VSA arts of Tennessee
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1210 Lake Rise Place |
Lori Kissinger |
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Tel.: (615) 210-8819 |
Website: |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 1 |
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VSA arts of Tennessee promotes arts, education, and creative expression involving people with disabilities, thereby improving the quality of life for all people of Tennessee. Activities are designed to create and support avenues of creative expression for people with disabilities; to promote disability awareness of creative endeavors; to help eliminate barriers for people with disabilities through the arts; and to support the efforts of professional artists with disabilities.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
Volunteer State Community College; Belmont University; Middle Tennessee State University; Tennessee Arts Commission; ARC of Tennessee; Tennessee Department of Education; Country Music Hall of Fame; Orange Grove; Nashville Sounds Baseball; Frist Center for the Visual Arts; Blue Bird Café; Tennessee Library Association; Tennessee State Government (for the use of Legislative Plaza); GAP; Caterpillar; First Tennessee Bank; Publix; Lions Club; Rotary; Wal-Mart; Middle Tennessee Community Foundation; Department of Developmental Disabilities; School for the Blind; Grand Old Dulcimer Club
Education
Artist Residencies
VSA arts of Tennessee coordinates a statewide artist residency program that involves three intensive, yearlong artist residencies in the east, middle, and west portions of Tennessee.
Express Diversity Art Institute
This is a one-week art institute where children with and without disabilities learn about other cultures through dance, drama, literature, music, and visual arts.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Start with the Arts Workshops
VSA arts of Tennessee provides workshops for elementary and middle school special education teachers using the VSA arts Start with the Arts™ resource, as well as research and other educational materials.
Artist Training
This program component offers professional development training for artists with disabilities in areas such as portfolio development, marketing, and communications.
Service Learning
Groups of students at Middle Tennessee State University connect projects that link art, disabilities, and communication.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Quarterly Newsletter
A quarterly newsletter is distributed throughout Tennessee with information about VSA arts programs and feature articles on artists with disabilities.
Performing Arts Showcase
Once a year, VSA arts of Tennessee presents a showcase of professional musicians and dancers with disabilities. The showcase has taken place at the Blue Bird Café, Ryman Auditorium, and the Wildhorse.
Young Soloists
VSA arts of Tennessee’s statewide Young Soloists award program for performing artists, ages 25 and under, recognizes outstanding young musicians with disabilities who have exhibited exceptional talent as vocalists or instrumentalists.
Playwright Discovery
This statewide Playwright Discovery Program asks middle and high school students of all abilities to take a closer look at the world around them, examine how disability affects their lives and the lives of others, and express their views through the art of writing a one-act play. During March, the young playwrights submit entries to VSA arts of Tennessee for adjudication.
Community Art Projects
VSA arts of Tennessee typically offers 2–3 additional projects each year that are one-time projects. These have involved scouts, schools, and other community groups. In 2008, one such program will involve the creation of a large canvas painting of a historical Little Tunnel by a school. The painting will be presented in the State’s Senate Chambers. We are also offering a special visual arts program at the School for the Blind.
(F) 202-429-0868