhibitions); and
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to integrate Arts Alive! as a model program for other communities and partnerships within California.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Festivals
Public awareness and outreach programming provide community-based celebrations that showcase the talents and capabilities of VSA California program participants. Celebrations include Festivals and other community events that feature performances, art exhibitions, demonstrations, and educational workshops—settings where children, youth, and adults with disabilities proudly share their artistic accomplishments with the general public. VSA California serves more than 167,000 people (artists with disabilities, volunteers, audience members) through Festivals, many of which are part of collaborative partnerships between various schools districts, county offices of education, and local VSA California affiliate sites.
(F) 202-429-0868