VSA arts of Colorado
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909 Santa Fe Drive |
Damon McLeese |
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Tel.: (303) 777-0797 |
Website: |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 1 |
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VSA arts of Colorado is working to promote the creative power in people with disabilities. Established in 1978, VSA arts of Colorado each year serves nearly 10,000 people with disabilities, their families, and those who work with them.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
Scientific and Cultural Facilities District; Santa Fe Arts District; Denver Public Schools; Adams County District 1 schools; Durango Art Center; Regis University; Sangre De Cristo Arts Center; Showcase Gallery; Arvada Center for the Arts; Mizel Center for the Arts; Opera Colorado; Excel Energy Foundation; Colorado State Bank Foundation; Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado; Art Management Inc.; Denver Nuggets Foundation; Children’s Hospital; Platte Forum; Colorado Council on the Arts; City of Northglenn; North Metro Community Service; Fort Collins Adaptive Recreation; City of Lakewood Camp Paha; Aurora Public Schools; Craig Hospital; Developmental Disabilities Resource Center; Denver Options; Denver Parks and Recreation Special Needs; Evergreen Parks and Recreation; Grand Junction Arts Center; Jewish Community Center; Rocky Mountain MS Center; Out and About; Tennyson
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
Artist Workshops and Demonstrations
These activities are usually short-term and are designed to showcase a particular artist or group. Examples include a performance of a dance troupe at a school or a one-time visit to an art class by a master sculptor.
Artist Residencies
Artist residencies provide longer contact between the artist and participants than the workshops and demonstrations and are designed to enhance the artistic skill and awareness of participants. In 2009, VSA arts of Colorado aims to conduct six full artist residencies, with at least two culminating in an exhibition at Access Gallery. Key components of residencies are that 1) each is led by a qualified trained artist; 2) each has a lesson plan developed with the artist and the teacher or group leader; and 3) each has a culminating activity—an art exhibition, performance, or celebration.
Arts for All Mobile Art Studio
The Arts for All art tools are one-of-a-kind products that offer opportunities for creative expression to individuals of all abilities. Art tools are designed so that participants with limited movement or who lack fine motor skills can engage in learning through the arts. The tools incorporate the use of one’s wheelchair, walker, legs, or arms as a part of the artistic tool. Individuals can paint or draw while working on mobility skills and coordination. Art days can be scheduled in schools or at other community settings.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Educational Programs
Through a variety of offerings, VSA arts of Colorado strives to increase awareness of the issues facing people with disabilities. Target markets for our educational programs are teachers and artists. Early childhood educators can take advantage of the VSA arts educational resource Start with the Arts©. This unique resource is designed to increase literacy skills in preschoolers using the arts. A full program and training are available through VSA arts of Colorado.
Each year, VSA arts of Colorado hosts training programs for educators to teach strategies for working with children with disabilities in the classroom (continuing education credits are offered, when appropriate). In addition to working with artists in Access Gallery, VSA arts of Colorado offers ongoing educational opportunities for artists with disabilities to increase their professional skill set. We offer one-on-one consultations, in-house training, a Listserv, and access to outside training opportunities.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
Access Education
Six times a year, VSA arts of Colorado hosts an in-depth, full-day workshop that examines issues surrounding accessibility. Workshops focus on programmatic accessibility or employment for people with disabilities in the arts.
Organizational Consultations
VSA arts of Colorado provides private consultations and training for arts organizations seeking to increase access to their programs and facilities. VSA arts of Colorado can provide an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance survey or staff training on working with various populations.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Access Gallery and Traveling Exhibitions
The cornerstone of VSA arts of Colorado programming efforts is the Access Gallery. Annually, VSA arts of Colorado hosts 12 exhibitions in the Access Gallery and sponsors an additional two to four shows outside the greater Denver area. These include exhibitions dedicated to emerging or established individual artists with disabilities; group shows of artwork created by artists representing a particular disability or type of practice; shows dedicated to exploring the theme of disability culture or how disability is viewed by society (may include artists without disabilities); and shows representing the various programs and projects sponsored by VSA arts of Colorado. Each exhibition in the gallery features interactive educational opportunities that focus on the artwork, the disability, or the project. Access Gallery is completely ADA compliant and is used as a teaching lab for best practices for arts organizations.
(F) 202-429-0868