This returning VSAMI district was re-launched in 2006 and includes representation from diverse social service organizations in Southwest Michigan. For more information email Kathy Ellis
- The Art Class offers onging visual arts activities adapted to each participant's disabilities, and includes topportunities for socia interaction for adults with disabilites.
- artsJAM Copper Country is a pilot project in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Working in partnership with Vocational Strategies, Inc. and several exceptional Michigan artists, the project includes indepth workshops for adult participants in the visual arts. Funding has been provided by Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and VSA arts.
For more information email Susan Burack
- the Char -Em district partners with Crooked Tree Arts Center to produce Arts for All, monthy arts activities for students with disabilities from area high schools and community based programs. Artists present hands-on activities in a variety of arts disciplines including painting, dancing, and drumming.
- Over 500 middle and high school special education students attend a one day Festival each May at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey. Students select three one-hour sessions from over thirty workshops taught from area artists. Offerings include oil and acrylic painting, pottery, drawing, creative writing, dance, drama, tie-dye, wood burning, bread work, juggling, and vocal and instrumental music. More than 120 community volunteers donate their time at this popular event.
- Annual Arts Mentorships for one or two high school students with disabilities provide opportunities to pursue advanced training in the arts.
- The district committee oversees a ticket distribution program for people with disabilities and their families. Local arts venues and producers release a block of tickets for select performances.
Over 100 free or discounted tickets are made available each year. Part of the program's success is the accessibility education provided to performance venues staff by district committee members.
For more information email or call Penny Crim, Charlevoix-Emmet ISD, 231-547-9947.
- In a partnership with the Dearborn Community Arts Council, VSAMI-Dearborn raises money for mini-grants to present arts activities in area schools and in the community.
- VSAMI-Dearborn participates in the City’s disability day program Pathway to Possibilities, held each October at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center
For more information email or call Bob Curtis, 313-561-0454
or email.
This district is forming now. For more information email or call Carol Thompson, VSAMI Director of Community Outreach, 313-832-3303
- The 2006 annual Festival was presented during May in five different locations in the county to better serve the participants. Students with disabilities engaged in hands-on arts experiences with artists in at least three different media including visual and performing arts at each Festival. High school volunteers helped the 130 students as they participated in 14 creative and arts workshops.
- The Artist in Residence program provides 8-week residencies and involves at least 40 classrooms/programs. Participants experience the arts as a process that integrates curriculum goals and objectives for individuals within and for the entire group. Artists are selected by application and must demonstrate their knowledge and ability to work with persons with disabilities.
For more information see their web site or email or call Carolyn Vierkorn, Marion Crouse Instructional Center, 810-591-4507.
- VSA arts of Michigan- Grand Rapids ("VSAMI-GR") has been serving the Kent County community since 1986. Our twelve programs serve over 3,500 children, youth and adults with disabilities annually.
- Educational Programming. VSA offers six annual programs in
collaboration with local schools. Any teaching in special education or teaching students with disabilities is eligible to apply and to participate in these programs. Programs include: Hands-on Art Classroom Workshops, Artist Residencies, The Arts & Mentoring Transition Program, Early Childhood
Special Education Art and Learn Events, Individual Student Scholarships, and our Annual Festival Day. All educational programs are taught by local professional artists with extensive teaching and artistic experience.
- Community Outreach Programming. These programs offer public access to the arts. Community Art Classes run three times a year and are open to interested students of any age or ability. The VSAMI-GR Traveling Art Exhibit, which can be found at local libraries and other community centers throughout the year. Additionally, VSA collaborates with local disability and arts organization to provide outreach arts opportunities to the
community and can be scheduled with the Grand Rapids office.
- Adult Programming. VSA provides opportunities for adults with
disabilities to access the arts. We provide operating support to the Living Light Dance Company. And A Very Special Choir is open to all adults with and without disabilities.
For more information see their web site, or email or call Michele Suchovsky, 616-885-5866.
- The annual Arts Festival brings together students of all abilities with artists, for two artful days at the Dennos Museum in Traverse City. 2006 is the10th anniversary for this popular program.
- GTA in partnership with Traverse Symphony Orchestra provides sign language interpretation for an annual series concerts targeted for families with children under the age of 12. The concerts are held at The Dennos Museum Center in October, November, January and February and include special themes and narration.
- “Kids on the Block”, the national and international puppet program, is an educational series of presentations aimed at enlightening school aged audiences about issues such as: Cerebral Palsy, Sibling Issues, Emotional Impairments, Learning Disabilities, ADD, Autism, Hearing and Vision Impairments, Stroke, Down Syndrome, Divorce and Bullies and School Safety. In partnership with Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District, each third grade classroom is eligible for two performances, free of charge. ISD specialists provide topic specific training for the puppeteers.
- An exhibit of 2-D art work created by people with disabilities from the region annually tours to local galleries and businesses, and the ISD Administration Building. Participants may choose to donate their work, which is then put on permanent display within the Traverse Bay ISD.
- Arts Explorers Club is an after-school program designed to give special education students another option for extra curricular activities.
- Creative Challenges is a new program designed to engage students and their families in art related experiences that simulate a disability.
- The annual Festival of Trees in conjunction with our local Zonta Club brings together 300 people in a variety of holiday activities and arts-stops.
- Living Arts is an artist-in-residence program where students with and without disabilities experience art together.
- Our Speakers Bureau has the goal to provide one presentation a month to local groups interested in learning more about VSA arts.
- Our members are committed to providing Access Technical Assistance to any cultural group that requests it. This year our committee has decided to branch out by joining even more cultural or human service agency committees.
- Special Kids Day conducted in collaboration with the National Cherry Festival invites over 300 children with disabilities to participate in hands-on games, sports, amusement park rides, and interactive drama activities using video and costumes.
For more information email or call Dayna Ryan, 231-947-1278.
This new VSAMI was district launched in 2006 and involves key community partners including the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum, SAIL (Superior Alliance for Independent Living), Marquette RESA, Goodwill and the City of MarquetteArts & Culture, as well as area artists, educators, and activists.
- Their goals are to encourage, transport and include people with disabilities in existing arts programs in the Marquette County area; and to spread the word to Rock, Negaunee, Ishpeming, and Escanaba within the year and to have programs in each area, thereafter.
For more information email Pamela Besonen at the Superior Alliance for Independent Living.
VSAMI- Starry Night in Mt. Pleasant has received funding from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, and othr area supporters, to host a summer camp for young people with autism. They are working in partnership with the Central Michigan University Department of Music. For more information email or call Marie Lannen, 989-644-6391.
Each May more than 450 partipants including children with disabilities and their inclusionary classroom peers - grades first through sixth - come together for two days of arts activities in a wide variety of discipline sand mediums, along with performances at the Special Arts Festival. Volunteer high school art students serve as guides for the day. The event is held at Glen Oaks Community College. For more information email or call Julie Bontrager, 269-435-7794
Metro Detroit and Southeast Regional
- ArtsJAM Detroit Gallery and Studio Project is a unique jobs and mentoring program. Afterschool classes are held at VSAMI Office in heart of Midtown Detroit's Cultural Center. Professional artists mentor youth and adults in creation, exhibition and promotion of artwork. The artsJAM Detroit WAY (Work Alternatives for Youth) hires twenty paid apprentices for the Work Alternatives for Youth summer program. Apprentices were trained in photography, African dance and drumming, journaling, creative writing and poetry, and painting. They learned job and life skills through dramatic improvisation. Recruiting of apprentices and mentors is ongoing. Click here to download an artsJAM Detroit! registration form. Call the VSAMI office at 313-832-3303 or email Alana Barter
- VSAMI Metro Detroit is replicating the artsJAM program model at Osborn High School with support from the Skillman Foundation’s Great Neighborhood Initiative, VSAMI is working with educators to provide after school programs with professional artists for young people in the Osborn Neighborhood. Osborn High School has the largest special education student enrollment in the Detroit Public Schools. Click here to download an artsJAM Osborn registration form.
- In collaboration with the Highland Park School District Department of Special Education Services, VSAMI provides Artists-In-Residence programs at Highland Park Community High School (grades 9-12), Henry Ford Focus Academy (Pre K-8), and Barber Middle School (Pre K-8).
- An Annual Festival takes place each Spring time.with activities and performances on a public stage at an area shopping mall. Please note: This activity is currently on hiatus. Look for new information in 2008.
- The Souteast Region committtee provides Jack Olds Scholarship of $500 to a deserving artist to pursue their own studies and/or to purchase materials needed for their creative work. For information and application forms, contact Cindy Babcock at 248-543-9158. And awards Creative/Performing Arts Mini-Grants up to $500 to organizations in SE Michigan to develop and implement arts programs which benefit children and adults with disabilities.For minigrant applicaitons and information contact Jody Stark, Creative Arts Therapies, 313-273-7762.
- A district goal is to create Permanent and Rotating Permanent and Rotating Galleries in the Washtenaw Intermediate School District building located on Wagner Road in Ann Arbor. Installation would include work by and about our WISD students. This gallery space will not only be beautiful, but also continue to enlighten those who work with the students as well as the public in general of the potential of all artists of all ages of all abilities.
For more information about any of these programs email or phone Deborah Duranczyk at Washtenaw ISD, 734-994-8100.