VSA North Dakota
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P.O. Box 2591 |
Linda Olsrud |
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Tel.: (701) 471-1946 |
Website: |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff:0 |
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VSA North Dakota strives to create and maintain a community where people with disabilities can learn through, participate in, and have access to the arts. Recognizing that every individual has a creative voice that needs to be both expressed and heard, VSA North Dakota provides, promotes, and furthers arts centered activities in inclusive settings so people with and without disabilities can experience the arts together.
VSA North Dakota became a full affiliate of VSA in 2009 after ten years of having a limited affiliate program, Art Venture, through Dakota West Arts Council. The program was so successful locally that the decision was made to go to full affiliation in order to be able to provide statewide programming.
The four guiding principles of VSA North Dakota are: every young person with a disability deserves access to high quality arts learning experiences; all artists in schools and art educators should be prepared to include students with disabilities in their instruction; all children, youth and adults with disabilities should have complete access to community cultural facilities and activities; and all individuals with disabilities who aspire to careers in the arts should have the opportunity to develop appropriate skills.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
VSA International; CVS/Caremark; Qwest; Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation; North Dakota Community Foundation; CVS/Pharmacy; Bismarck Public Schools; Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch; Martin Luther School; Manchester House; Community Options; Basin Electric; H.I.T. Inc.; Options Center for Independent Living; The Arc; Northeast Human Services; John Olsrud
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
Art Venture Program
The Art Venture Program enhances creative expression and personal development through arts experiences for students with disabilities and their peers who otherwise would have limited access to these opportunities. VSA North Dakota works with schools (Pre-K to grade 12), organizations serving as alternative education sites for special education students, residential facilities for at risk students who are in foster care or are otherwise placed by the courts or transitional programs in the state of North Dakota. Teaching artists in all genres are hired using an artist-in-residency process. A typical residency lasts six weeks with one hour of teaching time each week.
Film Making Workshop
The VSA North Dakota film-making workshop is for students age 12-18. Professional film-makers work with the students during this one week workshop and the students participate in every aspect of creating a film. They write the script, act, do the cinematography, create the music, design costumes, and do the editing. At the end of the workshop, the students hold a film screening for their family and friends.
Drumming Workshop
This year, VSA North Dakota is planning its first drumming workshop. During this one-day workshop, students of all abilities will learn about a variety of drumming styles.
Pottery Workshop
In collaboration with the North Dakota School for the Blind and Muddy Waters Pottery, both in Grand Forks, VSA North Dakota plans to have a pottery workshop.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Institutes and Professional Development Events
The first professional development event, VSA Institute I, took place on October 20, 2009 in Grand Forks. The interactive institute focused on designing and delivering arts learning experiences that reach students of all abilities.
All teaching artists who are currently teaching through the education program will be required to attend a VSA North Dakota professional development event or orientation. Classroom teachers, site coordinators, social services providers, artists, school administrators, museum directors, parents, and people who have disabilities are encouraged to attend.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
Access Site Surveys and Site Visits
All cultural venues and agencies providing arts services should be fully ADA compliant so that all people can experience the arts. A cultural access site survey will be conducted in 2010 with the future goal of providing technical assistance to agencies and venues throughout the state of North Dakota. There will be an online survey, and in some communities there will be actual site visits made by self-advocacy groups of people who have disabilities. Evaluations will be shared with participating organizations and follow up suggestions and assistance will be offered.
Public Awareness and Outreach
Web Outreach
VSA North Dakota will continue developing and promoting its Web site, www.vsanorthdakota.org, which is devoted to VSA North Dakota programs and opportunities in the state of North Dakota. VSA North Dakota is also on Facebook, which is continuously updated about events and programs.
Newsletter and Direct Outreach
A quarterly VSA North Dakota newsletter will be distributed. VSA North Dakota will also have information booths at arts events. Presentations will be available to service clubs, schools, or sites that are interested in having VSA programs in their community.
(F) 202-429-0868