VSA arts of Kentucky promotes arts, education, and creative expression for all, with an emphasis on persons with disabilities. While most programs are educational or community outreach in nature, others provide services such as professional development. Currently, there are over 870,000 people with disabilities in Kentucky, many of whom can benefit from participating in VSA arts of Kentucky programs.

Educational Programs

VSA arts of Kentucky offers educational programs in every congressional district in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Many VSAKY educational arts programs involve artist residences at public school sites.

Arts Inclusion Program

Up to fifty $1,000.00 awards are given to schools across Kentucky in every congressional district for inclusionary, hands-on projects in various arts disciplines. Schools must specifically describe in their application how the arts project will be fully inclusionary for students of all abilities. Many of these projects involve an artist-in-residence from our VSA arts of Kentucky Roster. This program is made possible through a partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education.

Application Form / Guidelines PDF:200kb

Artist Roster(Pop-up window)

Final Report Form PDF:209kb

Teacher Survey PDF: 136kb

Start with the Arts Training

Start with the Arts is an award-winning educational program for preschool, kindergarten and early primary aged children with and without disabilities, designed to provide educators, caregivers, librarians, and parents with objective-based, thematic learning experiences that utilize the arts as a vehicle to enhance the existing inclusive classroom curriculum. This program utilizes all of the multiple intelligence to ensure success for all students. Professional Development training in Start with the Arts is available through VSA arts of Kentucky for educators, caregivers, librarians and parents.

Student Traveling Art Exhibit

The VSA arts of KentuckyStudent Traveling Art Exhibit, “A Matter of Perspective” is an annual exhibit comprised of 15-20 pieces of artwork created by students with disabilities from across the state. This art exhibit is available free of charge to schools, museums, businesses, libraries, and hospitals across the Commonwealth. A Call for Art brochure and application is sent annually to all public schools in Kentucky.

Application Form / Guidelines PDF:376kb

Young Soloist Award Program

Designed to nurture the exceptional talents of young instrumentalists and vocalists with disabilities, the Young Soloist Program provides an award annually to further the music education of talented young musicians. Interested musicians should contact our VSA arts of Kentucky offices for further information on how to enter the state program. The application deadline is November 1 of each year. The Kentucky award recipient’s entry is also submitted to the VSA arts home office in Washington, D.C. for consideration in the national program. The VSA arts of Kentucky Young Soloist recipient(s) are given opportunities to perform in various Kentucky venues throughout the year. Past Kentucky Young Soloists have also performed for Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., the 1998 VSA arts International Festival in Los Angeles, and the 2004 VSA arts International Festival in Washington, DC.

Artist-in-Residence Roster

The VSA arts of Kentucky Artist Roster is an approved list of over 20 teaching artists from the arts disciplines of dance/creative movement, drama, literary arts, music, storytelling, puppetry and visual arts. These accomplished artists have a professional background in their art forms and extensive experience in arts education and adaptive arts strategies. VSAKY Roster Artists provide residencies for our Arts Inclusion Program, arts education and community programs.

Artist Roster(Pop-up window)

Community Programs

VSA arts of Kentucky offers arts programming and opportunities for adults and young people in a community setting. In addition to the programs listed below, we accept applications for special initiatives throughout the state.

VSA arts of Kentucky Gallery

The partnership between VSA arts of Kentucky and Bandy Carroll Hellige Public Relations provides a public gallery opportunity for VSA arts of Kentucky to exhibit the work of artists with disabilities. The gallery is housed in the headquarters of Bandy Carroll Hellige Public Relations in Louisville.

Cardinal Hill Hospital Partnership

VSA arts of Kentucky provides artist residencies and arts experiences for adults and children participating in various Cardinal Hill Healthcare System programs in Lexington and Northern Kentucky. These arts experiences are offered year-round for clients of Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital.

Hugh Sandefur Training Center Partnership

Adults with disabilities participate in year-round art classes conducted by an artist-in-residence at the Hugh Sandefur Training Center in Henderson. Each year there is a culminating exhibit entitled, “The Artist Within: Disabling the Myth.”

VSA arts Festivals

Each year, VSA arts of Kentucky festivals are held in communities across the state. Festivals include experiential mini-workshops in the various arts disciplines and sometimes culminate in a performance or exhibition.

Artist Registry

The VSA arts of Kentucky Artist Registry is a resource directory of emerging and professional artists with disabilities. Inclusion of visual and performing artists on the Artist Registry will make artists’ work known to community cultural organizations should opportunities arise but does not guarantee that work will be selected for exhibition or performance. Past Kentucky Registry artists’ work has been chosen for exhibition at the VSA International Festival in Los Angeles and published in the national VSA arts calendar.

Artist Registry (Pop-up window)

Arts for All

Arts for All is the bi-annual newsletter that includes information about programs, services and opportunities provided by VSA arts of Kentucky. The newsletter is a free service of VSA arts of Kentucky.

Arts for All PDF:164kb

VSA arts of Kentucky Special Initiative Program

Community residencies are conducted throughout the state under the VSA arts of Kentucky Special Initiative Program. These programs are initiated and conducted in various communities by agencies, organizations and/or individuals and include individuals with and without disabilities.

Application and Guidelines PDF: 134kb

Artist Roster(Pop-up window)

Special Project Final Report PDF:392kb

Professional Development

VSA arts of Kentucky offers various professional development programs and opportunities available for educators, artists and arts administrators.

Start with the Arts Training

VSA arts of Kentucky offers a full-day, accredited training for educators, librarians, caregivers, and parents in Start with the Arts. This hands-on, inclusionary, educational program involves young children in innovative arts activities based on commonly taught curriculum themes. Since 1995, VSA arts of Kentucky has trained over 2500 adults to enhance early childhood programs and curriculums in Kentucky using the arts as a learning vehicle. Scholarships are available and made possible by the Kentucky Dept. of Education.

Artist Mentoring Program

The Artist Mentoring Program is designed to help new teaching artists on the VSA art of Kentucky Artist Roster reach the “mastery” level by observing master artists in a residency environment and being mentored by these same artists.

Portfolio Development Workshops

These one day workshops are designed to provide professional development for artists with disabilities to help them more effective prepare and market their art form.