VSA arts of Maine
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185 Park Row |
Ms. Kippy Rudy Website: |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 3 |
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VSA arts of Maine is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization providing arts, education, and cultural opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. VSA arts of Maine’s mission is to ensure that every person with a disability or who is at risk has the opportunity to use the arts to rise to his or her fullest potential, to explore the world, and to become an active participant in it. Programs include artist residencies in schools, teacher training workshops, mentoring for adult artists with disabilities, exhibitions of work by artists with disabilities, and working with cultural venues throughout the state to improve accessibility.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
Maine Department of Education, Special Services; Maine Arts Commission; National Endowment for the Arts; Maine CITE; Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation; TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation; Maine Support Network; Davis Family Foundation; Maine Community Foundation; Beim Foundation; Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund; Robert M. MacNamara Foundation; Alpha One Center for Independent Living; Husson College; University of Southern Maine, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; Maine Alliance for Arts Education; Maine Developmental Disabilities Council; Maine Parent Federation
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
Artist Residencies in Schools and
Community Arts Programs
Artist residencies support student achievement through the coordination of quality visiting artist sessions in K–1 special needs and inclusive classrooms, community settings, and cultural venues across the state. Residencies are designed to enable teachers to learn new tools to integrate the arts with other academic subjects while addressing the Maine State Learning Results and Federal No Child Left Behind regulations; to provide direct, hands-on experiences with professional artists; to encourage interdisciplinary learning and enrichment of curriculum content; to engage all students through the multiple modalities inherent in the artistic process; and to promote full access to quality arts experiences for all students.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Professional Development
In an effort to increase the number of children with disabilities engaged in arts programming in schools, VSA arts of Maine conducts workshops throughout the state training artists, arts educators, and others interested in arts education. The workshops focus on disability awareness, adaptation techniques, and building student skills. Every year, VSA arts of Maine participates in a statewide conference of more than 300 Maine special educators to advocate for the infusion of arts into curricula and to provide them with new skills.
The Gallery at Park Row
Adult artists with disabilities learn arts business skills through hands-on apprenticeships in the Gallery at Park Row. Participants learn about all aspects of the business of art, including portfolio development, framing, marketing, hosting opening receptions, working with the press, and understanding financial management. Following the apprenticeships, artists receive mentoring for ongoing support.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
Accessible Maine (AccME)
Accessible Maine (AccME) is a collaboration between VSA arts of Maine, Husson College, the State of Maine Department of Tourism, and Alpha One Center for Independent Living to increase awareness of accessibility issues in Maine’s arts, cultural, and recreational facilities. Occupational therapy students from Husson College conduct cultural site surveys and provide the sites with reports containing information on their facilities’ accessibility and suggestions for improvement. Each spring the partners present a free seminar, “Low Cost Solutions for Accessibility.” Cultural sites may also conduct self-surveys through an online tool with accompanying recommendations for improving accessibility.
Arts are Basic Coalition (ABC)
A coalition of the statewide arts education organizations in Maine, ABC partners with the Maine Department of Education and advocates for daily access to quality arts education for every child in Maine schools. VSA arts of Maine’s participation ensures that children with disabilities are not forgotten when planning education policy in the state of Maine.
Public Awareness and Outreach
A Matter of Perception: Exhibition by Artists with Disabilities
This annual exhibition showcases the artwork and talent of Maine artists with disabilities. The exhibition occurs in a two-year cycle: the first year includes a call for art and all artwork submitted is exhibited at least once (as many as 300 pieces may be displayed at six or more venues). In the second year, a jury selects 60 pieces from those submitted, and they are exhibited with an accompanying catalogue at other venues across the state. Exhibition locations include art galleries, libraries, the state capitol, and disability organizations across Maine. Related activities and events include public opening receptions, gallery talks, disability awareness training for museum and gallery personnel, and outreach and related programming for schools, group homes, and social clubs. The exhibition and programming raises awareness of disability issues, creates opportunities for artists with disabilities to market their work, and expands access to the arts for traditionally underserved populations.
Public Exhibitions and Outreach
VSA arts of Maine coordinates a wide variety of exhibitions of work by children and adults with disabilities and participates in public events to build awareness. The goal of these efforts is to educate the community about inclusive arts and access issues, as well as to increase exposure of VSA arts of Maine programs and the artwork of people with disabilities in Maine.
Information and Referral Services
The VSA arts of Maine Web site, www.vsartsmaine.org, serves as a resource for educators, administrators, and artists throughout the state, as well as cultural venues. The site provides an always-changing list of program partners, resources, and important links helps to build support and awareness while serving children with disabilities, their parents and educators, and artists throughout the state.
(F) 202-429-0868