VSA arts of Alabama
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Located at the Children’s Health System |
Patti Hendrix Lovoy |
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Tel.: (205) 212- 7051 |
Website: |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 5 |
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The mission of VSA arts of Alabama is to provide opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
Alabama Power Foundation; Alabama Head Injury Foundation; Alabama State Council on the Arts; Alabama State Department of Education; Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts; Arc of South Talladega; Arc of Mobile; Arc of Walker County; Arc of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties; Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind; BellSouth; Bruno Memorial Classic Foundation and Bruno’s Supermarkets; Children’s Dance Foundation; Children’s Health System; Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham; Daniel Foundation; Robert Meyer Foundation; Southern Dance Works; United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham; United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville; University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Occupational Therapy and Department of Physical Therapy; University of Alabama at Birmingham Benevolent Fund; The Palliative and Comfort Care Center; University of Alabama at Birmingham; Alabama Department of Rehabilitation; Children’s Rehabilitation Services Clinics; 1920 Club
State Programs
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
ArtPartners
VSA arts of Alabama offers arts education through classes, schools and camps. Arts education is offered to children pre K - 12 with disabilities and their siblings through its ArtPartners classes. Each class session is a six week block of time ending with a reception to feature the work created during the class and recognize each child for his or her excellence. In addition to the class work, each child is partnered with an artist in a mentoring relationship to create a collaborative work of art.
CreativeFest
CreativeFest is an annual thematic call for children’s art that can be integrated into the state’s educational curriculum. The Children’s Health System will partner with VSA arts of Alabama to host the exhibit and a closing reception in April 2006. A portion of the exhibit will travel throughout the state providing an educational venue for the arts and disability awareness.
SnapShot Photography Program
VSA arts of Alabama partners with the Alabama Head Injury Foundation to implement the statewide SnapShot Photography Program for individuals with traumatic brain injury. The district awardees will be featured at the state photography exhibit.
Artist-in-Residency
VSA arts of Alabama will support an artist in residency program for the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, Epic School, and The Children’s Health System.
Camps
VSA arts of Alabama partners with other organizations to provide an arts education experience in disability-related camps. Camps include Camp MASH (Make Arthritis Stop Hurting), in partnership with the Alabama Arthritis Foundation; Vent Kids Camp for Alabama's ventilator-dependent children; and Camp COOL (Children Overcoming Obstacles of Life), a day camp experience for children and youth with traumatic brain injury in collaboration with Children’s Health System, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Alabama Head Injury Foundation and The Lakeshore Foundation .
Young Soloist
The VSA arts of Alabama State Young Soloists Award recipient is discovered through a statewide search of public schools, colleges, and universities. The Young Soloists Award is given to an emerging performing artist aged 25 years and younger who has a disability. The state winner is submitted to participate in the national VSA arts Young Soloists award. The national winner is eligible for scholarship funds and an opportunity to perform at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The Children’s Hospital of Alabama will partner with VSA arts of Alabama to host the competition.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Creativity – A Natural Bridge
VSA arts of Alabama’s annual "Creativity – A Natural Bridge" exhibition is a professional development program that supports the career development of artists with disabilities. Creativity, a juried show that features works of adult artists, will be displayed at the BellSouth Operations Center throughout the month of March 2005. This juried exhibit offers artists the opportunity for recognition from a panel of judges as well as the opportunity to meet the community and sell their work. Professional development opportunities are available to expand the artists’ knowledge of marketing, pricing, and the business side of the arts. The 2004 "Creativity" traveling show was on exhibit at the State Capitol during the month of October 2004. Governor Bob Riley attended the closing reception and visited with VSA arts of Alabama artists.
Start With the Arts
VSA arts of Alabama provides training to artists and educators in adapting the arts for all populations. Start with the Arts training is an opportunity to broaden arts education opportunities in the early childhood years.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
ASL Interpretation
VSA arts of Alabama will partner with Birmingham’s Children’s Theatre to offer American Sign Language interpretation for one performance of each of the season’s top four best attended productions.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Festivals
VSA arts of Alabama will participate in public festivals and community arts events throughout the state including the Mobile Easter, International and Christmas Festivals, the Magic City Arts Connection and Bravo Festivals in Birmingham. Outreach efforts are especially designed to reach parents and educators to increase awareness of VSA arts of Alabama programs serving the K-12 population.
Galleries
VSA arts of Alabama maintains galleries supporting the work of artists with disabilities at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Spine Rehabilitation Center, United Cerebral Palsy's Hand in Hand Center and The Virginia Samford Theatre.
Outreach Tools
VSA arts of Alabama maintains a website at http://www.vsartsalabama.org/ to promote programs and events. The organization's newsletter, art works, is published twice per year.
(F) 202-429-0868