VSA arts
Encyclopedia
VSA is an international organization on arts and disability which was founded in 1974 by former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith
. VSA's purpose is "to provide arts and education opportunities for people with disabilities and increase access to the arts for all" and to "changing perceptions about people with disabilities around the world." Each year, 7 million people of all ages and abilities participate in VSA programs, which cover all artistic genres --music, dance, visual arts, theater and literary arts. They accomplish this through their network of affiliates in 52 countries and VSA state organizations across America.
VSA is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
and is headquartered in Washington, DC.
Moreover they state that-- "Inclusion teaches us that all means all. Everybody. No exceptions. The arts invite people to leave familiar territory, explore new questions, and seek answers. The arts offer a means to self-expression, communication, and independence. By learning through the arts, students become lifelong learners, experiencing the joy of discovery and exploration, and the value of each other's ideas. VSA is committed to driving change in perceptions and practice—classroom by classroom, community by community, and ultimately society."
VSA founder Jean Kennedy Smith
co-authored a book with George Plimpton
entitled Chronicles of Courage: Very Special Artists
which was published by Random House
in April 1993. This 272 page book profiled 16 artists with disabilities who discussed how participation in the arts made a positive difference in their lives.
(painter), Mark Di Suvero
(sculptor), Jack Hofsiss
(directlr), Tony Meléndez
(musician), Howie Seago
(actor/director), Dale Chihuly
(glass artist), Itzhak Perlman
(violinist) and many more. Academy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin
wrote and published a sequel to her novel "Deaf Child Crossing," entitled "Nobody's Perfect," which was produced on stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in partnership with VSA arts in October 2007.
The Evolution of the VSA name:
effective, October 3, 2005. The stated purpose of this action was intended to "enable both organizations to expand and strengthen their arts education programs to better serve children, families and all people with disabilities around the world." Other reasons cited were to allow for the sharing of resources and programming between the two organizations.. VSA is represented on the Kennedy Center's Board of Directors.
Jean Kennedy Smith
Jean Ann Kennedy Smith is an American diplomat and a former United States Ambassador to Ireland. She is the eighth of nine children born to Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald and is their last surviving child. She is the sister of the 35th U.S. President, John F. Kennedy,...
. VSA's purpose is "to provide arts and education opportunities for people with disabilities and increase access to the arts for all" and to "changing perceptions about people with disabilities around the world." Each year, 7 million people of all ages and abilities participate in VSA programs, which cover all artistic genres --music, dance, visual arts, theater and literary arts. They accomplish this through their network of affiliates in 52 countries and VSA state organizations across America.
VSA is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts center located on the Potomac River, adjacent to the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C...
and is headquartered in Washington, DC.
Principles & Philosophy
The 'four principals' which guide VSA are that--- Every young person with a disability deserves access to high quality arts learning experiences.
- All artists in schools and art educators should be prepared to include students with disabilities in their instruction.
- All children, youth, and adults with disabilities should have complete access to cultural facilities and activities.
- All individuals with disabilities who aspire to careers in the arts should have the opportunity to develop appropriate skills.
Moreover they state that-- "Inclusion teaches us that all means all. Everybody. No exceptions. The arts invite people to leave familiar territory, explore new questions, and seek answers. The arts offer a means to self-expression, communication, and independence. By learning through the arts, students become lifelong learners, experiencing the joy of discovery and exploration, and the value of each other's ideas. VSA is committed to driving change in perceptions and practice—classroom by classroom, community by community, and ultimately society."
Notable Programs
Each year VSA sponsors many notable programs as their "International Young Soloists Award," "Playwright Discovery" program, a "Call for Writing," apprenticeship at Apprentices at the Williamstown Theatre Festival as well as at the AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Documentary Festival and International Documentary Conference. VSA's Momentum program offers an exhibition opportunity for emerging visual artists with disabilities in the U.S. ages 16-25. Momentum provides $60,000 in cash awards (among the largest in the nation) including a $20,000 grand prize.VSA founder Jean Kennedy Smith
Jean Kennedy Smith
Jean Ann Kennedy Smith is an American diplomat and a former United States Ambassador to Ireland. She is the eighth of nine children born to Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald and is their last surviving child. She is the sister of the 35th U.S. President, John F. Kennedy,...
co-authored a book with George Plimpton
George Plimpton
George Ames Plimpton was an American journalist, writer, editor, and actor. He is widely known for his sports writing and for helping to found The Paris Review.-Early life:...
entitled Chronicles of Courage: Very Special Artists
Chronicles of Courage: Very Special Artists
Chronicles of Courage: Very Special Artists was written by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith with George Plimpton and published by Random House in April 1993...
which was published by Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
in April 1993. This 272 page book profiled 16 artists with disabilities who discussed how participation in the arts made a positive difference in their lives.
Notable Artists
Many artists of note have been directly involved with, or supportive of, VSA. Those with disabilities have included Chuck CloseChuck Close
Charles Thomas "Chuck" Close is an American painter and photographer who achieved fame as a photorealist, through his massive-scale portraits...
(painter), Mark Di Suvero
Mark di Suvero
Marco Polo "Mark" di Suvero is an American abstract expressionist sculptor born Marco Polo Levi in Shanghai, China in 1933 to Italian expatriates. He immigrated to San Francisco, California in 1942 with his family. From 1953 to 1957, he attended the University of California, Berkeley to study...
(sculptor), Jack Hofsiss
Jack Hofsiss
Jack Hofsiss is an American theatre, film and television director. He received a Tony Award for his direction of The Elephant Man on Broadway, the youngest director to have ever received it at the time...
(directlr), Tony Meléndez
Tony Melendez
José Antonio Meléndez Rodríguez is a Nicaraguan American guitar player, composer and singer and songwriter who was born without arms. His mother took Thalidomide while pregnant, which caused his disability. Meléndez has learned to play the guitar with his feet.-Career:Meléndez began playing and...
(musician), Howie Seago
Howie Seago
Howie Seago is an American deaf actor and director. Born deaf, he first began to develop his mimic abilities as a child with the help of his mother. He began his serious acting work in college, when he joined the National Theatre of the Deaf. His break-out role was in Peter Sellars' production...
(actor/director), Dale Chihuly
Dale Chihuly
Dale Chihuly is an American glass sculptor and entrepreneur.-Biography:Chihuly graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Tacoma, Washington. He enrolled at the College of the Puget Sound in 1959...
(glass artist), Itzhak Perlman
Itzhak Perlman
Itzhak Perlman is an Israeli-born violinist, conductor, and instructor of master classes. He is regarded as one of the pre-eminent violinists of the 20th and early-21st centuries.-Early life:...
(violinist) and many more. Academy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin
Marlee Bethany Matlin is an American actress. She is the only deaf actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, which she won for Children of a Lesser God. Her work in film and television has resulted in a Golden Globe award, with two additional nominations, and four Emmy...
wrote and published a sequel to her novel "Deaf Child Crossing," entitled "Nobody's Perfect," which was produced on stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in partnership with VSA arts in October 2007.
Name Changes
VSA and its name have evolved since the organization was founded. The organization was and continues to be a pioneer in the field of arts and disability. VSA has played a significant role over the years in changing society’s attitudes toward people with disabilities. With that change, the organization has regularly looked at its own identity to ensure it is consistent with current attitudes and language used by the disability community.The Evolution of the VSA name:
- 1974: National Committee - Arts for the Handicapped
- 1985: Very Special Arts
- 1999: VSA arts
- 2009: VSA
Kennedy Center Affiliation
On September 28, 2005 the Board of Trustees of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Board of Directors of VSA arts announced their formal affiliationAffiliation
In law, affiliation is the term to describe a partnership between two or more parties.- Affiliation procedures in England :...
effective, October 3, 2005. The stated purpose of this action was intended to "enable both organizations to expand and strengthen their arts education programs to better serve children, families and all people with disabilities around the world." Other reasons cited were to allow for the sharing of resources and programming between the two organizations.. VSA is represented on the Kennedy Center's Board of Directors.
External links
- VSA -Official Website
- Publisher’s Weekly: Nonfiction Review “Chronicles of Courage: Very Special Artists”
- Huffington Post: VSA Arts Celebrates JFK's Commitment to Social Justice (article & video)
- Kennedy Center: International VSA Festival 2010
- VSA/Metlife Foundation Award $150,000 to Arts Education programs