VSA arts of Arkansas, Inc.
|
1105 Deer Street, Suite 11 |
Becky Harris |
|
Tel.: (501) 329-8249, x102 |
Website: |
Organizational Profile:
|
Full-time Staff: 1 |
 |
Our sponsoring agency is Independent Living Services, Inc., a nonprofit service agency that assists in making a better life possible for people with developmental disabilities. The core mission of Independent Living Services is to assist people with the services and supports needed to live as independently as possible in the community, and it also recognizes that each person needs the opportunity to develop the “whole person,” not just basic health, safety, and life skills. The Independent Living Services arts initiative with VSA arts is a key component of its holistic programming. It is used as a model by other service agencies across the state seeking to start arts programs.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
University of Central Arkansas Occupational Therapy and Theater Departments; Conway Public Schools; Conway Human Development Center; My House; Pediatrics Plus Therapy; Arkansas Arts Council; Conway Advertising and Promotion Commission; Quality of Life Council; Conway Area Chamber of Commerce; Downtown Partnership; Conway Symphony Orchestra; Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre; Lions World International Services for the Blind
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
After Arts
After Arts is an integrated after-school program for children of all abilities that incorporates visual arts instruction and appreciation. It is a part of the Conway public schools after-school programs in two elementary schools. Arts educators from the school system provide instruction, adapting their standard curriculum for students with disabilities. After Arts will continue through May 2008.
Saturday Arts
Saturday Arts increases access to the arts for adults with developmental disabilities through a program of art instruction and appreciation. Saturday classes held at the Independent Living Services Profiles Art Program Studio allow participants who work during the week to attend. Conway Human Development Center, one of the state’s six intermediate care facilities for people with mental retardation , and My House, a rural community-based group home for adults with developmental disabilities, partner with Independent Living Services, providing staff support and transportation.
Acting Creates Therapeutic Success (ACTS)
ACTS is an inclusive theater opportunity for people of all ages and abilities in Conway and surrounding communities. This program is in its 11th year. Through ACTS, occupational therapy and theater students at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) work with and learn from participants with disabilities. ACTS is structured in weekly theater sessions that use a format developed collaboratively by UCA theater and occupational therapy faculty. Participants create original theatrical works based on a theme they choose. In fall 2006, 60 participants performed Hour Town, a play about what would happen if time were stolen. Approximately 650 people attended the performance—the biggest crowd yet. The next performance took place on November 15, 2007.
Acting Creates Therapeutic Success 2 (ACTS 2)
The first performance of ACTS in December 2005 brought together children with and without disabilities. ACTS is led by occupational therapists who participated in the ACTS program as UCA students. The group chose the theme “The Olympics...That Almost Wasn’t.” The program began in September 2005 with weekly rehearsals aimed at increasing social skill development, self-confidence, cooperation, teamwork, adaptation, and other skills essential to daily living. Independent Living Services partners with Pediatrics Plus Therapy Services on this program. While ACTS focuses on the process rather than the product of creating a dramatic performance, the first presentation was attended by a crowd of about 450 and the 2007 performance had 500 in attendance.
Art at CHDC
VSA arts of Arkansas provides thrice-weekly art classes at the Conway Human Development Center (CHDC) attended by full-time residents from across the state. CHDC has been designated as the site for public school students with developmental disabilities who are in the state’s human development program. There were no art classes for these K–12 students previously. As an important bonus, six special education teachers and their aides at CHDC are learning techniques and ideas from our teaching artists to be used in their regular classrooms.
Lions World International
Services for the Blind
Weekly classes in pottery and painting are offered for trainees at this Little Rock facility that helps those with visual impairments to work and live independently. Plans are under way for a statewide exhibition of the artwork from these class participants.
Symphony in the Classroom
Ensembles from the Conway Symphony Orchestra perform and give hands-on demonstrations to classes in Conway elementary and middle schools.
Shakespeare in the Classroom
Costumed actors who are members of the casts of the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre provide insight and interest to classes in Faulkner County elementary and middle schools.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Artwalk
In May 2006, Independent Living Services began a monthly Artwalk in downtown Conway. Artwalk participants included retail businesses, restaurants, galleries, and city and county entities. This new project saluted the community’s artistic heritage, provided an outlet for consumers’ artwork, and helped spread the word about Independent Living Services programs. The event appealed to families, students, and friends of the artists, and increased interest and after-hours traffic in downtown Conway—an aim shared by the agencies who partnered in this project. The project is now on hiatus and we are working to find other sponsors.
Artists @ Work Forum
A statewide forum that gathered artists with disabilities, representatives from state arts groups, and providers for artists with disabilities was held November 2006, at Camp Ferndale in Little Rock, Ark. The event was sponsored by VSA arts of Arkansas with support from the Arkansas Arts Council and Independent Living Services. The outcome was the creation of "next steps" towards a strategic plan for VSA arts of Arkansas for providing information and encouragement for working artists with disabilities. A VSA arts of Arkansas board meeting coincided with the forum.
(F) 202-429-0868