VSA arts of New York City
|
18-05 215th Street, Suite 15N |
Dr. Bebe Bernstein |
|
Tel.: (718) 225-6305 |
Organizational Profile:
|
Full-time Staff: 1 (unpaid) |
 |
VSA arts of New York City provides art, educational and creative expression experiences to thousands of children, youth, and adults with disabilities who reside in the five boroughs of New York City. It provides opportunities for people with disabilities to demonstrate their accomplishments in the arts and foster increased understanding and acceptance. The organization promotes the development of partnerships within the public and private sectors of the city. VSA arts of New York City utilizes the cultural facilities of New York City to enrich arts experiences for its participants.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
NYC Department of Education; NYC Division of Special Education, District 75; NYC Public School Regions; Teachers College, Columbia University; St. John's University; Roberto Clemente State Park; NYC Hospital School Programs; Queens Museum of Art; Manhattan Children's Museum of Art; Programs for Visually Impaired Students; The Lowell School; Queens, Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island Schools for Career Development/Occupational Training Centers; Citywide Speech and Language Services Department; Teachers College Services for Students with Disabilities; Kids Project; Alley Pond Environmental Center; Feildston School; St. John's University Fine Arts Department Students; NYC High School Volunteers: School of the Future; Washington Irving High School; Xaverion High School; Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities
City Programs
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
The VSA arts of New York City educational program theme for 2006 is “Stories Through the Arts.” The theme serves to motivate activities in music, dance, visual arts, drama, photography, and literature. The theme is introduced at the beginning of the school year to demonstrate the importance of arts in relation to skills and learning. It is the basis for classroom activities, project development, training, and culminating inclusive events. The NYC Festival Program begins locally in conjunction with the citywide NYC Special Education District 75 and the decentralized school regions. Annual festivals are held at Teachers College, Columbia University and St. John’s University. The success of the NYC Festival Program is due to the excitement generated by the thousands of children, artists, community organizations, educators, and volunteersthat prticipate. NYC programs are inclusive events.
Early Childhood Initiatives
Pre-school and early childhood classes participate in NYC initiatives for this population. In 2006, two additional regional school sites in Queens and Brooklyn will focus on literacy, language development and social skills. VSA arts “Start with the Arts” training is provided. Trainers are primarily speech and language specialists assigned to the site, coordinated by speech and language supervisors. Parent education is an integral part of the program. Artists, e.g., storytellers, puppeteers, and mimes, add to the vitality of the classroom activities. The culminating activity includes a performance. A major inclusive event is the annual “Early Childhood Day” at Teachers’ College that attracts children from both public and private schools throughout the city.
Programs for Youth
In 2006, older students within the citywide Special Education District 75 structure will participate in Early Childhood Day. As an initial effort, these students will be responsible for the afternoon program at the Early Childhood Festival. The students, in conjunction with their teachers, will plan art stops, performances, and workshops appropriate to early childhood children. The project is an example of other VSA arts activities involving Junior and Senior high school students. The 2006 programs include the Student High School Volunteer Corps, Transition to Work projects and Fieldston School Volunteers Program.
Murals Program and Calendar
The NYC Murals Program is ongoing in all five boroughs. Both special education and regular class students work cooperatively to complete a mural. Classroom teachers working with school art personnel will develop murals that center on the 2006 theme “Stories through the Arts,” and this year a “Construct a Mural” workshop is planned at each festival site. Following exhibits, a jury selects murals for the VSA arts of New York City calendar. The calendar serves to increase public awareness and recognition of the contributions of students with disabilities through the arts. The calendar is distributed to elected officials, organizations and schools.
Technical Assistance
Project Wheels
Increased numbers of people in wheel chairs attend and participate in NYC programs, and so the Planning Committee is working to relieve access-related problems identified by teachers. Project Wheels aims to develop guidelines that address issues of accessibility, increasing the availability and enjoyment of events for participants who use wheelchairs, and distribute these guidelines to schools. Project Wheels will emphasize training escorts, and the High School Volunteer Corps will be employed in this effort.
Professional Development
One-Day Events
In 2006, to meet the geographic challenge of this large city with its outlying boroughs, VSA arts of New York City plans to hold a variety of professional development one day events to introduce or re-enforce projects. Planned workshops and events include Express Diversity workshops at each festival site; create a mural workshops; Museum Training Days, e.g., Queens Museum; and VSA arts, “Let Your Style Take Shape” workshops.
Public Awareness
New York City Reaches Out!
In 2006, VSA arts of New York City will continue to promote awareness in the five remote boroughs through committees, a senior and student volunteer network, annual theme posters, buttons, NYC calendar, exhibits, fliers, e-mail, and events. The focus will be on the development of a photo retrospective of the organization, which has functioned for 30 years.
(F) 202-429-0868