Programs at VSA arts of Delaware
VSA arts of Delaware has a wide variety of programs serving people who range in age from three to 98+ years with mental, physical, or situational disabilities. You will find here a description of each of our programs along with any necessary resources you might need to further investigate a program that interests you - as a participating artist, an AIR artist or a sponsoring organization.
 In VSA arts of Delaware’s largest program, trained artists work with individuals with disabilities at schools and various community sites. The artist works at each location on an extended project, culminating in a final event — VSA’s annual Celebration of Creativity — to celebrate the completed work. Projects have ranged from individual 3-D masks, pottery, fine art pencil and charcoal drawings, and paintings to group projects involving large tile creations and even a weaving of the American flag.Our AIR artists have a great deal of experience in the field of art education and accessibility. VSA arts of Delaware will help a facility and artist work together to develop an appropriate project that meets the needs of the facility’s participants. Through AIR Projects, VSA arts of Delaware also offers support for staff training through workshop experiences at sites (schools, hospitals, community centers, adult care facilities) in addition to other locations that serve people with disabilities. This specially designed training demonstrates the use of the arts by tailoring adaptations for individuals with disabilities. The AIR artist provides training at each AIR site to encourage staff to continue the residency work, to some extent, after the completion of the residency.
Additional Resources:
- Tennis Registration Form
- Registration Form for Aces for the Arts 2009
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Talented artists with disabilities may apply for and receive, upon approval, scholarships to receive professional training in either the visual or performing arts. Awards up to $500 each are given to individuals with disabilities (age 18 and under) who have demonstrated potential in one or more of areas of creative or performing arts (Dance, Drama, Visual, Music, Creative Writing). A selection committee reviews applicants for eligibility and artistic potential. Awards/Scholarships are granted to an artist, agency, or school providing training services and/or scholarships to art award winners. An art display or audio/videotape must be submitted with the application. This project is funded by the Wilmington Flower Market.
Additional Resources:
- Art Award Nomination Forms
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A View Through My Window is an expressive art project depicting the effects of Domestic Violence on its victims and their families.There are 109 completed artworks in this collection. Participants in this project were asked to create 22"x28" windows that highlight the personal journey of that individual. Participants were asked to reflect on the thoughts and feelings associated with their experiences as a survivor of domestic violence and to convey a message to the community-at-large. The VSADE residency artist facilitated discussion with participants around this project offering instruction in art medium as well as presentation styles. Experimentation with various forms of art materials was encouraged to elicit personal "stories". Participant histories were gathered and documented and presented with completed artwork. This exhibit is currently available in Power Point format only. This project was funded by Verizon Foundation and Verizon Wireless Hopeline.
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Across Delaware, VSA arts teams with volunteers from groups and organizations like the Delaware State Federation of Women’s Clubs, Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill and other facilities to coordinate arts festivals throughout the year to display artwork produced by program participants. Festivals are usually site specific and are designed to provide exposure to the arts to an otherwise underserved population. We are always receptive to new ideas and suggestions for festival sites.
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While VSA arts of Delaware spends every day celebrating the creativity of its unique and talented artists, there is one special time when we bring the wonderful pieces of artwork created by our artists together for a month-long celebration. Beginning in early summer each year, VSA arts of Delaware presents A Celebration of Creativity, a multimedia art show in the Arts Center/Gallery at Delaware State University.Our annual art exhibition celebrates the work produced by select artists from the Artist-in-Residency programs throughout the state. This special event is a window into the world of VSA arts of Delaware and its artists. The culmination of the art show is a special event where participants, visitors and friends are invited to contemplate the wonder of these unique pieces of art and be amazed by both the beauty of the art and the quality of the silent auction items, donated by retailers and VSA arts supporters. This is a not-to-be-missed event! Proceeds benefit all VSA arts of Delaware educational and training programs.
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VSA arts of Delaware offers two arts-based Educational Resources that schools can bring into their classrooms. Each program works well for inclusion classrooms and is designed for integration into pre-existing curricula. These resources are easily adaptable to meet educational and performance standard needs.Express Diversity! — VSA arts of Delaware has provided this resource since 1999, when it was selected as a field test site by the VSA arts national headquarters. A national VSA arts educational resource initiative, Express Diversity! is an arts-based curriculum that promotes disabilities awareness for students in first through eighth grades. This resource involves an integrated approach and combines arts activities with math, science, social science and language arts lessons. Start With the Arts — A national VSA arts educational resource, Start With the Arts is an early childhood curriculum that uses the four art domains (dance, drama, music and visual arts) to teach basic preschool concepts. Designed for use within the preschool classroom for ages four to six, the curriculum meets current standards for preschool learning. This resource was recently revised to include a family education component and is available in Spanish.
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VSA arts of Delaware is a leading resource for cultural access and accessibility. We encourage arts organizations as well as other facilities to contact us for assistance in providing fully accessible and adaptable programs and events. We also plan to provide AIR artist training at the state level and to promote statewide opportunities for increased cultural access.
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