Opportunities

VSA arts and Volkswagen of America offer $60,000 in Cash Awards for Young Artists with Disabilities                                                           

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: 
Sue Kennedy/VSA arts
202/742-3851
Stephanie Moore/VSA arts
202/742-3887

Artists between 16-25 years of age are invited to apply for a national juried exhibit “Shifting Gears”

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. and VSA arts, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the participation of people with disabilities in the arts, are proud to partner together for the fourth year to present an unprecedented opportunity for young artists with disabilities.  The program, meant to encourage and recognize emerging talent in the visual arts, is made possible through the generous financial assistance of Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Young artists with disabilities are asked to submit artwork in the form of slides for consideration in a touring exhibit that will debut at the S. Dillon Ripley Center, Smithsonian Institution.  Finalists will be selected on aesthetic merit alone by a distinguished jury panel to be named in March.  Standing jury member Professor William A. Newman of the Corcoran College of Art + Design expresses, “It’s really hard to be an artist, and it’s really hard to be disabled.  It’s even harder to be both.”  

As in the past, entries are encouraged to evoke a particular theme. This year’s theme “Shifting Gears” challenges artists to reflect on a pivotal moment in life that led to a greater understanding of themselves in relation to their art and/or their disability. 

Applicants are eligible for a total of $60,000 in unrestricted cash awards.  Fifteen finalists will be chosen and the grand prize finalist will receive $20,000 -- the largest award presented to a young artist in the United States.  Finalists will be honored at an awards ceremony on Capitol Hill during late September 2005. 

The postmarked deadline for entries is Friday, July 15, 2005.  All applicants will be notified by Friday, August 26, 2005.  Visit the VSA arts Web site for further information and to download guidelines and application forms. RFP link: http://www.vsarts.org/x267.xml.

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Summer Drama Therapy Classes for Alternative Training Students at Kansas State University

June 3-5 THTRE 675 (1 credit hour) DRAMA THERAPY WITH OLDER ADULTS taught
by Judy Holstein, RDT/BCT
$292 for course. Will be held on site at Meadowlark Retirement Center in
Manhattan, KS. Can count toward Drama Therapy with Special Populations
core requirement or toward advanced elective credit.

June 6-10 THTRE 770 (3 credit hours) CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIES taught by
Sally Bailey, RDT/BCT
$811 for course. Required core course.

June 13-17 THTRE 630 (3 credit hours) TOPICS: DRAMA THERAPY AND ETHICS
taught by Paige Dickinson, RDT, ABD, $811 for course. Can serve as
required ethics course AND for advanced drama therapy elective credit.

June 20-24 THTRE 630 (3 credit hours) TOPICS: THERAPEUTIC SPIRAL METHOD
taught by Kate Hudgins, Ph.D., TEP, $811 for course. Can serve as core
course for Sociodrama/Psychodrama or for advanced elective.

Classes meet on site for the dates noted and students will be required to
complete reading and paper to send to instructor before mid-July.

Housing and meals are available at reasonable rates on campus via Housing
and Dining Services. Contact Philip Schlee at <schlee@ksu.edu>

Registration will begin April 1 on line at www.dce.ksu.edu or via phone at
1-800-432-8222

For more information, email Sally Bailey at sdbailey@ksu.edu