Indiana Explores Career Opportunities for Artists with Disabilities
The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) recently announced that Indiana is one of two states to receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Arts and Disability Center at UCLA. The funds will be used to host statewide workshops for careers in the arts for people with disabilities.
The Indiana Arts Commission has partnered with ArtsWORK Indiana, the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, and VSA arts of Indiana to sponsor six workshops that began March 6 in New Albany. The next workshop will take place in Indianapolis on April 8 at the Indianapolis Art Center, 820 E. 67th St., in Indianapolis. Other workshops will take place in Columbus, Muncie, Richmond, and Valparaiso.
The Indianapolis workshop will feature tips, tools, and resources for people interested in pursuing a career in the arts with a focus on disability issues. The Indianapolis Art Center will also introduce artists to the programs offered at the Center. Persons wishing to attend the Indianapolis workshop are asked to RSVP to Kristina Davis at (317) 232-1279 or kdavis-smith@iac.in.gov by March 25, 2009. Sign language interpretation will be provided; other accommodations such as large print materials can be arranged if requested when RSVP is placed.
Each workshop will be moderated by Chris Karson, Chairperson of ArtsWORK Indiana. Karson, a founder and creative mind behind the multi-arts ensemble, The Wheelchair Monologues, will educate attendees on the free resources available at http://www.artsworkindiana.org/. A local artist with a disability will provide insight on tips and resources from their personal experiences. Indianapolis artist and gallery owner Wug Laku will provide insight on tips and resources from his personal perspective as an artist with a disability.
“The workshops are open to anyone, whether they have a disability or not, but we want to address a need that many people may not be aware of,” said IAC Executive Director Lewis C. Ricci. “About one in five U.S. residents reported some level of disability in 2005, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. These 54 million Americans are roughly equal to the combined populations of California and Florida.”
The community workshops are a follow-up to the 2004 Statewide Forum on Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities which was also the result of a grant from the NEA to the Indiana Arts Commission.
The following workshop scheduled will be Thursday, April 9, 2009 at the Blind Ambition Gallery, 817 E. Main St., Richmond. Persons interested in attending that workshop should call Eric Rogers from Arts Place at (260) 726-4809 or erogers@artsland.org to RSVP by April 2, 2009. Special accommodations such as sign language interpretation or large print materials can be arranged if requested by March 26. More information on future workshops including dates, times, locations, and presenters will be updated on the IAC website once these details are confirmed: www.IN.gov/arts/2350.htm.
“Indiana is one of only two states to receive this $4,500 grant from the NEA, and while it isn’t a large grant it does enable us to find quality speakers who are experts in this field,” Ricci said. “It has also created the opportunity for the IAC to partner with seven arts organizations and six disability service providers across the state to host these community workshops.”
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