VSA arts of Brevard

Programs

Playwright Discovery Program.  "Pen Power" is a playwriting contest for high school students challenging them to take a closer look at the world around them, examine how disability effects their lives and the lives of others, and express their views through the art of playwriting. For guidelines and entry forms click here. For a teacher's guide, please go to www.vsarts.org , click on Resources, then look under For Educators and Parents. Staged Readings of the winning plays take place March 13, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the King Center. A reception follows. Admission is free, but tickets are required. Call (321) 752-2740 ext. 5208.

Teacher In-service Training.  Typically, two teacher in-service training sessions are held annually.

Arts for All Lending Program.  Special Arts for All equipment is available to schools and other organizations wanting to bring art to the physically disabled.. 

Arts for All Lending Library             Equipment Request Forms  

Artists in Residence.  Two artists will visit each of the participating sites with special needs populations for an hour long training session in the arts.  Information will be sent to registered VSA arts teachers.  

Holiday Card Contest.  This program encourages special needs children in the Brevard County school system to create drawings and paintings with a holiday theme. The submissions are judged by our sponsor, (the law offices of Molettiere and Torpy, PA), and awards made. The winning work is used by our sponsor as the cover of their corporate holiday greeting card. All of the participants receive a certificate of accomplishment. Additional cards are available for sale by contacting Janice Kershaw at jkershaw@bacbrevard.com. For entry forms and contest related documents, please click here.

National Programs. Two national programs, Express Diversity and Start with the Arts.   Express Diversity and Start with the Arts offer educational resources to teacher's and caregivers. Local training is available. For more information, or to request the training, contact Janice Kershaw at:

VSA arts of Florida-Brevard
1435 Aurora Rd. Melbourne, FL 32935
Phone: (321) 752-2740 ext. 5208
Fax: (321) 259-3670
Email: jkershaw@bacbrevard.com

Touring Art.  Selected works created for the Festival are displayed at various public venues.  This helps showcase the talents of the special needs population for the general public. Calendar Click-Here.

Outreach Programs. THrough a partnership with the King Center Educational Theatre Program, VSA Arts of Florida - Brevard is bringing "Sidiki and Tokounou Dance Company" to four local schools for local school assemblies. Students from Coquina Elementary, Clearlake middle School, Pinewood Elementary and Southlake Elementary will learn about traditional music and dance of Guinea and how the call to sing and dance first came to Sidikiafter he lost the use of his legs when he was fourteen. For tickets to the Mainstage Performance contact Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts.

Summer Arts Service-Learning Program. During the summer, individuals with and without disabilities work together creating beautiful public art. The program is a collaborative effort between VSA arts of Florida-Brevard, The Florida Inclusion Network, and the Brevard County School District. The program accomplishes the following:

1. To serve the community by providing a beautiful public art project.
2. To give students a meaningful learning opportunity during the summer to bring the arts to life.
3. To enhance participation by offering high school credit and service hours towards Bright Futures and other scholarships.
4. And, to promote inclusion by encouraging the participation of students who might not otherwise be taking classes together-those students pursuing traditional diplomas, as well as those seeking special diplomas.

Pictured below are students working on a mural painting project at the Blue Heron Water Reclamation Facility in Titusville in 2005.

The image below is a mosaic completed in 2004 that is permanently installed at Sherwood Park Pool in Melbourne

A mosaic completed in 2006 is permanently installed at Bayside High School in Palm Bay.