Deadline extended to: December 8, 2006

ArtsWORK Indiana (AWI) got its start in the fall of 2002 when the three project sponsors began discussing how to improve professional opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities. A statewide forum was held in Indianapolis in October 2004 with seed funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

The purpose of the forum was to 1) assess the education and career needs and barriers for artists and arts administrators with disabilities; and 2) develop and implement strategies to overcome barriers and advance careers in the arts for individuals with disabilities.

Approximately 100 people attended the forum and helped develop a report which summarized the critical issues for Indiana. Two of the most important issues dealt with access to information and networking. The AWI group determined that an internet site would help address both of these issues. The NEA provided additional funding to cover the costs of launching the web site.

The purpose of ArtsWORK Indiana is to facilitate careers in the arts for people with disabilities through education, support, and awareness.

This call for entries project is made possible with funds from the Social Security Administration. Project sponsors include the Indiana Arts Commission, the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, and VSA arts of Indiana.

Any Indiana artist age 18 and older with a disability is eligible to enter.

Only original works/designs are eligible for submission.

Eligible applicants may submit up to three designs for consideration.

Entries will be reviewed according to the following review criteria:
• compatibility of the design with the AWI web site,
• ability of design to clearly express the purposes of AWI, and
• ease of reproducing and adapting to various types of media.


A jury panel organized by AWI members and the three sponsor organizations will review all entries and make decisions.

Decisions of the jury panel are final and may not be appealed.

Artist(s) of chosen design(s) grants AWI permission to fully use the design, including changing colors to black and white.

Entry must be submitted by December 8, 2006.

All entries must include a completed entry form (attached).

Designs submitted must be either in the form of photos, photocopies or jpeg (electronic) files on a CD. Please do not send originals.

Designs must be labeled with the following information: artist name, address, and telephone number.

Entries are to be sent to: VSA arts of Indiana, c/o Gayle Holtman, 1505 North Delaware, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202

Applicants will be notified of the receipt of entry by December 8, 2006. Notification of the jury panel’s decision will be provided by December 31, 2006.

Artist(s) of selected design(s) will receive an honorarium in an amount from $200 up to $1,000. In the event that no entry satisfies the review criteria, no honorarium will be provided.

The chosen design(s) may be used for brochures, posters, post cards, etc.

The artist(s) of selected design(s) will be credited.

For more information, contact Gayle Holtman at 800-484-8055 (1605)
or 317-974-4123 or gholtman@vsai.org.