VSA arts of Louisiana
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2758-D Brightside Drive |
Mazie S. Malveaux |
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Tel.: (225) 761-4243 |
Website: |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 1 |
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The mission of VSA arts of Louisiana is to expand the capabilities, confidence, and quality of life for persons with disabilities through arts programming. The organization provides opportunities for year-round quality programs that strengthen the role of the arts in school curricula. These programs provide meaningful and creative outlets for children as a part of their total educational experience. The programs also invite children with disabilities to develop, expand, and share their artistic talents and accomplishments with their peers and families.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
Baton Rouge Blues Foundation, Inc.; Council for Exceptional Children of Louisiana; Louisiana Division of the Arts; Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge; Shreveport Regional Arts Council; Northeast Regional Arts Council; Louisiana Music Educators Association; Louisiana Department of Education; Louisiana School Districts; Louisiana School For The Deaf; Louisiana State Legislature; Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, University of Louisiana at Monroe—Art Department; University of Louisiana at Lafayette—Education Department; Southern University System; Louisiana State University; Developmental Disabilities Council; Head Start Programs
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
Artist Residencies
The Artist-in-the-Classroom program of VSA arts of Louisiana is a favorite program across the state. Each program provides instruction by professional artists in music, dance, drama, and visual arts as needed in the classroom for students with disabilities. Many residencies feature instructional workshops for teachers and assistants, and culminating activities.
Taking Notice
Taking Notice is a program that cultivates artistic expression and self-awareness in youth with differing abilities through the exploration of the art of photography. Participants in the program are encouraged to explore self-expression and develop decision-making skills by learning the photographic arts.
Summer Arts Camps
VSA arts of Louisiana offers summer camps that are designed to stimulate and enrich the lives of students with varying disabilities, through integrated arts, math, and science workshops.
Blues in the Schools
Blues in the Schools is an innovative arts project that uses quality educational experiences grounded in the indigenous music of Louisiana to stimulate the creative and intuitive minds of young people. World-class artists make strong commitments that contribute to the success of this program by providing a series of live and interactive sessions for students with disabilities statewide.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Start with the Arts™
Start with the Arts gives four- to six-year-old children of differing abilities valuable, lifelong academic and social advantages by using the creative and communicative power of the arts to enhance learning and social skills. It is designed to provide educators and parents with objective-based, thematic learning experiences in the arts. The statewide program supports the development of basic literacy skills and offers engaging activities in visual art, creative movement, music, and creative drama.
Summer Arts Institutes
Supporting Louisiana’s higher education goals, VSA arts of Louisiana provides statewide in-service training and resources in the arts to regular and special educators. In addition, VSA arts of Louisiana conducts teacher training institutes each summer in up to four areas of the state. The objectives of these institutes are to train teachers to effectively integrate the arts into the educational experiences of students with disabilities; to encourage dissemination of ideas and skills among regular and special educators; and to develop a trained cadre of teachers as potential statewide resources and to provide in-service assistance.
Conferences
The Special School District #1 Professional Development Conference and the Super Conference on Special Education are annual, three-day conferences at which VSA arts of Louisiana sponsors workshops and presentations conducted by artists and art educators for pre-service teachers, parents, administrators, and other interested participants. VSA arts of Louisiana also participates in the Louisiana Music Educators Association Conference and the state Head Start and Department of Education’s Preschool Conferences to promote disability awareness and illustrate the benefit of VSA arts programs.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
Urban Cultural Access
VSA arts of Louisiana will partner with the Louisiana School for the Deaf Interpretive Services Department to provide American Sign Language interpretation services and assistive listening devices for people who are Deaf and hard of hearing at arts and cultural events in the greater Baton Rouge area. Access services include information and referral for other arts organizations that provide public services for persons with disabilities.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Festivals
VSA arts of Louisiana festivals are community-based celebrations that communicate the power of the arts and the benefits of VSA arts programs by showcasing participants’ work across the state. These highly organized events feature performances, art exhibitions, demonstrations, and educational workshops where children, youth, and adults with disabilities proudly share their artistic accomplishments with the public.
(F) 202-429-0868