VSA arts of Illinois
|
1505 North Delaware Street |
Jim Nulty |
|
Tel.: (317) 974-4123 |
Website: |
Organizational Profile:
|
Full-time Staff: 7 |
 |
VSA arts of Illinois is a multi-dimensional arts organization offering comprehensive programs and initiatives that support and provide life-long learning and development through the arts for people with disabilities.
VSA arts of Illinois seeks to demonstrate the value of the arts in the lives of all individuals to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal opportunities to participate in arts programming. VSA arts of Illinois works to provide avenues for the inclusion of people with disabilities through their participation in the arts.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
Central Illinois Service Access, Inc.; Illinois Board of Education; Community Foundation of Central Illinois; Illinois Arts Council; Illinois Department of Public Health; Benjamin Rosenthal Foundation; The Freight House Arts Gallery; Peoria Arc; Bridgeway Inc.; Rock Island Arc; Bright Beginnings of Woodford County; Art Department of Illinois State University; The ART ROD Foundation of Central Illinois; Art Consultant of Illinois Department of Education; Willman Printing Services; East Side Community Access Television; Corn Stock Theater; and Corn Stock Kids Theater
State Programs
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
Artist in Residency Program
The Artist in Residency program provides people with disabilities opportunities for positive self-expression while also fulfilling their Individual Education/Service Plans. The program provides access to the arts for students with special needs – regardless of age. Artist residencies are conducted in early childhood programs, special education programs, schools, sheltered workshops, and living centers.
Creativity Workshop
Creativity Workshops are a series of one-day fun/shops with art instruction for children or adults with disabilities, and their families. Visual art workshops focus on particular media or art forms such as ceramics, sketching and drawing, weaving, and found object art. Other workshop options include: Theater Trunk, drama, dance, writing, and music. These one-day workshops are offered at the VSA arts of Illinois Program Center and at agency workshop/residential centers throughout Illinois.
VSAIL Bogard Program
VSA arts of Illinois provides specialized services for adult Medicaid recipients with developmental disabilities who reside in long-term care facilities. VSA arts of Illinois provides therapies, training, experiences and equipment necessary to increase individuals' independence and community involvement through their inclusion in the visual, written, and performing arts.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Adaptive Leadership Training
Adaptive Leadership Training consists of 5 – 10-hour workshops in the arts for community activity leaders, care providers, parents, VSA arts of Illinois site coordinators, and others. For community agency staff, the training fulfills the State of Illinois Department of Public Health requirement of 10 hours of training in art and related activities for people with disabilities. Topics include: Express Diversity, Start with the Arts, Putting Creativity to Work, Arts and Crafts on a Budget, Educational Strategies, Art That Works for Individual Education/Service Plans, Site Development, Festival Planning, and others as suitable for the group requesting training.
36-Hour Activity Orientation Program
As part of the state requirements for activity directors who provide meaningful art and other activities for people with disabilities in long-term care facilities or developmental centers, VSA arts of Illinois provides the required thirty-six hours of basic activity orientation. Four continuing education workshops are offered annually.
Express Diversity for Teachers
Through Express Diversity! for Teachers, VSA arts of Illinois provides 40 of training for K-12 educators about ways to use the arts as equalizers to achieve inclusive learning environments for individuals with disabilities. The training is delivered through a series of art activities designed to increase teachers’ sensitivity to issues of disability. Illinois teachers can receive Continuing Professional Development Units for participating.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
Program Access and Inclusive Arts Services
VSA arts of Illinois is developing a site survey to ascertain the accessibility of cultural organizations. This survey will be sent to each VSA arts of Illinois site and to cultural organizations throughout the state.
Access Theater
VSA arts of Illinois provides information about and resource referrals to adaptive services to its program sites and other cultural organizations in Illinois. Adaptive services include Audio Description, ASL interpretation, and captioning.
Public Awareness and Outreach
VSAIL Local Arts Festivals and Special Events
Special events such as festivals, exhibits, and performances offer a wide range of hands-on art activities and other opportunities for individuals with disabilities to showcase their talents. VSA arts of Illinois special events include visual art exhibits and stage performances featuring instrumental music, vocals, dance, drama, and poetry. Many artists with disabilities are also active participants behind the scenes - playing various roles from participating on project planning committees to staffing booths at festivals.
Public Presentations
VSA arts of Illinois delivers presentations to various agencies and fraternal organizations throughout the state.
Monarch Gallery of Contemporary Art & Fine Crafts
VSA arts of Illinois operates the Monarch Gallery of Contemporary Art and Fine Crafts as a venue for artists with and without disabilities to showcase, exhibit and sell their original artwork.
(F) 202-429-0868