VSA arts of Connecticut – Young Audiences of Connecticut
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3074 Whitney Avenue |
Eileen Carpinella |
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Tel.: (203) 230-8101 |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 2 |
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Young Audiences of Connecticut’s vision is that all children realize their potential through the arts; that the arts are valued for their ability to improve our schools and communities; that, by participation in the arts, children will come to understand and value themselves, their neighbors, and the world cultures they share.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) Soundbridge School; Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES): Madison, Connecticut, Town Campus; Mill Road School; Wintergreen Magnet School; Girls Detention Center; Hospital of St. Raphael; Celantano Museum Academy School; St. Thomas More School: Eagle Hill School; Grace Webb School; MARC Community Resources LTD; Green Street Arts Center; Stanley Whitman House; Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism (CCT); Hartt School of Music; CVS; John and Julian Levy Foundation; Amity Charitable Trust; The Robert and Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation; Young Audiences of Connecticut Spring Appeal
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
AIM HI
Art in the Mainstream for the Hearing Impaired is a three-year arts initiative developed in partnership between Young Audiences of Connecticut and CREC Soundbridge School. AIM HI utilizes the visual and performing arts through workshops, residencies, and a family community arts program. AIM HI directly supports the CREC Soundbridge School mission of giving children who have hearing impairments the opportunity to listen, talk, and reach their full educational potential.
ARTS for ACES
ACES (Area Cooperative Educational Services) is partnering with Young Audiences of Connecticut to offer first-time artist residencies in their schools and educational programs serving students with two important needs: issues of racial, ethnic, and economic isolation, and disabilities posing challenges that exceed the capacity of local school districts. ARTS for ACES will provide music, theater, drama and visual arts programs to pediatric patients, and students in K–12 classroom settings.
ARTS REACH
ARTS REACH, a community arts program in its second year, utilizes the visual and performing arts through two-hour workshops, and artist residencies inclusive of children and adults with disabilities and their families. Through ARTS REACH, Young Audiences of Connecticut establishes partnerships with arts, community, and cultural organizations in Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, and Fairfield counties to develop new inclusive arts programs. Workshops and residencies are created to support the vision of each partnering organization, and focus on enhancing creativity, increasing teamwork and self-esteem, and building social skills for participants.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Professional Development Program
The Professional Development Program continues to be informed by feedback from teaching artists, arts program coordinators, educators, and others who attend our annual conference, “Exploring Possibilities—The Art of Inclusion.” This conference on developing arts programs that are inclusive of children and adults with disabilities provides methods of teaching the arts in an inclusive setting; the importance of using “people-first” language; interactive workshops in creating inclusive arts programs; updates on current research and adaptive technologies; and resource materials. The conference also features an exhibition of the work of artists on the National VSA arts Artist Registry. The professional development program is enhanced this year through collaboration with the Hartt School of Music for their summer term. Teaching artists will provide hands-on interactive workshops as part of a course for teaching artists and educators on developing inclusive arts programs for children.
Careers in the Arts
In partnership with the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, Young Audiences of Connecticut will establish a Statewide Advisory Committee that will inform a Forum on Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities to be held in fall 2008.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
Site Visits
Site visits, arts program review and planning meetings will be held at the individual sites of the arts, community and cultural organizations seeking to partner with Young Audiences of Connecticut in developing new inclusive arts programs, or enhancing existing arts programs to be inclusive of children and adults with disabilities.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Pubic Awareness
Young Audiences of Connecticut will raise public awareness of VSA arts, Young Audiences of Connecticut’s VSA arts affiliation, and VSA arts national programs through creation of Connecticut’s VSA arts Web site, Young Audiences of Connecticut’s Web site, newsletters and culminating shares of partnering organizations, community presentations, presentations at conferences, press releases, and communication with appropriate media staff throughout Connecticut.
(F) 202-429-0868