The VSA Day Arts program operates Monday – Friday from 9 – 3 serving individuals on the New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Waiver program and others through private pay arrangements. Approximately 50 adults with developmental disabilities attend the studios each day, participating in classes and arts activities in the visual, performing and literary arts.
The Multi-Sensory Studio is structured and equipped to serve apprentice artists who function best with intensive supports and a structured menu of arts activities in which to engage. The Studio is a dynamic space devoted to the exploration and integration of the senses. Sound, light, texture, color, scent, taste and movement are all used to promote learning and creativity. Individuals with the most severe cognitive and developmental disabilities attend Multi-Sensory Studio. A high support staff to participant ratio is maintained in order to support individual social skill development and learning needs of these individuals.
The Classroom program includes structured classes in painting, print, mask and clay-making, fabric art, literary and performing arts designed for apprentice artists who wish to develop particular skills or advance in their art making for personal or professional reasons. Skilled artist/teachers facilitate all classes.
VSA’s literary efforts have included anthologies of poetry and prose by writers with disabilities, poetry readings and weekly creative writing classes for apprentice artists at the North Fourth Art Center. Plans are underway for a program bringing together emerging writers with and without disabilities.
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From one-day workshops to long-term residencies, VSA’s community outreach serves hundreds of New Mexicans each year. The VSA arts Statewide Outreach and Support Network brings art and disability awareness to all settings.
Call to find out about our dynamic network of artists with and without disabilities sharing their creative work.
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North Fourth Art Center’s new gallery program is expected to be up and running in early 2004. It will occupy two spaces and involve 12 exhibits annually. Three or four exhibits will feature the work of VSA apprentice artist and teachers with the rest to be selected from community proposals.
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In 2002, a new vigor and vision are transforming Buen Viaje Dance Company, which has been performing since 1984. Coordinator/choreographer Sarah Elizabeth Bennett is working with exciting young dancers, newly-recruited through AmeriCorps, and VSA apprentice artist-dancers, to produce new dance dreams for Buen Viaje. The goal is to move to the next professional level while preparing for the opportunity to perform at least two “home” seasons annually at Theatre North.
Open to artists with or without disabilities
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Equilibrium represents VSA’s first adventure in playwriting and drama. Apprentice and staff writers/performers have created a piece that deals with their own experiences of disability. The stories were gathered verbatim through autobiographical writing, improvisation, interview and discussion.
Theatre Program Director, Cathy James, will attend a workshop with Augusto Boal in May 2003, expanding and refining techniques used to nurture the growth of the company.
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The performing arts at VSA arts of New Mexico are coming into their own. With the advent of a new theater in late 2003, it will be possible for VSA arts to achieve artistic excellence and share our stories and our New Mexican cultural life with visiting regional, national and international artists.
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GDF is an annual festival of international contemporary dance/dance-theatre held in venues in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. On April 26, 2003, VSA arts proudly co-presented “Crutchmaster” Bill Shannon and his company of dancers who use disability to inform rather than define his brilliant and much-praised work.
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