District of Columbia - WVSA arts connection

1100 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

L. Lawrence Riccio, EdD
President and CEO

Tel.: (202) 296-9100, x217
TTY: (202) 261-0201
Fax: (202) 261-0218

Organizational Profile:

Full-time Staff: 14
Part-time Staff: 2
Volunteer Hours: 280 hours/month
Projected Total 2009
Income: $3,560,000
(including In-Kind Contributions)
Direct Participants: 390
Indirect Participants: 230

For more than 26 years, WVSA ARTs connection has served Washington, D.C.-area children and young people with special needs, special talents, and special skills. Employing the arts as an innovative method of education, WVSA ARTs connection provides the tools for success in school, in adulthood, and in life.

Programming Partners and Other Funders:

Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area; Community Foundation; D.C. Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation; D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities; District of Columbia Public Schools; HSC Foundation; iGive.com; Philip Graham Fund; Office of State Superintendent of Education; U.S. Department of Education; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Educational Programs and Artist Residencies

ARTiculate Employment Training Program

The ARTiculate Employment Training Program provides employment and vocational training for youth ages 14–25 in a studio and technology setting. The program is a model for vocational and life skills training for students transitioning from school to work.

Through an arts-based training format, ARTiculate artist apprentices work a minimum of six hours per week in fully functional studios. The thrust of the ARTiculate program is to provide participants with experience in three discrete skill areas: 1) applied and fine arts, 2) graphics and technology, and 3) social skills and career readiness training.

Professional Development and Technical Assistance

School for Arts in Learning (SAIL) ArtsWork!

WVSA ARTs connection and SAIL (School for Arts in Learning, WVSA arts connection’s public charter school affiliate) continue to focus on a new U.S. Department of Education three-year funded initiative to engage school staff in technology tools for the classroom. The professional development component includes an ongoing training on hardware and software for classroom use. Also, SAIL will continue to work with Johns Hopkins University to implement a 15-credit advanced graduate certificate program for teachers.

Public Awareness and Outreach

ARTiculate Gallery

The ARTiculate Gallery offers bimonthly exhibitions of artwork from participants in the ARTiculate Employment Training Program and, beginning in 2009, work by SAIL student artists. This space is a public gallery open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Every eight weeks, the gallery hosts a Wednesday night exhibition opening reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.