VSA arts of Louisiana
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2758-D Brightside Drive |
Mazie S. Malveaux |
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Tel.: (225) 761-4243 |
Website: |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 1 |
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VSA arts of Louisiana’s ongoing mission is to expand the capabilities, confidence, and quality of life for persons with disabilities through arts programming. Throughout the year, the organization provides opportunities for quality programs that strengthen the role and impact of the arts in school curricula. These programs offer students meaningful and creative outlets. In addition, each program invites children with disabilities to develop, expand, and share their artistic talents and accomplishments with their peers and families. Over the course of the year, VSA arts of Louisiana’s programming touch every corner of the state by implementing at least one or more arts-education projects in each congressional district.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
VSA arts of Louisiana’s many partners and funders include, but are not limited to, the Baton Rouge Blues Foundation, Inc.; Council for Exceptional Children of Louisiana; Louisiana Division of the Arts; Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge; Shreveport Regional Arts Council; Northeast Regional Arts Council; Louisiana Music Educators Association; Louisiana Department of Education; Louisiana School Districts; Louisiana School For The Deaf; Louisiana State Legislature; Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, University of Louisiana at Monroe—Art Department; University of Louisiana at Lafayette—Education Department; Southern University System Athletic Department; Louisiana State University College of Music and Dramatic Arts; Developmental Disabilities Council; Louisiana Head Start Programs
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
Artist Residencies
The Artist-in-the-Classroom residencies of VSA arts of Louisiana are programs that are popular across the state. Each program features instruction by professional artists in music, dance, drama, and visual arts as needed in the classroom for students with disabilities. Many residencies will also provide instructional workshops for teachers and assistants, in addition to producing culminating public activities.
Taking Notice
Taking Notice programs cultivate artistic expression and self-awareness in young people with differing abilities through the exploration of the art of photography. Participants in the programs will be encouraged to explore self-expression and develop decision-making skills by learning through and interacting with the photographic arts at Louisiana School for the Deaf in East Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Summer Arts Camps
VSA arts of Louisiana supports and sponsors summer camps designed to stimulate and enrich the lives of students with varying disabilities, through integrated arts, math, and science workshops. In 2009 these interdisciplinary experiences will take place at the Sabine Parish in Many, Louisiana, and the Southern University and McMains Developmental Center in East Baton Rouge.
Blues in the Schools
Blues in the Schools is an innovative arts program that uses quality educational experiences grounded in the indigenous music of Louisiana to stimulate the creative and intuitive minds of young people. This year, world-class artists will make strong commitments that contribute to the success of the program by providing a series of live interactive sessions for students with disabilities in different regions of the state. Blues in the Schools will be held in Caddo Parish in Northwest Louisiana, Winn Parish in Northeast Louisiana, Alexandria, Rapides Parish in Central Louisiana, and in Baton Rouge and New Orleans in southeast Louisiana.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Start with the Arts™
Start with the Arts™ gives four- to six-year-old children of all abilities valuable, lifelong academic and social advantages by using the creative and communicative power of the arts to enhance learning and social skills. This national VSA arts program is designed to provide educators and parents with objective-based, thematic learning experiences in the arts. Louisiana’s statewide Start with the ArtsTM program supports the development of basic literacy skills and offers engaging activities in visual art, creative movement, music, and creative drama. In 2009 the programs will be implemented at the Vermillion Parish in Abbeville, Louisiana, and at the Acadia Parish in Crowley, Louisiana.
Summer Arts Institutes
Supporting Louisiana’s higher education goals, VSA arts of Louisiana provides statewide in-service training and resources in the arts to regular and special educators. The objectives of these institutes are to train teachers to effectively integrate the arts into the educational experiences of students with disabilities; to encourage dissemination of ideas and skills among regular and special educators; and to develop a trained cadre of teachers as potential statewide resources and to provide in-service assistance. In 2009, Summer Arts Institutes will be held at the University of Louisiana at Monroe in Northeast Louisiana and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Southwest, Louisiana.
Conferences
The Special School District No.1 Professional Development Conference and the Super Conference on Special Education are annual, three-day conferences at which VSA arts of Louisiana will sponsor workshops and presentations conducted by artists and art educators for pre-service teachers, in-service teachers, parents, administrators, and other interested participants. VSA arts of Louisiana also participates in the Louisiana Music Educators Association Conference and the state Head Start and Department of Education’s Preschool Conferences to promote disability awareness and illustrate the benefit of VSA arts programs. These conferences are scheduled throughout the state of Louisiana.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
Urban Cultural Access
VSA arts of Louisiana partners with the Louisiana School for the Deaf Interpretive Services Department to provide American Sign Language interpretation services and assistive listening devices for people who are Deaf and hard of hearing at arts and cultural events. Audio description services will also be provided. Access services include information and referral for other arts organizations that provide public services for persons with disabilities.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Festivals
VSA arts of Louisiana festivals are community-based celebrations that communicate the power of the arts and the benefits of VSA arts programs by showcasing participants’ work across the state. These highly organized events feature performances, art exhibitions, demonstrations, and educational workshops where children, youth, and adults with disabilities proudly share their artistic accomplishments with the public.
(F) 202-429-0868