Causes: Arts & Culture, Arts & Humanities Councils & Agencies

Mission: The mission of VSA arts Tennessee is to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in and express themselves through the arts and arts education.

Programs: VSA initiated a pilot program using a national model in demonstrating collaboration between art specialists and special education teachers. In the residencies, artists work with children with disabilities and teachers to reach behavioral goals. Residencies have resulted in student run businesses being created, a presentation of a canvass painting to the State legislative body, a student winning a national award and trip to Washington DC, and national publications. The art institute is for children with and without disabilities. It allows the children to learn about a specific culture through the arts ( dance, drama, music, literature and the visual arts) in an inclusive environment. There are pre and post tests to measure learning and a reception at the end of the institute. VSA is soon to publish some of the findings from research conducted on the programs.