VSA arts of Tennessee
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1210 Lake Rise Place |
Lori Kissinger |
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Tel.: (615) 210-8819 |
Website: |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 1 |
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VSA arts Tennessee promotes arts, education, and creative expression involving people with disabilities thereby improving the quality of life for all people of Tennessee. Activities are designed to create and support avenues of creative expression for people with disabilities; to promote disability awareness of creative endeavors; to help eliminate barriers for people with disabilities through the arts; and to support the efforts of professional artists with disabilities.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
Volunteer State Community College; Belmont University; Middle Tennessee State University; Tennessee Arts Commission; ARC of Tennessee; Tennessee Department of Education; National Storytelling Network; Renaissance Center; Country Music Hall of Fame; Children’s Museum of Memphis; Orange Grove; Nashville Sounds Baseball; Frist Center for the Visual Arts; Blue Bird Café; Tennessee Library Association; Tennessee State Government (for the use of Legislative Plaza); Tennessee State Museum; Tennessee Arts Commission; Junior Service League of Gallatin; GAP; Caterpillar; First Tennessee Bank; BMI; Publix; HCA; Merrill Lynch; Lions Club; Rotary; Wal-mart; Middle Tennessee Community Foundation; Whirlpool
State Programs
Education
Artist Residencies
VSA arts of Tennessee coordinates a statewide artist residency program which will take artists into all nine congressional districts throughout the state.
Express Diversity Art Institute
This is a one-week art institute where children with and without disabilities learn about other cultures through their dance, drama, literature, music, and visual arts.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Start with the Arts Workshops
VSA arts of Tennessee provides workshops for elementary and middle school special education teachers using the VSA arts Start with the Arts resource, as well as research and other educational materials.
Artist Training
This program component offers training for artists who participate in the Artists in Residency program.
Service Learning
Groups of students at Middle Tennessee State University connect projects that connect art, disabilities, and communication.
Career Forum
A career forum is planned for artists with disabilities in conjunction with the Tennessee Arts Commission and Middle Tennessee State University for summer 2006.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Quarterly Newsletter
A quarterly newsletter is distributed throughout Tennessee with information about VSA arts of Tennessee programs and feature articles on artists with disabilities.
Awards of Excellence
A semi-formal banquet is held annually at Belmont University to recognize the talents and achievements of artists with disabilities.
Blue Bird Café
This is an evening that showcases professional musicians with disabilities.
Young Soloist
VSA arts of Tennessee’s statewide Young Soloist competition for performing artists ages 25 and under recognizes outstanding young musicians with disabilities who have exhibited exceptional talents as vocalists or instrumentalists. An adjudication process follows the February deadline for 2006 entries.
Playwright Discovery
This statewide Playwright Discovery Program challenges middle and high school students of all abilities to take a closer look at the world around them, examine how disability affects their lives and the lives of others, and express their views through the art of writing a one-act play. During March, the young playwrights submit entries to VSA arts of Tennessee for adjudication.
(F) 202-429-0868