VSA Iowa
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400 East 14th Street |
Stephanie Jessen |
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Tel.: (515) 281-3179 |
Website: |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 1 |
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VSA Iowa promotes the creative power of Iowans of all abilities through arts experiences. VSA Iowa uses the arts to improve the capabilities of children and adults with disabilities in learning and expressing themselves. Businesses, organizations, and individuals have been instrumental in helping VSA Iowa’s growth plan for providing arts opportunities to an increasing number of people while expanding services for children and adults.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
Iowa Department of Education; Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and the Iowa Arts Council; Knights of Columbus; Variety the Children’s Charity; Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino; The Principal Financial Group; Wellmark BlueCross BlueShield, Principal Financial; Greater Des Moines Community Foundation; BRAVO, Polk County; Davis Brown Law Firm; The Baker Group; Townsend Engineering
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
Artist Residencies and Workshops in Education Settings
Through the Arts for Children Education Program, professional artists with disabilities are trained to work with children in grades K–12 in classroom settings. These residencies and workshops occur throughout the state of Iowa, integrating the arts into the public school curriculum. This facilitates effective teaching of academic subjects in an inclusive environment and provides meaningful employment for artists with disabilities. The residencies and workshops foster positive awareness by bringing students and artists with disabilities together.
New Vision Dance Class
The New Vision Dance Class provides year-round dance sessions for youth with disabilities. In addition to attending classes, New Vision dancers perform at local events, from shopping malls to collegiate-level half-time performances. Through this program, students learn dance styles from various cultures, learn to interact with each other, and express themselves.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
The Arts for Children Education Program Teacher Training
The Arts for Children Education Program Teacher Training is VSA Iowa’s program dedicated solely to professional development and technical assistance. This teacher training features two full days of a professional development class at all of Iowa’s 15 area education agencies. The training focuses on effective methods of integrating the arts into academic curricula.
The VSA Iowa Artist Roster
The artist roster provides artist services to 150 performing and visual artists from around the state. These services include training for the VSA Iowa Arts for Children education program, sponsorship of exhibitions and art fairs, transportation, advocacy, consultation, professional development, artist workshops, material discounts, and professional referrals.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
Cultural Access Services
VSA Iowa provides statewide services to cultural organizations that include American Sign Language interpretation, audio description, large print format, and other adaptations.
The Accessibility Clearinghouse
The Accessibility Clearinghouse provides accessibility information for performing arts facilities, art centers, and other places where the arts abound.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Fair Fest
Fair Fest is an annual fundraiser for VSA Iowa. Held in a donated space in downtown Des Moines, Fair Fest allows attendees to bid at an auction of donated items, sample local cuisine, and socialize in a lively atmosphere to kick off VSA Iowa’s Governor’s Festival at the Iowa State Fair.
The Governor’s VSA Iowa Festival
This festival, held annually since 1980 as part of the Iowa State Fair, features more than 100 performances and exhibitions from 80 professional artists with disabilities from a cross-section of Iowa. In its recent history, the festival attracted approximately 250,000 audience members, making it the most popular festival for artists with disabilities in the United States. The festival’s popularity and the media exposure that it generates make this 11-day event a uniquely effective program for advancing the careers of artists with disabilities.
The International Young Soloists Program
The International Young Soloists Program is an annual search for young musicians with disabilities, up to age 25. The statewide winner is eligible to compete for a $5,000 scholarship awarded to two artists who will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
VSA Iowa Presentations
VSA Iowa representatives have spoken at numerous Rotary Clubs, Breakfast Clubs, Kiwanis, and other service organizations to raise awareness of the organization. As a result, VSA Iowa is able to build its base of volunteers, donations, and support.
Community Arts Opportunities
Community arts opportunities are integrated arts experiences for all art forms through the following venues: Des Moines Arts Festival, ArtsFest Midwest, Kids Fest, Festival of Trees, Des Moines Downtown Farmer’s Market, and Building Bridges at the Iowa State Fair. VSA Iowa’s exposure markets the artists’ work, generating potential sales and employment opportunities.
(F) 202-429-0868