VSA arts of Nevada
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250 Court Street |
Mary Ellen Horan |
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TTY: Rings through on (775) 826-6100 |
Website: |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 2 |
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VSA arts of Nevada provides quality arts programs for ALL focusing on children and adults who have disabilities or are otherwise at-risk, disadvantaged or under-served by the arts.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
15 different nursing homes/assisted living facilities in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Las Vegas and Boulder City; 21st Century Learning Center sites; Accessible Space in Carson City; Artown; Camp Care; Camp Lotsafun; Carson City School District; City of Reno; City of Reno Arts and Culture Commission; City of Sparks (workshops and Leisure without Limits); Quest Cxounceling; WestCare Nevada’s Harris Springs Ranch for Boys near Las Vegas; Historic Reno Preservation Society; Koincia Day Treatment Centers; Lifeskills at Washoe Medical Center in Reno; Nevada Arts Council; Preserve Nevada; Sun Valley Neighborhood Summer Camp; Pershing County School District; Quest Counseling; Reno Housing Authority; Sierra Regional Center; State of Nevada Commission for Cultural Affairs; State of Nevada; Storey County School District; Truckee Meadows Heritage Trust; Veterans Administration facilities in Reno (hospital day treatment); Las Vegas (Arville House); Boulder City (nursing home); Washoe County School District; Washoe County Parks and Recreation; Washoe Medical Center; White Pine County School District
State Programs
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
Arts in Education for Pre-School through 12th Grade
VSA arts of Nevada conducts over 900 visual and performing arts workshops throughout the state annually in self-contained classrooms for students with special needs, and mainstreamed classrooms and with home school groups. These workshops give students the opportunity to explore the arts and to discover their hidden talents, helping them develop a higher sense of creativity and self-awareness. Few counties in Nevada hire visual arts teachers in elementary schools, so this program is essential to incorporating the arts into education.
After-school and Summer Programs for Pre-School-12th grade through Adult
VSA arts of Nevada conducts over 400 workshops each year in conjunction with Reno Housing Authority, the 21st Century Learning Center program, Sun Valley Neighborhood Summer Camp, Camp Lotsafun, Camp Care, Harris Springs Ranch/Mt. Charleston, Reno’s Koioncia Day Treatment Centers, Quest Counseling for Teens, Reno Firefighter’s Holiday Party for low-income youth, Reno/Sparks Down Syndrome Family Gathering, and others. For many participants, these programs are their only opportunity to explore the arts on a regular basis.
Arts in the Community
VSA arts of Nevada conducts over 800 workshops each year throughout the state, partnering with nursing homes/assisted living facilities in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and Las Vegas, at Sierra Regional Center in Sparks, at Lifeskills in Washoe Medical Center, at WestCare Nevada’s Harris Springs Ranch for Boys near Las Vegas, Leisure Without Limits in Sparks, Washoe Medical Center’s Pediatric Care Unit, and at two Veteran’s facilities in Reno, Las Vegas, and Boulder City. The workshops provide needed creative outlets for participants with disabilities to experience the arts through hands-on activities.
Open-to-All Public Workshops and Art Camps
Since 2000, VSA arts of Nevada has provided accessible and affordable visual, theater, creative movement and music arts workshops and art camps for children and adults with and without disabilities in partnership with the City of Reno, Washoe County and City of Sparks. More than 600 workshops will be offered. Financial assistance is available for participants to attend these workshops.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Teacher Training
VSA arts of Nevada conducts "Arts Across the Curriculum" to train special education teachers in elementary schools in Washoe County to be comfortable using the visual arts in conjunction with all subject materials. VSA arts of Nevada also trains teachers and provides manuals on using the national VSA arts Start with the Arts curriculum, an early childhood educational program that uses arts-based learning to support literacy.
Scholarships
VSA arts of Nevada provides scholarships to attend workshops, purchase art supplies or support other art related activities for adults and children who have disabilities and/or face economic hardship.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
Sign Language Interpretation
VSA arts of Nevada provides interpreters for arts and culture performances in Reno through a contract with the City of Reno.
Arts and Cultural Access Survey
VSA arts of Nevada’s Arts and Cultural Access Survey, in conjunction with Nevada Arts Council, works to make Nevada’s cultural facilities physically and programmatically accessible to all. VSA arts of Nevada works with the state arts council to provide technical assistance to arts and cultural organizations and facilities throughout the state.
Lake Mansion Access
In 2005, VSA arts of Nevada returned to the historic Lake Mansion located in Reno with plans to make the space physically, programmatically and financially accessible to all.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Festivals
VSA arts of Nevada conducts hands-on children’s arts festivals in Reno, Lovelock, and Fernley. The Reno Festival is free and open-to-the-public. The Lovelock festival is a three-day event at Lovelock Elementary School for students and teachers.
Annual Events
VSA arts of Nevada conducts workshops in conjunction with several annual events, including the “Discover the Arts” part of the Artown Festival, Healthy Kids Day in Reno, Tune Into Kids event, and Arts in Bloom in Sparks. The workshops add a creative component to these events while giving VSA arts of Nevada additional exposure.
Lake Mansion
VSA arts of Nevada’s administrative offices are located in the historic Lake Mansion, once owned by the founder of Reno, Myron Lake. The mansion was moved 3.1 miles on July 11, 2004 from the Reno-Sparks Convention Center to downtown Reno’s Arts District on the corner of Court Street and Arlington Avenue. In March 2005, VSA arts of Nevada returned to the 1877 mansion, and in June, open-to-the-public workshops began. In November, the main floor was completed. The mansion houses the administrative offices, an art gallery, a resource library for arts/disability/ Reno history, a special events location, a meeting place, and an art studio.
Web Site
The VSA arts of Nevada Web site features 30 lesson plans for artists and teachers, the VSA arts of Nevada exhibit schedule, open-to-the-public workshop listings, program descriptions, artist profiles, current news, and more. Visit http://www.vsanevada.org.
License Plate
VSA arts of Nevada, in collaboration with Nevada Arts Council, produced a Nevada "Rich in Art" license plate, with artwork created by a student from Las Vegas. Nevada drivers can purchase the plates. Sales proceeds are used to expand the Nevada Arts Council’s and VSA arts of Nevada’s arts education initiatives for Nevada’s children.
Annual Pond and Garden Tour
On the third Saturday in June, VSA arts of Nevada sponsors a self-guided tour for the public to explore small, medium, and large private gardens.
"Treasures in Your Attic?"
An appraisal clinic in July, “Treasures in Your Attic?” helps to raise funds for VSA arts of Nevada programs. Ten volunteer appraisers participate in the clinic.
(F) 202-429-0868