Programs > Arts in EducationVSA arts Tennessee is committed to providing quality arts experiences for children with disabilities. For more information about any of the following arts in education programs, please contact VSA arts Tennessee at (615) 210-8819 or userk7706@aol.com. Art Institute For the past 6 years, VSA arts Tennessee has offered a summer Art Institute for children with and without disabilities at Volunteer State Community College in late July. The focus of the Art Institute is to expose children to other cultures through dance, drama, literature, music and the visual arts. Each day, the children rotate between the 5 art activities and then provide a final performance of their own at the end of the week. The Art Institute has focused on the Hispanic, African, Native American, Asian, Appalachian, and Italian cultures. The Art Institute is open to children going into grades 3 – grades 7 with or without a disability and it costs $30 for the week. The Art Institute is limited to the first 100 registrants. The program is supported by a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Council on Development Disabilities. The dates and culture of focus for 2009 have not yet been determined. View the News Section for the latest information on new events. ArtLink Artlink is an international art exchange between a school in Tennessee and a selected school from another country. This program is a project of VSA arts International that is run through the affiliate offices. VSA arts Tennessee selects a classroom in Tennessee to participate in the program. VSA arts International sends that classroom materials on the selected theme of the year, examples from past programs, art activity ideas, etc. The international office also selects the overseas partner school. Both the Tennessee and the international partner school create art based on the selected theme. The art, along with photos and or video, is then exchanged and the two schools learn more about each other through their art. VSA arts International selects one piece of art from each participating school to be part of an international children’s art exhibition. If your school is interested in being considered for this program, please contact VSA arts Tennessee. Schools are selected each spring. Artist Residencies Through a grant from the Tennessee Dept of Education, Division of Special Education, VSA arts Tennessee is able to offer 5 in-depth artist residency experiences each year. The residencies allow special education teachers, artist teachers and a visiting teaching artist to collaborate on a project. If your school is interested in participating or getting more information on this program, please contact VSA arts Tennessee. Playwright Discovery Competition The Playwright Discovery Competition is open to any middle or high school student with or without a disability. The plays can be written by an individual or be part of a group project. However, the play must contain a theme of disability or a main character with a disability. VSA arts Tennessee selects 2 winners and provides them with a plaque and small monetary award. The plays are then sent to Washington, DC to compete in a national competition for Scholarship awards and a chance to have the play produced at the Kennedy Center. (Here are the application for the Playwright Discovery Competition and the submission rules and procedures.) The Playwright Discovery Competition is provided through support from Dr. David and Senator Diane Black. The Tennessee Dulcimer Choir The dulcimer is an American folk instrument. Its sweet sound and ease of play make it a great choice for beginning players. An opportunity to learn more about the mountain dulcimer is available to adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorders who are between the ages of 12 and 18 and who have language and reading skills. For details, contact Young Soloist Competition The Young Soloist Competition is open to any vocalist or musician under the age of 25 with any form of disability. In addition, bands and musical groups can apply as long as one of the members of the group has a disability. All musical genre are encouraged to apply. The winners at the state level receive a small monetary award, a plaque and performance opportunities. VSA is currently working on also offering a recording session as a prize for this award. The top two winners will have recordings of their performance sent to the national level. Winners at the national level receive $5000 scholarships and the opportunity to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. (Click here for an application for the Young Soloist Program and view the News Section for the latest information on new events). This program is sponsored by Dr. David and Senator Diane Black. Other Each year, VSA arts Tennessee supports at least one educational project that is brought to our attention. Sample projects in the past have included: 1. Scouts on creating a video on how to communicate with people with disabilities We are currently working a special training session in play writing, a painting program for children with cerebral palsy and a cartooning class for children with Autism. If your school or organization has a special project that you would like to coordinate with VSA arts Tennessee, please let us know. We are always open and interested in new creative ideas.
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