About Us

VSA arts

Founded in 1981 by the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Department of State, VSA arts of Florida (VSAFL) is housed at the University of South Florida, and incorporates an extensive network of program sites and partnerships. VSAFL is a member of  VSA arts, an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where all people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts.

Guiding Principles for VSA arts of Florida Programs:

• All artists in schools and art educators should be appropriately prepared to include students with disabilities in their instruction.
• All children, youth and adults with disabilities should have complete access to community cultural facilities and activities.
• Every young person with a disability deserves access to appropriate arts learning experiences.
• All individuals with disabilities who aspire to careers in the arts should have the opportunity to develop appropriate skills.

Accomplishments
2007-2008 VSA arts of Florida accomplishments:

• 197 different programs in 52 counties
• 66,278 students with disabilities participated in programs/activities in 40 counties
• 79 artist residencies served 1587 students with disabilities and 388 adults with disabilities
• 36 professional development trainings for 1054 participants including teachers, teaching artists, artists with disabilities and staff of cultural organizations
• First Florida Young Soloists Performance for an audience of 500
• Three student/adult staged performances for an audience of 663
• 10 exhibitions of artwork created by 107 students with disabilities
• National recognition for  2 Florida adults in VSA arts Young Playwrights and VSA arts Driven Volkswagen Art Exhibition and one student with disabilities for Smithsonian show
• 20 exhibitions of artwork created by adults and students with disabilities
• 8 calls for art sent to 250 teachers statewide resulted in 571 pieces of art work created by students with disabilities
• 107 artists with a  disability are members of the VSAFL artist registry
• 3000 website hits per month with 75% new hits
• 262,357 individuals directly participated in VSAFL program/activities   
• 463,600 individuals indirectly participated in VSAFL program/activities