Benefit Concert

When and Where:
August 1, 2006
6:45pm Meet & Greet at Bottoms Up 8:00pm Concert at Have a Nice Day Café
Tickets:
$30 Concert only in advance $35 Concert only at door
$60 Meet & Greet and Concert in advance only
Tickets available through Have a Nice Day Café on July 6th. Call 804.771.1700 for tickets by phone.

VSA arts of VA brings you Constantine Maroulis in the First Annual Creative Power Benefit Concert

During his run on American Idol Season 4 Constantine Maroulis conquered hearts nationwide. Since then, fans have been trekking from city to city to see him perform. Some of his fans have also been raising money for VSA arts of Virginia in his honor. Those fans facilitated a connection with the artist that has led to the planning of a benefit show launching Constantine’s fall tour.

VSA arts of Virginia (VSAVA) provides art, education and cultural opportunities by/for/with people with disabilities. Executive Director Erin Hickey says “The relationship we have with Constantine’s fans has enabled us to share our organization with a new audience. We’re so fortunate to have the support. It’s a lot of fun to watch such an engaging performer and to know that you’re supporting arts access for everyone.” Hickey states that VSAVA’s search for a venue demonstrates how people with disabilities are marginalized. The organization received a generous offer from a local venue to host the event but had to decline because of inadequate accommodations for people with disabilities. Several other accessible venues were considered but not chosen because they lacked the atmosphere a rock concert requires. “People with disabilities like all of the same forms of entertainment everyone else enjoys” says Hickey “There is every reason to believe that you’d see many more people with disabilities at this kind of event if their needs were taken into consideration at the beginning of the planning process”.

VSA arts of Virginia can provide the photo of Constantine for this event and a fact sheet about the organization upon request.

Event sponsored in part by FOX Richmond.

Information about writing with “people first language” can be obtained at http://iod.unh.edu/reporters-room.html.

The official American Idol website posted the announcement here.

Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy (VOPA) Survey

The Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy wants your feedback.
Please visit VOPA site and fill out the public input survey by clicking here. Give them your thoughts on the work they have been doing and the work you think they need to be doing more of. If you'd like a paper copy of the survey instead, please call 1-800- 552-4962 and ask for a copy of the public input survey to be mailed to you.
For more information, please contact:

Virginia Office of Protection & Advocacy
Richmond Field/Central Office
1910 Byrd Avenue, Suite 5
Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: 800-552-3962 (Toll-Free in Virginia)
Phone: 804-225-2042 (Voice/TTY)
Fax: 804-662-7057
E-Mail: general.vopa@vopa.virginia.gov
www.vopa.state.va.us

State Special Education Advisory Committee (SSEAC) Vacancies

The State Special Education Advisory Committee is currently seeking nominees to fill the following vacancies:

- A person with a disability (no geographic designation)
- Teacher (no geographic designation)
- Parent of a Child with Disabilities - Regional Study Group 1
- Parent of a Child with Disabilities - Regional Study Group 8

The Nomination Form to apply for vacancies, an overview of the responsibilities and activities of the SSEAC, as well as the areas covered by Regional Study Groups 1 & 8, may be found by clicking here. For further information, please contact:

Patricia Abrams, Ed.D.
Virginia Department of Education
Office of Special Education Instructional Services
PO Box 2120
Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120
Phone: (804) 225-2707
Fax: (804) 371-8796
Email: Pat.Abrams@doe.virginia.gov

Open Call for Artists with Disabilities living in the Central Virginia area.

Deadline (Postmark): October 1, 2006

Artists with disabilities working in two-dimensional visual media (watercolors, oils, acrylics, gouache, photography, etc.) or three-dimensional hanging works are invited to submit work for consideration rotating art exhibits and shows for the 2007 calendar year.

VSA arts of Virginia (VSAVA) works to ensure adults, youth and children with disabilities and others with limited arts access to express themselves through visual, literary and performing arts. Our programs assist participants to develop confidence, inspire creativity and provide opportunities to use their imaginations in creative and nurturing settings. Through theatre, music, visual and literary arts, arts exhibitions and education programming, VSAVA– Richmond showcases the talents and strengths of each participant and promotes a greater awareness of the benefits of the arts in the lives of all people.

VSAVA’s statewide Exhibitions Program, is open to adults, youth and children and offers local and regional artists with disabilities and others with limited arts access ways to showcase their work for sale while learning how to professionally submit art for consideration in juried and curated art exhibitions. These spaces are available to VSA of Virginia statewide districts and the general public in the Central Virginia area. We have 3 venues for adults and are actively looking to add more.

For guidelines and an application and/or more information, please e-mail Krishanna at kspencer@vsava.org.

Logo Contest

The Advisory Committee to the Office of Child and Family Services at the Virginia Dept of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services is looking for a logo which will be used in all future print campaigns. The logo should demonstrate an understanding of the term the Office's focus on children and families.

Who may enter? Any person under age 22 with a disability

What will be accepted? Submissions can include any piece of original artwork no larger than 8 ½ by 11 inches in size. The winning logo will be adjusted in size to allow for use in print advertising (as small as 1 inch X 1 inch). Works submitted may be in any medium with the final product to be the used in print advertising. Submissions may include, but are not limited to: water color, photography, sketches, and digitally created art.

When will logos be accepted? The deadline for submission is July 7, 2006. All submissions must include the original piece of artwork, a submission application and permission giving The Office of Child and Family Services approval to use the image in print advertising and/or to display it in different venues throughout Virginia.

For more information about the contest, please contact Monica Smyth at at5917@aol.com.

MusicLink classes start in two weeks!

Attached is the flyer for the upcoming international cultural exchange program, MusicLink. Because the program follows a year-long timetable with our international partners, it is important that children who become involved are able to commit to a year of participation. There are still spaces left in the class, but register quickly! To read about the program activities click here. To see videos created by past participants follow click here.

Next Week

The staff at the VSAVA home office will be attending the International VSA arts Conference in Washington, D.C. next week. While we're there we'll be viewing the exhibition entitled Transformation and attending the Start With the Arts Festival. Read more about the events here.
Pre-registration has concluded, but you can still register at the door.