VSA arts Announces National Awards for Excellence for Community Partners

April 1, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - VSA arts announced its 2009 National Awards for Excellence last weekend during its annual affiliate meeting in Washington. VSA arts works with a network of affiliate organizations across the country, that coordinate comprehensive programming in their respective states, working to increase educational opportunities and access to the arts for people with disabilities. These organizations develop strategic and program partnerships with organizations and individuals to increase their reach and impact in their states. Each year, VSA arts and its affiliates recognize the organizations and individuals who help make their work possible.

“VSA arts affiliates work tirelessly to open the doors of access to the arts for children and adults with disabilities,” said Soula Antoniou, president of VSA arts. “But they could not do it alone. Numerous individuals and organizations in the local communities play an invaluable role, and it’s a privilege to honor them.”

The following organizations and individuals received the Outstanding Community Partner Award:

ArtAccess at the Queens Museum of Art works each year with VSA arts of New York City to exhibit the artwork of New York City children with disabilities. ArtAccess annually serves more than 5,000 people of varying cognitive, emotional, physical, and developmental disabilities, underscoring the museum’s commitment to make the power of the arts available to everyone.
LifeSkills Industries, Inc. works with VSA arts of Kentucky to provide “The Artist Within,” a series of visual art classes designed to offer further training, exhibition opportunities and potential sales to visual artists. LifeSkills offers support for people with mental illness, substance abuse, and development disabilities as they build meaningful and independent lives.
Lesley University and UMass Boston Graduate College of Education have formed a partnership with VSA arts of Massachusetts, “Partnership for Arts Based Instruction and Inclusion,” to help teachers and teaching artists develop arts-based learning strategies to help students achieve proficiency in Massachusetts Learning Standards, accomplish the goals of Individual Education Plans and support inclusion of students with disabilities with other students.
Middle Tennessee State University agreed to serve as a fiscal agent to found VSA arts of Tennessee eight years ago and has provided crucial support ever since, partnering on numerous programs, recognizing the work of its artists, assisting with publicity efforts, and providing volunteers and financial assistance.
Missouri Arts Council, Michael Donovan, program specialist, and Virginia Sanders, 504 coordinator, worked diligently to make the recently re-established VSA arts of Missouri a reality. Inspired by a 2004 career forum for artists with disabilities in the state, Donovan recruited a new executive director to found the organization, and then Sanders, Donovan and the director collaborated on a proposal for funding.
The ArtThread Foundation and VSA arts of Florida successfully partnered to create “Work of Art,” a training program that focuses on developing art-based technology skills for artists and to develop merchandising, marketing, and micro-enterprise/entrepreneurial skills. As a result of the program, participating artists have not only exhibited their work online and are putting it up for sale, but are also becoming trained to lead future seminars.
WPS Health Insurance has supported VSA arts of Wisconsin for 23 years, offering monetary support for innovative new programs, professional expertise in the areas of technology, marketing, and printing, and volunteer support at activities. CEO Jim Riordan currently serves as board chair of VSA arts of Wisconsin, and WPS contributions to date exceeds $280,000, thousands of dollars of free professional support and countless hours of employee volunteer involvement.

The following individuals received the Excellence in Leadership Award:

Barbara Falkingham, arts supervisor for the School District of Pasco County, worked with VSA arts of Florida to create a pilot arts residency program called “Hand in Hand.” The program was an outstanding success, and is in the process of being replicated in four other counties throughout the state.
Donielle Rome, director of ArtAccess at the Queens Museum of Art, works diligently to bring experiences in the arts to people of all abilities. Active in the field of special education and art therapy, she is a contributor to the NYC Department of Education’s Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts, and acts as a steering committee member for the New York State Arts in Correctional Education Network and the VSA arts NYC Festival Committee.

About VSA arts
VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. VSA arts provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities. Each year millions of people participate in VSA arts programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in 55 countries around the world. VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, please visit www.vsarts.org

Media Contact:

Stephanie Taylor/VSA arts
(202) 628-2800 ext. 3883
SKTaylor@vsarts.org

General Information:

(202) 628 -2800
(TTY) 737-0645
www.vsarts.org