VSA arts of Georgia

57 Forsyth Street NW
Suite R-1
Atlanta, GA 30303

Elizabeth Labbe-Webb
Executive Director

Tel.: (404) 221-1270
Fax: (404) 221-1984
Relay: 1-800-255-0135 (or 311 within Atlanta proper)

Organizational Profile:

Full-time Staff: 4
Part-time Staff: 0
Volunteer Hours: 5 hours/month
Projected Total 2009
Income: $318,580
(including in-kind contributions)
Direct Participants: 1,021
Indirect Participants: 37,917

Affiliate staff standing in front of program billboard

VSA arts of Georgia provides access to the arts for people with disabilities and those who are economically disadvantaged. We are a statewide resource working with artists and organizations to fulfill our mission of an inclusive community that encourages everyone to enjoy and participate in the arts.

Programming Partners and Other Funders:

Georgia Council for the Arts; Fulton County Arts Council; Atlanta Bureau of Cultural Affairs; Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta; Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.; Genuine Parts Company; McMaster-Carr Supply Company; John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods Second Mile; Young Audiences Woodruff Arts Center; Callanwolde Fine Arts Center; Target Stores

Educational Programs and Artist Residencies

Artist Residency

VSA arts of Georgia, in partnership with Young Audiences Woodruff Arts Center, is planning artist residencies in inclusive classrooms in five schools. In the spring of 2009, VSA arts of Georgia will conduct residencies in one school and two community settings. As part of an effort to enhance the quality of its residencies, VSA arts of Georgia now requires all participating artists to attend portions of the annual institute that precede the residency experience.

Professional Development and Technical Assistance

Institute for Inclusive Arts Education

VSA arts of Georgia will offer institute curriculum year-round as a series of classes for the Atlanta community.

Holiday Art Sale

The annual Holiday Art Sale is a major retail learning opportunity for artists with and without disabilities, and an occasion for shoppers to experience the organization’s vision of a Georgia where the arts are accessible to everyone.

Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services

StageHands Program

The StageHands program provides theatrical American Sign Language interpreting services for people who are culturally Deaf. It is the interpreting service of choice for most of Atlanta’s major arts and cultural venues.

Community Events Program

Community Events is a membership program that works with arts and cultural venues throughout the state to distribute more than 100,000 complimentary tickets annually to human service agencies and nonprofit organizations serving individuals who have disabilities or who are economically disadvantaged. This program has an annual growth rate of more than 3%.

Public Awareness and Outreach

Arts for All Gallery

Arts for All Gallery, located in the historic Healey Building in the heart of downtown Atlanta, is a unique, highly regarded venue for local, national, and international artists with disabilities to display and sell their work. The gallery hosts five shows each year, many of which receive significant regional media coverage, plus the inclusive Holiday Art Sale. The gallery participates in a monthly art walk that includes most downtown galleries. The gallery is the only resource of its kind in the state of Georgia.

Web site/Brochure/Newsletter

Through the Web site www.vsaartsga.org, marketing materials for gallery exhibitions, and monthly HTML e-mails, VSA arts of Georgia provides information to the general community about its programs, services, staff, board, and artists.