VSA arts and MetLife Foundation Announce Awards of Excellence in Arts Access

July 28, 2004

Four Organizations Are Recognized for Increasing Access to the Arts

Washington, D.C. (July 2004) — VSA arts and MetLife Foundation are pleased to announce the 2004 Awards of Excellence in Arts Access. The awards recognize four arts organizations that produce enduring and accessible arts programs.

Providing physical access is not enough anymore. There is a need to recognize arts organizations that go beyond physical access and involve people with disabilities in all aspects of programming.

The Awards of Excellence celebrate organizations that have successfully increased access to the arts through the creation of equal opportunities for people of all abilities to attend, participate in, and enjoy cultural arts programming. The winners have been responsive to the needs of people with disabilities through the design and implementation of programs; the guidelines and policies to support program development and implementation; the printed materials created for promotion and public outreach and the means of communication; and the physical design of facilities.

“It is important to recognize and support arts organizations that successfully involve people with disabilities to ensure access into the venues, as part of the audience, and especially in program development,” says Soula Antoniou, president of VSA arts. “We are delighted to continue our partnership with MetLife Foundation to recognize organizations that have greatly increased access to the arts for people of all abilities.”

“The arts not only provide an important outlet for creative expression, but can teach us about ourselves and others,” says Sibyl Jacobson, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. “We are pleased to honor organizations who create opportunities for everyone to experience cultural events to the fullest.”

The following will receive a certificate and $5,000 each for their exemplary work:

The Kentucky Center is a performing arts center located in Louisville, Kentucky that manages the Arts Access Forum to increase art opportunities for organizations that work with individuals of diverse abilities. The organizations can work together at the Forum to share information to make the arts accessible to people of all abilities, and are provided the training needed to work with people with disabilities and to seek financial resources in support of arts programming.

Tohono Chul Park, Inc. in Tucson, Arizona consists of outdoor botanical exhibits, art and cultural exhibits, classes, educational tours, and special events. The Please Touch Too! exhibit allows the general public to participate in touch tours with audio description of artwork created by artists with visual disabilities. Volunteers and regular docents received disability awareness training to increase their sensitivity to the needs of visitors of all abilities.

San Diego Junior Theatre (SDJT) in San Diego, California provides theatre education and programs to children of all ages and abilities. Through their inclusive Theatre in the Park summer camp, sessions are held on topics including acting, voice, and dance. SDJT partners with Kids Included Together to provide training and technical assistance in the inclusion of children with disabilities. Through this partnership, SDJT has expanded its opportunities for children and helped to create a nurturing community of diverse learners.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) in San Francisco, California offers multidisciplinary arts programming that bridges different forms of art through exhibitions, performances, symposia, and artist residencies. Through a partnership with D.E.A.F. Media, Inc. who provides access and opportunities for the Deaf community, YBCA provides performing arts presentations, artist-in-residence programs, and access salons that enable deaf audiences to connect with hearing and non-hearing artists through a variety of programs.

For five years, VSA arts has presented arts organizations who have established long-range accessibility goals with a monetary award for specific programs through the generous support of MetLife Foundation.

Previous award recipients include the Paper Mill Playhouse: Milburn, NJ; Wang Center for the Performing Arts: Boston, MA; Museum of International Folk Art: Santa Fe, NM; Arts for All, Inc./Third St. Ensemble Company: Tucson, AZ; Bethesda Academy for Performing Arts: Bethesda, MD; Dayton Art Institute: Dayton, OH; Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities: Arvada, CO; Museum of Modern Art: New York, NY; Guthrie Theater: Minneapolis, MN; Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre: Fargo, ND; Boston Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, MA; and the Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles Theatre Center: Los Angeles, CA.

About Metlife Foundation

MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife to support various educational, health, civic and cultural organizations across the country. Recognizing the arts' contribution to the health, vitality and development of our communities, the Foundation is committed to increasing access to the arts and promoting diversity and inclusion. For more information about MetLife Foundation, please visit http://www.metlife.org.

About VSA arts

VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith. VSA arts is creating a society where people with disabilities can learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. Nearly five million people with disabilities participate in VSA arts programs every year through a network of affiliates nationwide and in over 60 countries worldwide. www.vsarts.org

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