VSA arts of New Mexico Programs and Services
1999-2000

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The Enabled Arts Center

The Enabled Arts Center serves as a hub for VSA arts of New Mexico's statewide operations and as a demonstration site for VSA programming and artistic philosophy. The Center's daily studio arts program provides vocational and pre-vocational training in the arts for persons with and without disabilities, ages 14 and above. Services include visual, performing, technology, and literary arts instruction, apprenticeships, supported employment, performance and exhibition opportunities, career counseling, and venues for the promotion of artists' work. The Center was established in 1992 and since that time enrollment has grown from three year-round program participants to more than fifty. The Center is a community of emerging artists, also offering training, workshops, performances, and special events. Center Director Deborah Mashibini coordinates programs and services offered through the Center. In addition to traditional visual and performing arts studios, the Center includes the Very Special Arts Gallery and Exhibition Program and the Global Depot Recycle Art Studio. A pilot project in 2000 will offer residency stipends for artists with disabilities to share their work at the Center. The following pilot projects are planned to be offered in collaboration with the Center during 1999-00:

VSA arts of New Mexico has received third year funding from VSA arts headquarters to support its locally developed ARTS WORK: Transition to Work through the Arts Partnership. This multi-year project focuses on developing school to work collaborations. Funding from VSA arts will assist in developing entrepreneurial efforts that assist both individual artists with disabilities and the organization in becoming self-supporting through innovative revenue generating activities. VSA  is also writing a curriculum for publication in 2000 through the portion of this project sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. This project is unusual in that it has developed a steady stream of new partnerships for the organization each year since its inception in 1995.

VSA arts of New Mexico has also received first year partnership funding from VSA arts headquarters to develop a partnership with the University of New Mexico Occupational Therapy Program. This partnership will provide occupational therapy services for aspiring artists at the Enabled Arts Center. These services will be offered to assist individuals in reaching their vocational goals.