Vsa Kentucky Inc

VSA Kentucky is a nonprofit arts and education organization serving children and adults with disabilities throughout Kentucky by offering an under-served population equal opportunity to explore the arts in a way that is fully accessible. Through participatory involvement with trained professionals and volunteers, people with disabilities learn new creative and social skills that open doors for new opportunities in the arts. In addition, VSA Kentucky provides professional development in inclusionary strategies for artists and teacher in schools and communities statewide.

We want to help create a society where people with disabilities can learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts.  VSA Kentucky strives to reach children, youth and adults with disabilities with our programs, as well as, develop new audiences for artists with disabilities.  In order to do this, we must continually find resources, both financial and human, to implement and promote our mission.

Founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, VSA was formed on the belief that the arts are central to our lives and that the arts belong to everyone. VSA Kentucky was incorporated in 1987, and since then has provided many arts opportunities throughout the Commonwealth for thousands of children, youth and adults with disabilities.  VSA Kentucky is a member of the VSA Affiliate Network, a program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

 

The arts provide us with a universal language through which we communicate experiences and unite diverse culture.  Through the arts, VSA Kentucky provides access for people with disabilities to participate in the life of their communities.  Arts education, community art programming, and professional development are all vital elements to our service to Kentucky.  By focusing on abilities, not disability, VSA Kentucky promotes the arts for all.

VSA Kentucky programs are guided by four essential principles:

• Every young person with a disability deserves access to appropriate arts learning experiences.
• All resident artists in schools and art educators should be adequately prepared to include students with disabilities in their instruction.
• All children, youth and adults with disabilities should have access to community cultural facilities and activities.
• All individual with disabilities who aspire to careers in the arts should have the opportunity to develop necessary skills.

The problems that children, youth and adults with disabilities face are many and vary with age.  They often face personal limitations in the social, psychological and economic spheres and are isolated for a variety of reasons, including limited access to facilities and resources due to where they live or low economic status.  Kids with disabilities don’t get chosen to be on the team or may become targets of ridicule. They are often treated differently because of the lack of public understanding.   

Our challenge is make others aware of these problems.  Through our programs, VSA Kentucky makes the arts accessible to all Kentuckians. When you give to the VSA Kentucky Arts and Education Fund you become part of the solution.

Your contribution helps provide program supplies, framing and exhibition supplies, supplies for costumes and props and pays artists from all disciplines areas who work directly with students and teachers to facilitate programs.  VSA Kentucky programs Bring people with disabilities, families, teachers, artists, schools, community and cultural organizations and the public together through the arts.