Welcome to the VSA arts of Maine Web Site

About VSA arts of Maine

Our Location

New Contact Info
We have left our office on Park Row for a new location in Brunswick: 11 Pleasant Street
Telephone/TTY: 207-607-4016. Fax 207-725-0386.
For general inquiries, email: sladek@vsartsmaine.org

Directions:

From the north via Maine Turnpike: Take Exit 103, then I-295 to Exit 28, then see instructions below.

From the north or south on 295: Take Exit 28 (Brunswick/ Bath Coastal Route). Stay in the right lane on Route 1 North/ Pleasant Street and follow signs for Maine Street (do not turn left on Rt. 1 North toward Bath). We are located at 11 Pleasant St., right after the Curtis Memorail Library in the building with the mural on the side.

There is street parking in front of the building and a municipal parking lot behind the fire station on Maine St (you can also access this lot through the Provisions parking lot). Our office/gallery is wheelchair accessible.

"We are a leading force in a movement to transform the way we teach, the way we learn about each other, and the way we live."
Dr. Michael Magee, Board Chair VSA arts Headquarters

VSA arts of Maine is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing arts, educational and cultural opportunities for children and adults with disabilities in Maine. Through innovative and inclusive arts programs, VSA arts of Maine promotes the creative power in people with disabilities. Programs include mobile arts therapy for children in low-income neighborhoods, artist residencies in schools, workshops for teachers and artists, mentoring and apprenticeships for adult artists with disabilities, VSA's Gallery at Eleven Pleasant Street, exhibitions of work by artists with disabilities, and partnerships with cultural venues throughout the state to improve accessibility.

VSA arts of Maine is an affiliate of VSA arts, a direct program of the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.. Founded in 1974 by Jean Kennedy Smith, VSA arts is an international network promoting education and lifelong learning opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities. Formerly named Very Special Arts, VSA arts changed its name in 1999 in a move designed to put the focus on the artists' work, rather than on their limitations.

About Our Programs

VSA arts "Arts in Action" Video presents a short, vibrant introduction to VSA arts' work nationwide.

Artist Residencies are designed to provide unique learning experiences through the arts for students in K-12 inclusive and special needs classrooms and other community settings. Each residency is individually designed to enable teachers to learn new tools to integrate the arts with other academic subjects while directly addressing the Maine State Learning Results and NCLB. Residencies also provide students with direct, hands-on experience with professional artists in the classroom while encouraging interdisciplinary learning and enrichment of curriculum content through the arts. VSA arts Artist Residencies engage all students through the multiple modalities inherent in artistic processes and promote full access to quality arts experiences for all students.
More information...

Professional Development Workshops are conducted for general, art and special education teachers and administrators throughout Maine. Workshops are centered on the use of adaptive techniques, best practices, multiple intelligence theory, and incorporating inclusive arts programming into the classroom to help all children succeed.
More information...

Career Arts offers resources and referrals for artists with disabilities. Our Gallery at Eleven Pleasant Street, provides apprenticeships for artists to learn the business-side of art, and also serves as a place where artists can exhibit and sell their work.
More information...

Accessible Maine (AccME) is a statewide collaboration to increase awareness of accessibility issues in Maine's arts, culture and recreational facilities. Occupational therapy students from Husson College conduct cultural site surveys and provide the sites with reports containing information and suggestions for making their facilities more accessible. Every spring, the partners present a free seminar -- Low Cost Solutions for Accessibility -- offering easy accessibility improvements. Cultural sites may also conduct self-surveys through and on-line tool with accompanying recommendations for accessibility improvements.
More information...

A Matter of Perception: Exhibition by Artists with Disabilities is an annual exhibition which showcases the artwork and celebrates the talent of Maine contemporary artists with disabilities. Exhibition locations include art galleries, libraries, state offices and disability organizations across Maine. Public information and accompanying programming raises awareness about disability issues, creates opportunities for artists with disabilities to market their work, and expands access to the arts for traditionally under-served populations. Related activities and events include public opening receptions, gallery talks, disability awareness training for museum and gallery personnel, and outreach and related programming for schools, group homes, and social clubs.
More information...

Staff

Kippy Rudy, Executive Director, kippyrudy@vsartsmaine.org
Allison Baird, ArtVan Program Coordinator, allison@artvanprogram.org
Matthea Daughtry, Matter of Perception Curator, daughtry@vsartsmaine.org
Jeanelle Demers, L/A Outreach Coordinator, jeanelledemers@gmail.com
Jamie Silvestri, ArtVan Artistic Director, jamie@artvanprogram.org
Brandi Sladek, Office Manager and PR Coordinator, sladek@vsartsmaine.org
Rachel Spatz, Education and Program Director, rspatz@vsartsmaine.org
Gracia Woodward, Development Coordinator, graciawoodward@vsartsmaine.org

Board of Directors

Randy Judkins, President
Mabel Gerquest
Peggy Kapisovsky
Linda McCullough
Sabrina Nickerson
Jonathan Waldo


School/Youth Programs Artist Opportunities Cultural Access Initiatives "A Matter of Perception" Exhibition The Gallery at Eleven Pleasant Street Events About Us How You Can Help Contact Us Resources News Home		About VSA arts of Maine Our Location New Contact Info We have left our office on Park Row for a new location in Brunswick: 11 Pleasant Street Telephone/TTY: 207-607-4016. Fax 207-725-0386. For general inquiries, email: sladek@vsartsmaine.org Directions: From the north via Maine Turnpike: Take Exit 103, then I-295 to Exit 28, then see instructions below. From the north or south on 295: Take Exit 28 (Brunswick/ Bath Coastal Route). Stay in the right lane on Route 1 North/ Pleasant Street and follow signs for Maine Street (do not turn left on Rt. 1 North toward Bath). We are located at 11 Pleasant St., right after the Curtis Memorail Library in the building with the mural on the side. There is street parking in front of the building and a municipal parking lot behind the fire station on Maine St (you can also access this lot through the Provisions parking lot). Our office/gallery is wheelchair accessible. "We are a leading force in a movement to transform the way we teach, the way we learn about each other, and the way we live." Dr. Michael Magee, Board Chair VSA arts Headquarters VSA arts of Maine is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing arts, educational and cultural opportunities for children and adults with disabilities in Maine. Through innovative and inclusive arts programs, VSA arts of Maine promotes the creative power in people with disabilities. Programs include mobile arts therapy for children in low-income neighborhoods, artist residencies in schools, workshops for teachers and artists, mentoring and apprenticeships for adult artists with disabilities, VSA's Gallery at Eleven Pleasant Street, exhibitions of work by artists with disabilities, and partnerships with cultural venues throughout the state to improve accessibility. VSA arts of Maine is an affiliate of VSA arts, a direct program of the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.. Founded in 1974 by Jean Kennedy Smith, VSA arts is an international network promoting education and lifelong learning opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities. Formerly named Very Special Arts, VSA arts changed its name in 1999 in a move designed to put the focus on the artists' work, rather than on their limitations. About Our Programs VSA arts "Arts in Action" Video presents a short, vibrant introduction to VSA arts' work nationwide. Artist Residencies are designed to provide unique learning experiences through the arts for students in K-12 inclusive and special needs classrooms and other community settings. Each residency is individually designed to enable teachers to learn new tools to integrate the arts with other academic subjects while directly addressing the Maine State Learning Results and NCLB. Residencies also provide students with direct, hands-on experience with professional artists in the classroom while encouraging interdisciplinary learning and enrichment of curriculum content through the arts. VSA arts Artist Residencies engage all students through the multiple modalities inherent in artistic processes and promote full access to quality arts experiences for all students. More information... Professional Development Workshops are conducted for general, art and special education teachers and administrators throughout Maine. Workshops are centered on the use of adaptive techniques, best practices, multiple intelligence theory, and incorporating inclusive arts programming into the classroom to help all children succeed. More information... Career Arts offers resources and referrals for artists with disabilities. Our Gallery at Eleven Pleasant Street, provides apprenticeships for artists to learn the business-side of art, and also serves as a place where artists can exhibit and sell their work. More information... Accessible Maine (AccME) is a statewide collaboration to increase awareness of accessibility issues in Maine's arts, culture and recreational facilities. Occupational therapy students from Husson College conduct cultural site surveys and provide the sites with reports containing information and suggestions for making their facilities more accessible. Every spring, the partners present a free seminar -- Low Cost Solutions for Accessibility -- offering easy accessibility improvements. Cultural sites may also conduct self-surveys through and on-line tool with accompanying recommendations for accessibility improvements. More information... A Matter of Perception: Exhibition by Artists with Disabilities is an annual exhibition which showcases the artwork and celebrates the talent of Maine contemporary artists with disabilities. Exhibition locations include art galleries, libraries, state offices and disability organizations across Maine. Public information and accompanying programming raises awareness about disability issues, creates opportunities for artists with disabilities to market their work, and expands access to the arts for traditionally under-served populations. Related activities and events include public opening receptions, gallery talks, disability awareness training for museum and gallery personnel, and outreach and related programming for schools, group homes, and social clubs. More information... Staff Kippy Rudy, Executive Director, kippyrudy@vsartsmaine.org Allison Baird, ArtVan Program Coordinator, allison@artvanprogram.org Matthea Daughtry, Matter of Perception Curator, daughtry@vsartsmaine.org Jeanelle Demers, L/A Outreach Coordinator, jeanelledemers@gmail.com Jamie Silvestri, ArtVan Artistic Director, jamie@artvanprogram.org Brandi Sladek, Office Manager and PR Coordinator, sladek@vsartsmaine.org Rachel Spatz, Education and Program Director, rspatz@vsartsmaine.org Gracia Woodward, Development Coordinator, graciawoodward@vsartsmaine.org Board of Directors Randy Judkins, President Mabel Gerquest Peggy Kapisovsky Linda McCullough Sabrina Nickerson Jonathan Waldo

Search for This website developed with the support of the Maine CITE Project. Maine CITE is authorized under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 and is funded from the National Institute on Disabilities and Rehabilitation Research, US Department of Education.