Accessibility Resources & Opportunities
The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) is committed to making our programs and panels accessible to all of our constituents. If you are an artist with a disability and need assistance with the application process, please call the community development manager associated with the grant program you are applying for and they will be happy to work with you to provide any assistance necessary. You may also contact, Kristina Davis, Community Development Manager and Accessibility Coordinator at kdavis-smith@iac.in.gov, or 317-232-1279 for accessibility questions or concerns.
The IAC supports and partners with ArtsWORK Indiana to provide more comprehensive resources for artists with disabilities who are interested in pursuing careers in the arts. Check out their website - http://www.artsworkindiana.org/ - for more detailed information.
ArtsWORK Indiana has a Facebook fan page! Become a fan of ArtsWORK Indiana on Facebook today!
Events
Dozens Attend Workshop Series
Reprinted with permission from Jane Harlan-Simmons.
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112 individuals attended ArtsWORK Indiana's 2009 statewide workshop series on careers in the arts for people with disabilities. These educational events, held in six Indiana cities in March and April, drew an audience from as far away as Ohio and Kentucky. The Creative Connections workshops featured speakers Chris Karson, Thaniel Lee, Wug Laku, Paul Neufelder, Jody Powers, Joyce Wittenauer-Acton, and Kevin Hanusin. Information was also provided about the resources on ArtsWORK's website, http://www.artsworkindiana.org/.
Sixteen cultural organizations and rehabilitation agencies collaborated to sponsor and host the free events in New Albany, Indianapolis, Muncie, Richmond, Columbus, and Valparaiso. Kristina Davis,Community Development Manager and Accessibility Coordinator at the Indiana Arts Commission remarked, "Throughout this project, we have partnered with Indiana arts organizations, disability service providers, educational institutions and community centers to provide these workshops and we couldn't have done it without them."
Davis reports that, of those who completed an evaluation questionnaire:.jpg)
- 83% were "highly satisfied" or "satisfied" with the workshop;
- 63% identified themselves as not having a disability; 37% identified themselves as someone with a disability;
- 41% were art organization representatives, disability service providers, or school personnel;
- 40% were artists or persons seeking arts-related employment; and,
- 67% said that they would apply the information/resources provided at the workshop to their job search or professional activities in the next 30 days.
Funded through sponsorship of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Arts and Disability Center at the University of California Los Angeles, the project provided (part-time, temporary) employment to eight individuals with disabilities who contributed their skills as workshop moderator, artist-speaker, or graphic designer. ArtsWORK Indiana partners Vsa arts of Indiana, the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, and the Indiana Arts Commission contributed in-kind support to the project.
Upcoming ArtsWork Meetings and Speakers
All ArtsWork meetings are held at the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) in Adult Lecture Room A at 2:00 PM.
July 23 - Judy Champa, Artist Speaker
August 27
September 24 - Jonella Moore, Artist Speaker
October 22
November 19
December 17
Stone Belt Art & Craft Artists Create from their Own Vision
In honor of March Disability Awareness Month, the Indiana Arts Commission is hosting an exhibit of mixed media mosaics created by the artists at Stone Belt Art & Craft in Bloomington. This is their story.
Carolyn Abbitt wasn't really interested in the Art & Craft program at Stone Belt in Bloomington. One of the original clients of Stone Belt, she wouldn't even step foot into the art room. Eventually, she began helping staff separate donated materials such as yarn, fabric, and sequins and slowly became more comfortable being there. Now one of Stone Belt Art & Craft's best selling artists, Carolyn sometimes creates three whimsical animal-themed pieces a day. "Carolyn has gained self-confidence, she's happier, and she comes into the art room everyday and goes right to work," says Larry Pejeau, Director of Sales and Marketing at Stone Belt.
Links for Individuals
http://www.artsworkindiana.org - ArtsWORK Indiana (AWI) is an informal, statewide group of people interested in improving arts-related professional opportunities and careers for people with disabilities. Participants include artists, as well as people involved in supporting opportunities for artists, such as rehabilitation professionals, college counselors, and arts administrators. Meetings are held monthly in Indianapolis. This site includes a more comprehensive list of resources for individuals.
http://www.vsai.org - VSA arts of Indiana (formerly Very Special Arts of Indiana) is a statewide nonprofit organization and an affiliate of VSA arts, an international educational program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Since 1980, VSA arts of Indiana has offered a variety of programs and services designed to unleash the creative spirit and artistic gifts of people with disabilities.
http://www.ahirc.org/ - The AHIRC database was created by The Actors’ Fund of America, with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, as a health insurance resource for artists and people in the entertainment industry. Since then, with support from The Commonwealth Fund, it has expanded to include resources for the self-employed, low-income workers, the under-insured, the uninsured who require medical care and many other groups.
http://www.indybar.org/freelegal.cfm - Ask A Lawyer is the Indianapolis Bar Association's free legal advice program in which the public can talk face-to-face with an attorney to get answers to basic legal questions. Legal Line, also from the Indianapolis Bar Association, is an opportunity for those in need of basic legal advice to speak to a qualified attorney by telephone.
Links/Resources for Arts Organizations
Accessibility Self-Assessment Checklist - The Indiana Arts Commission's informal guide for applicant organizations. This checklist is neither a determination of your legals rights or responsibilities under the American Disabilities Act (ADA); the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, Section 504; nor binding upon any agency wtih enforcement responsibility under the ADA.
http://www.nea.gov/resources/Accessibility/Planning/Step6.pdf - The Arts and Humanities Accessibility Checklist is designed to assist arts and humanities organizations in performing on-site evaluations of their organizations’ policies, programs, services and facilities. This process should help cultural groups to plan, budget and complete necessary access improvements to meet or exceed legal standards.
www.access-board.gov/508.htm - Any information technology related products or services purchased, used, or maintained by organizations that receive IAC grants must be compatible with the principles and goals contained in the Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards under Section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended. The Accessibility Standards can be found at this site.
http://www.graphicartistsguild.org/resources/disability-access-symbols/ - These disability access symbols are intended to help arts organizations advertise access services to customers, audiences, staff and other targeted publics. Advertisements, newsletters, conference and program brochures, membership forms, building signage, floor plans and maps are examples of material that might display these symbols.
http://nadc.ucla.edu/ - The National Arts and Disability Center at the Tarjan Center is the only one of its kind in the nation. They help advance the professional development of artists with disabilities. The NADC also provides guidance and education to arts venues on how to remove barriers that prevent people with disabilities from taking part in the arts community.
http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/ - the mission of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community is to work with communities to welcome, value, and support the meaningful participation of people of all ages and abilities through research, education, and service.
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