VSA arts of Florida
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3500 E. Fletcher Ave, Suite 234 |
Marian Winters |
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Tel.: (813)558-5095 |
mwinters@tempest.coedu.usf.edu Website: |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 2 |
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The mission of VSA arts of Florida is to create a world where people with disabilities have the opportunity to learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. VSA arts of Florida meets its mission through a statewide network of program partners that provide services to children, youth and adults with disabilities, and programs through the state office including professional development opportunities, rotating exhibitions, performances, and artists’ residencies.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services; Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; Department of Juvenile Justice; The National Endowment for the Arts; University of South Florida; Bank of America Foundation; Florida Inclusion Network; Florida Diagnostics Learning Resource Services; Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation, Easter Seals of Volusia County; school boards of the 67 Florida counties; museums and performing arts centers; Centers for Independent Living, ARC centers
State Programs
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
Statewide Program Partners
With support from VSA arts of Florida, program partners statewide directly serve students with disabilities and provide the following activities: festivals, artist residency programs, Start with the ArtsTM and Express Diversity training, Arts for All programs, school-based professional development, community art classes, exhibitions, performances, and mini-grants.
Exemplary Participant Program
The Exemplary Participant Program is a statewide program to nominate students with disabilities who have excelled in the arts and/or have developed leadership skills through the arts. The winning students and their teachers are honored at the VSA arts of Florida annual leadership conference. This year, over one hundred nominations were submitted by teachers throughout the state. Every winning student, the student’s family and nominating teacher attended this year’s conference.
Artists-in-Residence
VSA arts of Florida provides Artists in Residence to early childhood inclusive programs, students who are medically fragile, students with disabilities in inclusive classes, programs that serve youth at risk, and programs for adults with disabilities. Residencies run from 8–10 weeks and include an evaluation of skills learned.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Start with the Arts TM Workshops
Start with the Arts training is held regionally and on request. Sessions include: hands-on activities that relate to the lessons in the Start with the Arts© book for each art form; adaptations for students with disabilities; links to benchmarks; and writing lesson plans. VSA arts of Florida partners with the Early Childhood Coalitions and the Office of Pre-Kindergarten Education.
Inclusion Workshops
Inclusion training sessions are regional and are specific to art and music specialists and teaching artists. The full-day sessions include breakout workshops on disability awareness and behavioral issues, and that are led by art and music specialists with expertise in adaptations and inclusion in the classroom. VSA arts of Florida will offer three regional workshops based on the Florida Department of Education 2005 Visual Arts for Students with Disabilities: Accommodations and Modifications. In addition, VSA arts of Florida will offer pre-conference inclusion workshops at the Florida Art Educators and the Florida Music Educators annual meetings.
Artist Professional Development Workshops
Ongoing professional training is offered to members of VSA arts of Florida artists’ registry on how to establish a successful career in the arts.
Careers in the Arts Workshops
Training on careers in the arts is provided to Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Masters in Rehabilitation Candidates at Florida's Universities, and placement specialists at agencies that serve adults with disabilities. Each workshop includes a survey of different careers in the arts and a personal story from a successful artist with a disability.
Access for Cultural Organizations
Full- or half- day workshops are held for staff and volunteers of arts venues on disability awareness and how to increase participation of individuals with disabilities in programs, audience, and volunteers.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
Artist Registry
VSA arts of Florida has an online Artists Registry database for Florida artists with disabilities. Membership is free and entitles artists with disabilities to access resources, receive technical assistance, and learn about exhibition opportunities. Art work created by registry members is shown on our Web site.
Calls for Art
VSA arts of Florida disseminates calls for art for local, regional, or national exhibitions to students and adults with disabilities. For the past three years, VSA arts of Florida participated in a juried call for students to choose art work for Florida's Lieutenant Governor's holiday card.
Exhibits
In 2006–07 VSA arts of Florida will tour the “Feel the Art” exhibition, works created by senior high art students that recreate the masters into touchable art. Year-long exhibitions are at the Department of Education, the Division of Blind Services, University of South Florida, and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. Exhibition sites include libraries, public galleries, and service agencies. Each quarter, VSA arts of Florida's Open Door Gallery shows new works of adults and children with disabilities. The Tampa Museum of Art will host a VSA arts show in its Center Gallery in May 2007.
Touring Artist Program
VSA arts of Florida sends a professional performing artist with a disability on a one week tour to perform at schools and in programs that provide services for people with disabilities. The goal of the Touring Artist Program is to change the perceptions of the audience about disabilities.
Cultural Access
VSA arts of Florida provides information, technical assistance, and training on accessibility for performing arts centers and museums. A statewide access committee facilitated by VSA arts of Florida meets quarterly. Its first task is to develop a statewide access assessment to plan professional development in areas of need and produce an up-to-date database of accessible programs to be accessed through "Where to Go" on our Web site.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Arts Connection Bulletin
VSA arts of Florida mails the Arts Connection Bulletin, three times a year. The bulletin provides information on opportunities and events statewide. It is available in alternative formats and accessible through our Web site. Arts Access, a quarterly e-newsletter, specifically highlights programs in different regions of the state.
Web Site
VSA arts of Florida’s Web site, www.vsafl.org, is Bobby-approved for accessibility compliance. It is linked to the VSA arts Web site and to national programs that provide services to our constituents. Important aspects of the site are the Artists Registry, which showcases members’ work, and links to professional development, exhibition, and vocational opportunities.
(F) 202-429-0868