VSA arts of Alaska
|
3800 DeBarr Road |
Michael Huelsman |
|
Tel.: (907) 279-8099 |
Website: |
Organizational Profile:
|
Full-time Staff: 3 |
 |
VSA arts of Alaska connects art, community, and change throughout the largest state in the union. Now entering its third decade, VSA arts of Alaska finds and shares cultural explorers whose ideas challenge and inspire; to raise up creative space where all generations gather and learn; and to champion, through the arts and humanities, people marginalized in our times. We own and operate our own facility, Out North.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
Access Alaska; Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation; Alaska Community Share; Alaska Dance Theatre; Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Tribal Health; Alaska State Council on the Arts; Arc of Anchorage; Avis Alaska, Bezek & Seiser; Begich Middle School; Bunnell Street Gallery; ConocoPhillips; Fairbanks Arts Association; International Gallery of Contemporary Art; KYES-TV 5; McLaughlin Youth Center; Municipality of Anchorage; National Performance Network; Network of Cultural Centers of Color; PG Allen Family Foundation; Rasmuson Foundation, Storytellers Guild of Anchorage; UAA Disability Support Services; Warhol Foundation; Western States Arts Federation
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
Images of Youth
VSA arts of Alaska’s multidisciplinary youth arts program serves students with learning disabilities and other at-risk students in grades 7–12. Professional artists guide adolescents in creative writing, performance, visual, and media arts to develop their talents, knowledge of contemporary art forms, social and academic skills, literacy, confidence, and self-esteem. Youth-devised projects give teens a public forum to express their aspirations and concerns through the arts.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Cultural Worker Training
Artists provide professional training at workshops and teacher institutes to support the development of dynamic accessible arts programs in cities and remote rural settings. Artists, teachers, social workers, and community cultural workers learn how to effectively integrate the arts into the curriculum for special needs students in grades pre-K through 12, and to use various art forms as tools to teach other academic subjects and life skills.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
Facility Access Program
With the goal of creating an environment where artists and audiences can participate fully regardless of age or ability, VSA arts of Alaska’s board, staff, artists, members, and local design professionals are investigating options for re-envisioning and upgrading existing facilities. Additionally, VSA arts of Alaska is engaged in community revitalization projects such as artist live-work spaces that will use best practices and universal design to serve artists and audiences with disabilities. This includes programmatic access services through the development of an open caption lab to add captioning to independent videos, as well as other access services for arts activities.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Artability
VSA arts of Alaska highlights the work of artists with disabilities through public performances, screenings, exhibitions, and festivals. The Reel Eyes showcase of media art by, for, and about people with disabilities features creative documentary, live action, and experimental videos from around the world. An annual arts festival and year-round activities bring children with disabilities in contact with professional artists with and without disabilities for participatory experiences in visual art, poetry, dance, puppetry, theater, and music.
(F) 202-429-0868