VSA arts Announces National Awards for Excellence

May 2, 2007

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2007 – VSA arts announced its 2007 National Awards for
Excellence and Dedication to Service during its annual affiliate meeting in Washington. Affiliates were recognized for their innovative programming at the local level and partners were acknowledged for their continued contribution to making the arts accessible for everyone.

VSA arts works with a network of affiliate organizations that are independent nonprofit organizations. Each VSA arts affiliate coordinates programming that connects schools to arts and disabilities organizations across the state.

“These awards recognize the positive work our affiliates are doing in their communities to create inclusive education settings, make the arts more accessible for people with disabilities, and assist artists with disabilities in pursuing a career in the arts,” said Soula Antoniou, president of VSA arts. “I am proud of the work that the affiliates are doing.”

The award recipients are:
The 2007 VSA arts National Award for Excellence in Education Programming was awarded to VSA arts of Utah. In 2006, VSA arts of Utah’s inclusive education offerings reached more than 4,000 K–12 students across the state, plus 612 adults.

VSA arts of Iowa was granted the 2007 National Award for Professional Development.
This affiliate’s Arts for Children program trains teachers to integrate the arts into all students’ curriculum and in 2006 reached 8,000 public school students through residencies led by artists with disabilities in these teachers’ classrooms.

The recipient of the 2007 VSA arts National Awards for Public Awareness and Outreach was VSA arts of Colorado, which connects the work of VSA arts to the arts community at large through its Access Gallery, providing employment and exposure for artists with disabilities.

The 2007 VSA arts National Award for Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services was given to VSA arts of Rhode Island for its involvement in access development with cultural venues statewide, and for its role in developing an access information guide for most cultural and recreational establishments in the state. Ten thousand copies were distributed.

VSA arts of Florida received the 2007 VSA arts National Award for Excellence in Organizational Management in recognition of its consistently high performance in the areas of management, statewide reach, and programming.

Professional golfer Steve Stricker, on behalf of VSA arts of Wisconsin, was awarded the 2007 National Award for Excellence in Leadership for his considerable fundraising support, including $388,000 raised over the last nine years. In addition, when he plays in tournaments, Stricker designates VSA arts of Wisconsin as his charity, contributing $2,500–$10,000.

The 2007 Award for Outstanding Community Partner was presented on behalf of VSA arts of Alabama to the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, which provides more than $100,000 in in-kind contributions to the affiliate every year. In addition to basics like office space and information technology services, gallery and artists’ studio space are donated to the affiliate.

The 2007 Lifetime Leadership Award was awarded to Arthur Morrell on behalf of VSA arts of Louisiana. Morell has been a board member with VSA arts of Louisiana since 1975, including two terms as president, and has been instrumental in securing a line item in the state budget for the affiliate. He also provided legal counsel that resulted in a cooperative agreement between the affiliate and its state department of education.

VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. VSA arts provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities. Each year millions of people participate in VSA arts programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in more than 60 countries around the world. VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Media Contact:
Stephanie Taylor/VSA arts
(202) 628-2800 ext. 3883
SKTaylor@vsarts.org