THE LEAD CONFERENCE IS COMING TO FLORIDA IN AUGUST!

This year the Kennedy Center is pleased to partner with the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, VSA arts of Florida, and the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs to bring the 2008 LEAD (Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability) Conference and Training to Fort Lauderdale, FL.  The conference will be held August 22-24, 2008.
Drawing on national and local resources, the conference will provide an array of opportunities to:

• Discuss issues ranging from physical and programmatic access to ticketing policies and marketing strategies;
• Share ideas and learn what has been successful at other arts organizations and cultural institutions;
• Engage in an open dialogue with representatives from the Disability Rights Section of the Department of Justice;
• Learn about best practices and how to develop sound policies; and
• Participate in stimulating and enriching discussions with leaders in the field.

Click here to learn how to register.

VSA arts of Florida is offering a limited number of scholarships for Florida residents to cover the cost of the full conference registration fee.  If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please click here to fill out the registration form.  The registration fee covers the cost of the full conference from August 22-24, but no special events or pre-conference activities.  You will be responsible for your own travel and hotel costs.  The deadline to take advantage of this scholarship opportunity is June 30, 2008.

To download the full program brochure please visit the Kennedy Center website.  (the link for this is http://www.kennedy-center.org/accessibility/education/lead/LEAD%202008%20Conference%20Brochure.pdf).

VSA arts of Florida participates
in the USF Children’s Festival

On Saturday, March 1, 2008, VSAFL’s Program Coordinator, Jenn Bade and Media Coordinator, Karen Belsole, manned a booth with 11 eager volunteers from the University of Tampa to showcase wheelchair art. The event provided an opportunity for children and adults to sit in a wheelchair and use the specially adapted equipment to roll paint colors of their choice on a giant “mural” on the ground.  After making a paper template of their chosen images that would be taped to the roller, the artist was off and rolling. VSA wishes to thank the student/athlete volunteers from the University of Tampa who helped to make this event possible.

See Arts and Education

in Action!!!

VSA arts of Florida provides short term residencies in drama, music, movement and the visual arts for students with disabilities in ESE or inclusive classrooms; adults with disabilities in ARC sites; youth at risk in Department of Juvenile Justice sites and pediatric patients in health care settings.  These residencies are for a total of 8 – 10 hours.  The teaching artist provides hands-on arts activities with the participants that teach new skills and provide a means of expression and the opportunity to enjoy the emotional rewards of the arts.

ART ON THE MOVE!!

"Art on the Move" was created as a result of VSA arts of Florida’s cultural access initiatives, which work to expand access to community cultural facilities and activities throughout Florida. This exhibition features 20 selected works of art created by children with disabilities in the Miami-Dade County Public School system through their participation in the ArtAbilities Program at the Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. Four of the works have also been recreated as 3-dimensional tactile versions. Visitors can take a free audio described tour using their cell phones, read about the artworks in braille or large print, and explore the tactile art. Sign language interpretation will be available when requested for programs associated with the exhibit. Art on the Move is a mutil-faceted, multisensory art experience for children, youth and adults of all abilities.

Check out the full brochure with dates and venues.

Check out pictures of the art that is being featured.

VSA arts of Florida: 

Creating a society in which people with disabilities can learn through, participatein and enjoy the arts.  Headquartered at the University of South Florida, VSA arts of Florida (VSAFL)is a member of the international network of VSA arts, an affiliate of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  

2006-2007 VSA arts of Florida accomplishments:

• 243 different programs in 43 counties
• 11 programs highlighting reading skills through the arts
• 32,399 students with disabilities participated in programs/activities in 19 counties
• 82 artist residencies served 2279 students with disabilities and 384 adults with disabilities        
• 44 professional development trainings for 472 teachers and teaching artists, 25 adult artists with disabilities and 476 staff members of cultural organizations

• The 25th VSA arts of Florida Anniversary was celebrated with an audience of 460 enjoying inclusive dance and drama performances and the solo performance of Young Soloist Laurie Rubin 

• 10 exhibitions of artwork created by 107 students with disabilities
• 4 student artists selected for statewide or national recognition
• 9 exhibitions of artwork created by 206 adult artists with disabilities
• 8 calls for art sent to 250 teachers statewide resulted in 571 pieces of art work created by students with disabilities

• 117 artists with a  disability are members of the VSAFL artist registry
• 3000 website hits per month with 75% new hits
• 225,000 individuals directly participated in VSAFL program/activities
• 800,000 individuals indirectly participated in VSAFL program/activities

Wordgathering:
A Journal of Disability Poetry

Wordgathering, a journal of disability-oriented poetry, provides an opportunity for those both talented in writing poetry and interested in the growing field of disabilities literature. It offers the work of many poets, both old and new and seeks the work of poets with disabilities or poets with a particular perspective on disability that they feel contributes to disability literature as a genre.

http://www.wordgathering.com/index.html

VSA arts of Florida

The “How-To” of Accessible Art Exhibitions

Click here to learn how to:

• Hang artwork
• Make Labels
• Position Lighting
• Know what to display and how to display it
• How to use accessibility symbols

Want to find out more? You can contact us about any of our programs, or check the site list to find the program nearest you.

			Newsletter Archive

COMING IN THE FALL!   2008 YOUNG SOLOISTS AWARDS AND PERFORMANCE

Say hello to the artists that just joined our registry:

Ann Harrison-May
Charlotte Barnes

If you would like to join the artist registry click below

Calls for Art

Visit this page to find a list of active Calls for Art.

Workshops

Check out workshops around the state

VSAFL is seeking teaching artists for residency opportunities. If interested please contact Marilyn Farber @ 813-558-1144 or email:mfarber@coedu.usf.edu

NEW!!! Nominate an organization who have made significant efforts to make programs accessible.

Accessibility Symbols

Twelve symbols that may be used to promote and publicize accessibility.

Teaching Artists!!

participate in a professional development conference call

Jobs in the Arts Around Florida
for updates on arts opportunities, locally, across Florida and nationally. Check out the website for the Arts Council of Hillsborough County.

Florida Alliance for Arts Education mission is to improve, enhance, and promote arts education in Florida.

Florida Federation of Women's Club provides services to VSA arts programs statewide.