VSA arts of Maine
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185 Park Row |
Ms. Kippy Rudy Website: |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 3 |
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VSA arts of Maine is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing arts, educational and cultural opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. Through innovative and inclusive arts programs, VSA arts of Maine promotes the creative power in people with disabilities. Programs include artist residencies in schools, teacher training workshops, mentoring for adult artists with disabilities, exhibitions of work by artists with disabilities, and working with cultural venues throughout the state to improve accessibility.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
Maine Department of Education, Special Services; Maine Arts Commission; National Endowment for the Arts; Maine CITE; Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation; TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation; Maine Support Network; Davis Family Foundation, Maine Community Foundation, Beim Foundation, Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund; Robert M. MacNamara Foundation; Alpha One Center for Independent Living; Center for Community Inclusion, University of Maine, Orono; Husson College; University of Southern Maine, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; Maine Alliance for Arts Education; Maine Developmental Disabilities Council; Maine Parent Federation; Muskie School of Public Service; Maine Tourism Association; Center for Maine Contemporary Art; Maine College of Art; Space Gallery; Portland Stage Company; Autism Society of Maine; Southern Maine Down Syndrome Network; Center for Cultural Exchange; Portland Public Library; Southern Maine Parent Awareness
State Programs
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
Artist Residencies in Schools and Community Arts Programs
Artist Residencies support every student’s achievement through the coordination of quality visiting artist sessions in K-12 special needs and inclusive classrooms, community settings and cultural venues across the state. Residencies are designed to: enable teachers to learn new tools to integrate the arts with other academic subjects while addressing the Maine State Learning Results and Federal No Child Left Behind regulations; to provide direct, hands-on experiences with professional artists; to encourage interdisciplinary learning and enrichment of curriculum content; to engage all students through the multiple modalities inherent in the artistic process; and to promote full access to quality arts experiences for all students.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Professional Development
In an effort to increase the number of children with disabilities engaged in arts programming in schools, VSA arts of Maine conducts workshops throughout the state training artists, arts educators and others interested in arts education. The workshops focus on disability awareness, adaptation techniques and building all students skills to help incorporate into school and community-based arts programming. Every year, VSA arts of Maine participates in a statewide conference of more than 300 special educators from throughout Maine to advocate for the infusion of arts into curricula and to provide them with new skills.
Career Arts
Adult artists with disabilities learn technical skills to help support their success in the professional arts sector. Through a year-long mentoring program, the artists receive training through a combined approach of art, technology, and social and business skills, providing artists with tools to sell and market their artwork. Participants can learn about portfolio development, slide making and framing or how to develop their own art cards, business cards, t-shirts or bookmarks.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
Accessible Maine (AccME)
Accessible Maine (AccME) is a collaboration between VSA arts of Maine, Husson College, the State of Maine Department of Tourism, and Alpha One Center for Independent Living to increase awareness of accessibility issues in Maine’s arts, cultural and recreational facilities. Occupational therapy students from Husson College conduct cultural site surveys and provide the sites with reports containing information on and suggestions for making their facilities more accessible. Every spring the partners present “Low Cost Solutions for Accessibility,” a free seminar offering easy accessibility improvements. Cultural sites may also conduct self-surveys through an on-line tool with accompanying recommendations for accessibility improvements.
Arts are Basic Coalition (ABC)
A coalition of the statewide arts education organizations in Maine, ABC partners with the Maine Department of Education and advocates for daily access to quality arts education for every child in Maine schools. VSA arts of Maine’s participation ensures that children with disabilities are not forgotten when planning education policy in the state of Maine.
Public Awareness and Outreach
A Matter of Perception: Exhibition by Artists with Disabilities
This annual exhibition showcases the artwork and talent of Maine artists with disabilities. The exhibition occurs in a two year cycle: the first year includes a Call for Art and all artwork submitted is exhibited at least once (as many as 300 pieces may be displayed at six or more venues); in the second year, a jury selects 60 pieces from those submitted, and they are exhibited with an accompanying catalogue at other venues across the state. Exhibition locations include art galleries, libraries, the state capitol, and disability organizations across Maine. Related activities and events include public opening receptions, gallery talks, disability awareness training for museum and gallery personnel, and outreach and related programming for schools, group homes, and social clubs. The exhibition and programming raises awareness of disability issues, creates opportunities for artists with disabilities to market their work, and expands access to the arts for traditionally under-served populations.
Public Exhibits and Outreach
VSA arts of Maine coordinates a wide variety of exhibitions of work by children and adults with disabilities and participates in public events to build awareness. The goal of these efforts is to educate the community about inclusive arts and access issues, as well as to increase exposure of VSA arts of Maine programs and the artwork of people with disabilities in Maine.
Information and Referral Services
The VSA arts of Maine Web site (www.vsartsmaine.org) serves as a resource for educators, administrators, and artists throughout the state, as well as cultural venues. An always-changing list of program partners, resources, and important links helps to build support and awareness while serving children with disabilities, their parents and educators and artists throughout the state.
(F) 202-429-0868