Education Programs

Each year VSA arts of Florida provides arts and education programs for individuals with disabilities from early childhood through the senior years. Direct services include 70 programs/projects in over 40 counties through a network of local and statewide partners.

Art Based Activities that Originate from our Program Partners around the State

• Festivals
• Artist Residencies
  • Start with the Arts (Pre-K)
  • Schools (K-12)
  • Youth at Risk
  • Children in Health Care Settings
  • Adult Community Centers
    

Participation in artistic activities has been shown to contribute to greater self-confidence, enhanced respect and appreciation of others, improved social relations and cooperation, and increased academic achievement.

VSA arts of Florida Festivals feature performances, art exhibitions, demonstrations and educational workshops where children, youth and adults with

disabilities proudly share their accomplishments with the public. Festivals are  statewide and attendance ranges from 150 to 3000+ participants.

Artist Residencies for Children with Disabilities occur in a variety of educational and community settings and provide professional artists the opportunity to teach aspects of their art form. Students participate in the creative process which allows for self expression, many for the first time. The artist relates his or her art form to the curriculum and includes appropriate literacy skills.

Artist Residencies for Adults with Disabilities occur in a variety of community centers across the state to create arts opportunities in which adults with disabilities learn art skills and increase their social interactions.

Start with the Arts is a pre-kindergarten resource guide that promotes the development of pre-literacy skills and provides engaging hands-on arts activities for use in classrooms, afterschool programs, museums and recreation centers.

The Youth at Risk Residency Program is designed to encourage successful behavior and raise self-esteem. Participation in artistic activities has been shown to contribute to greater self-confidence, enhanced respect of others, improved social relations and increased academic achievement.

Arts in Healthcare Residencies for medically fragile children provide a chance for children and artists to establish mutual relationships, express their feelings and develop their creativity through the arts, thus helping children to regain a positive outlook.

All artists are appropriately prepared to include people with disabilities in their instruction, by prior teaching experiences or participation in a VSA arts of Florida training.