Welcome to VSA
arts of Indiana!

New Passages

enROUTE Gallery
In the Harrison Center
1505 North Delaware, Indianapolis
Friday, February 5
Gallery Opening, 6-9 p.m.

New Passages – enROUTE has been reROUTEd! Our new exhibit space expands through the corridors and heart of the VSAI studios – Visit us for New Passages - A Black History Month Exhibit – Featuring ceramic functional pieces, mosaics and block prints created by VSAI's Urban Artisans. This varied work includes a retrospective of previous years’ Black History Month exhibits- drawing inspiration from renowned African American musicians, singers and artists. Visit our new space and celebrate the abundant talent of the Urban Artisans and VSAI affiliated artists. Show will hang through February 24th. Gallery Hours: M-Th, 11-4 pm or by appointment. Contact Emily Compton for more information.

BE A FRIEND!
VSA arts of Indiana
FRIENDS SOCIETY

In 2009, VSA arts of Indiana continues to see how the arts change lives.   Because of the generosity of our partners, funders and the FRIENDS SOCIETY, VSAI last year was able to:

• Offer affordable and accessible Community Art Classes taught by professional Teaching Artists and specifically extend services to clients from Bosma Rehabilitation Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired; the Damien Center; Dayspring Center and other Residential Services or Group Homes for Adults with Disabilities.
• Send artists to Riley Children’s Hospital and Peyton Manning St Vincent Children’s Hospital for children in treatment and their families through the LOLLY PROJECT
• Continue our work with Urban Artisans, a cooperative of intern artists who create work for sale to both earn money, learn important vocational skills and generate funds to sustain the program for future students, all under the direction of VSAI Master Teaching Artists
• Offer “festival days” - an arts learning field trip - for school groups at locations in Muncie, Hammond and Indianapolis
• Send professional artists into schools and community centers statewide, serving thousands of Indiana’s students with special needs.
 
To assure that the arts are accessible to all individuals with disabilities throughout the state, we are asking for your help.  

We invite you to make a financial contribution and join our VSA arts of Indiana Friends Society by clicking here to donate ONLINE or BY MAIL.

VSA arts of Indiana is a nonprofit, 501 c3 organization.

Calling all teachers, parents and young artists!

All Kids Can Create

Indiana Contact:
VSA arts of Indiana, c/o Emily Compton
1505 N. Delaware St.
Indianapolis, IN 46202
317-974-4123
ecompton@vsai.org

DETAILS:

• National Call for Art
• Open to young artists ages 5-15, with and without disabilities.
• No entry fee
• Each artist can submit 1 piece of original artwork, which was created in the past year. (2-D: 3x5” – 18x24” MAX / 3-D: 18x18x18” MAX)
• Deadline: Friday, February 5
• All submitted artwork will be included in an online art gallery.
• Artwork should reflect the theme “State of the Art”
• Visit www.vsarts.org/allkidscancreate for sample activities and ideas.
• All 50 states and the District of Columbia will be represented.
• 2 pieces of art from each state will be selected to be sent to VSA arts. 1 of those pieces of art will be selected for an exhibit in Washington, D.C. These 2 pieces will not be returned and will become property of VSA arts.
• Artists will be notified by Friday, March 26th of the status of their acceptance.
  

HOW TO APPLY:

• Go to www.vsarts.org/allkidscancreate for the full details about requirements and how to apply online.
• Submit artwork online at: www.artsonia.com/allkidscancreate
• Please contact Emily Compton for assistance with submissions or for alternative application options if you do not have access to a digital camera or computer.

VSA arts International Collaborative Art Project

What is Disability?

What’s the Art Project?
Join people from around the world and send in a postcard documenting your interpretation of disability. All languages accepted. Tear off the postcard and create a visual representation of your experiences, impressions, and perceptions of disability. We’re taking a creative approach to investigate how many different ways people will interpret the same word.
Click HERE to download the template and find more information.
The deadline for receipt of postcards is February 5, 2010.

Who Should Participate?
You! We’re looking for people of different cultures, ethnicities, geographic locations, and abilities. This is for anyone. You do no have to consider yourself an “artist” to participate.

What’s the cost?
The cost of a stamp! We’ll be creating an exhibition–both online and in Washington, D.C.–to represent your submissions as part of the 2010 International VSA arts festival.

Changing Outlook:
To Friends and Supporters of VSAI

Today, VSAI faces a grave organizational and budgetary crisis. We recently suffered a substantial loss of funding.  The shortfall was part of an expected award from Indiana Department of Education, Special Education (Center for Exceptional Learners).  The drastically diminished 2009/2010 IDOE Grant has resulted in an almost 40% reduction of the total VSAI budget.  The dissolution of the thirty-year partnership between VSAI and the IDOE has left VSAI in an uncertain position.  This new situation requires VSAI to examine focus, programming and initiatives to fit within an adjusted model of service delivery.   

In light of these conditions, VSAI must determine rationale and garner means to:

•    Maintain School-based arts residencies and projects at schools throughout Indiana– serving thousands of students each year
•    Continue the Central Indiana schedule for Community Arts Programming for students with disabilities
•    Present Community-based programs and classes at/with area social service organizations such as Dayspring Transitional Shelter, Theraplay, Riley Children’s Hospital, St. Vincent Children’s Hospital, Bosma Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, Lutherwood, Indiana Girls School and Damar Services
•    Continue VSAI Festival Days for schools- curriculum based arts field trips for students and their peers that serve over 10,000 students a year.
•    Continue on-going projects with the Indiana School for the Blind/Visually Impaired and Indiana School for the Deaf
•    Continue and maintain support/relationships with statewide partners (who present community-based programming for all ages) in Columbus, Evansville, Lebanon, Kokomo, Marion, Muncie, South Bend and Terre Haute.
•    Support the Audio Description program with Central Indiana Theaters and venues
•    Maintain capacity to participate and lead within Indiana projects such as ArtsWORK – an important support initiative for adult artists with disabilities.
•    Maintain our position as a leader for arts education within the national VSA arts consortium- Indiana is one of the largest and well-respected affiliates.
•    Support salaries and benefits for Administration Staff and Teaching Artists

VSAI recognizes our long-standing relationship, bond and commitment to Indiana students, educators, parents, families, schools, community partners, service organizations and the disability community.  The diminishment of services and uncertain outlook has reminded many friends and clients of the value and importance of VSAI programs.    Many are concerned about the future of VSAI…Currently, VSAI Staff and Board is gathering information and resources to envision profile and direction for the organization.  An initial step will be a strategy meeting of stakeholders in November.  To share your thoughts, ideas and concerns- please contact Jim Nulty, President at jnulty@vsai.org or 317-974-4123.

IAC Accessibility News

The Indiana Arts Commission is the recipient of the 2009 National Accessibility Leadership Award/grant for their outstanding accessibility work.

Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), the award recognizes exceptional initiatives or programs that make the arts accessible and inclusive for older adults and individuals with disabilities. The award was presented to the IAC in acknowledgement of its leadership and highly effective work to make the arts fully inclusive throughout its organization, programming, and state. Among the accomplishments was : 2004 Statewide Forum on Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities, the Indiana Arts Commission, in partnership with VSA arts of Indiana and the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, created ArtsWORK Indiana (AWI).

ArtsWORK Indiana is a grassroots organization that facilitates access to careers in the arts for people with disabilities through awareness, education, and encouragement. VSAI is proud to be a collaborator and supporter for AWI. (www.artsworkindiana.org)

The IAC also continues to promote the Artist Access category of the IAC Individual Artist Program grant- The purpose of this grant category is to grow the careers of artists with disabilities, many of whom are either emerging artists and/or have never written or received a grant award. Learn more about this exciting program funded through the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts - click here for full information.

Remembering
Henry Miller and
Andrea Davis

VSAI recently lost two dear friends – Henry Miller and Andrea Davis, both of Indianapolis,  were long-time VSAI students.   Henry and Andrea spent many happy hours creating art, having fun and being with friends in VSAI classes and open studio time.  Both Henry and Andrea’s families have asked contributions be made to VSAI in their memory.  These funds will be used to continue and support VSAI adult programming.  

VSA arts of Indiana
"No Boundaries"

Produced by WFYI
Public Broadcasting

Community Art Classes

CURRENT SESSION:
January 11 - March 5   :  8 week session (all classes full)
         NO CLASSES January 18 (MLK Day) or February 15th (Presidents' Day)

UPCOMING SESSIONS:

March 15 - May 14   :  8 week session
         NO CLASSES March 29 - April 2 (Spring Break)

Class includes Ceramics, Painting/Drawing, and Music or Drama.

Follow this link for information on scheduling, tuition, and registration - as well as a new enrollment process to allow for greater participation in Community Classes.

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If you'd like to receive news and information from VSAI once each month, sign up for our email newsletter, "VSAI e-EXPRESS." You'll learn about events coming up, interesting programs, and how to participate in our programs. We'll use your address only for this reason and will not share your email with any other individual or organization. Just sign up here:

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