VSA, the International Organization on Arts and Disability. The Washington, D.C.-based VSA seeks to provide arts and education opportunities for people with disabilities and increase access to the arts for all.
With 52 international affiliates and a network of nationwide support, VSA works to change perceptions about people with disabilities around the world. Each year, 7 million people of all ages and abilities participate in VSA programs in every aspect of the arts, from the visual and performing arts to the literary arts.
VSA has four guiding principles:
• 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 cultural facilities and activities.
• All individuals with disabilities who aspire to careers in the arts should have the opportunity to develop appropriate skills.
NAMM is proud to be a funder of VSA’s important work. During the VSA International Young Soloists Concert at the Kennedy Center in May, NAMM Member Menzie Pittman, Contemporary Music Center, had the honor of presenting a check on behalf of the association in collaboration with the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT), to saxophonist David Nabb and technician Jeff Stelling, winners of VSA’s Award for Achievement in Instrument Adaptation.
”We were especially delighted to have NAMM as a partner at this year’s event to honor the unique work of technicians around the world who make it possible for musicians with disabilities to have full access to their instrument of choice,” said Scott Stoner, Vice President for Education Services at VSA.
Find out more about VSA at vsarts.org.
(Pictured Left to Right: Scott Stoner, Vice President for Education Services at VSA; Liz Miller, Director of Performing Arts at VSA and Menzie Pittman, Founder, Director of Education, Contemporary Music).