VSA Washington
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305 Harrison Street, #303 |
Deborah Witmer |
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Tel.: (206) 443-1843 |
Website: |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 0 |
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VSA Washington is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a culture of inclusion where artists and patrons of all ages with disabilities have seamless access to education, opportunity, commerce and community. VSA Washington was founded in 1974 when it hosted the very first nationally (and internationally) replicated arts festival for people with disabilities. VSA Washington continues to be a leader in providing equal access to the arts for all people with disabilities in Washington State. This organization is a community-based, statewide agency with a staff of six working in the areas of K-12 arts in education, professional development, and public awareness.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
Creative Activities; 4Culture; Americans for the Arts; ArtsEd Washington; Asian Counseling and Referral; AtWork!; Boeing Company; Burien Parks Department; Challenge Air; Down Syndrome Society; Dunlap Elementary School; Gatheringplace; Dance Educators Association of Washington; Executive Alliance; Harborview Medical Center; KCTS 9 Public Television; Kent Parks and Recreation; King County Department of Community and Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Division; KUOW Radio Station; Lakeside Advisors; L’arche; Metro Transit; National Endowment for the Arts; Northlight Gallery; Provail; A. Rodrigues TUW; Seattle Center; Seattle Center School; Seattle Children’s Hospital; Seattle Foundation; Seattle Japanese Baptist Church; Seattle Mayor’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs; Seattle University; Shoreline—Lake Forest Park Arts Council; Shoreline Parks and Recreation; University of Washington; Washington Alliance for People with Disabilities; Washington Alliance of Theatre Education; Washington Arts Alliance ; Washington Arts Education Association; Washington Community Alliance for Self-Help (CASH); Washington Music Educators Association; Washington State Arts Commission; Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Washington State University
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
In the Schools: K-12 Programming and Outreach
VSA Washington works in the public school system throughout Washington to bring students, teachers and teaching artists together. VSA Washington develops curricula, and trains teachers.
Artist in Residency (AIR) Program
VSA Washington trains and places professional artists in the classroom to collaboratively teach art to all students, including those with disabilities.
Arts Workshops
Independent workshops are offered at the Seattle Center and other venues so that students can participate in programs outside of school hours.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Beyond High School: Career Development for Adult Artists
After graduation, support for artists and programs fade, leaving talented contributors adrift. VSA Washington provides studio space, business and portfolio training and continuing art education to adult artists statewide. Equipment, opportunity and business skills help artists achieve personal and professional milestones that might otherwise be out of reach.
Business Development Skills
VSA Washington offers artists with disabilities important training in areas such as: framing artwork, photographing work for exhibits, writing artist statements, applying for exhibitions, authoring funding requests and more.
ArtsTime
VSA Washington presents at the two-day professional development conference focused on improving arts instruction and developing techniques for engaging all students in an inclusive classroom.
Professional Development
VSA Washington trains teachers and teaching artists in accessibility skills. Teachers learn inclusive language, etiquette, modeling behaviors and use of adaptive equipment.
Seattle Center Artist Studio
VSA Washington offers a facilitated space for artists with disabilities to create art in multiple formats, accommodating any special needs they might have.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
Cultural Access Program
VSA Washington provides consultation and training in accessibility skills and cultural access with an arts focus. Participants learn inclusive language, etiquette, modeling behaviors and use of adaptive equipment.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Seattle Center Artist Studio
The facilitated studio is open to the public at least five days a week, allowing the general public to participate in arts experiences alongside artists with disabilities.
Community Outreach
VSA Washington staff are available for presentations and speaking engagements statewide to address disability issues in arts, arts education and cultural access.
Exhibits and Performances
VSA Washington offers online, rotating and traveling gallery shows throughout Washington State and supports performance opportunities for children and adults. Throughout the year, VSA Washington mounts art shows and performances around the community and at Seattle Center, reaching over 5,000 visitors annually.
No Boundaries Exhibit
This annual art show showcases the work of artists with disabilities and has toured the Pacific Northwest since 1991.
Web site
By January 2010, the VSA Washington Web site (www.vsaaw.org) will provide an online art gallery which will provide artists with disabilities a forum to connect with patrons and supporters.
ArtSpring!
ArtSpring! is a two-day inclusive arts festival held at Seattle Center. The festival exemplifies the need for true inclusivity (allowing people with and without disabilities to participate equally) in the arts. During the day, K-12 students participate in interactive arts activities facilitated by professional teaching artists. The different activities include visual, drama, music and dance. Professional performers also roam throughout the activities adding to the festive atmosphere. The day concludes with performances by professional artists with a focus on artists with disabilities.
The ArtSpring! Exhibit, a month-long student art exhibit of work by special education and inclusive classes from schools (including those participating in VSA Washington Artist in Residency programs) also opens at this event.
(F) 202-429-0868