WASHINGTON, D.C. – VSA seeks outstanding teaching artists with disabilities for the Teaching Artist Fellowship program.

VSA recognizes the value of integrating the arts into education. Teaching artists with disabilities serve as role models of diversity, expression, and inclusive learning in the classroom.

This program identifies, engages, and supports teaching visual and performing artists with disabilities who have demonstrated a high level of mastery in their artistic discipline and who possess educational experience.

Selected teaching artist fellows will attend a professional development retreat in Washington, D.C.; receive subscriptions and memberships within the teaching artist network; engage in networking and teaching opportunities in Washington, D.C., and other areas; enroll in the VSA Community of Practice, a professional development website; serve as facilitators for VSA education programs; and be profiled in VSA’s publications.

Applications must be received by April 23.

VSA Teaching Artist Fellows are selected through a competitive process. Selection is based upon artistic merit, prior artistic and educational experience, professional references, and application responses. Applications are available online at www.vsarts.org/taf . Alternative formats are available upon request. For more information, call 202.628.2800, ext. 3865, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

VSA, the international organization on arts and disability, was founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts.

VSA provides educators, parents, and artists with the resources and tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for all people.

Each year, 7 million people participate in VSA programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in 52 countries around the world. VSA is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information about VSA, visit www.vsarts.org .

From June 6 to 12 VSA will bring together artists, educators, researchers, and policymakers with and without disabilities from around the world for the 2010 International VSA Festival, a multicultural celebration of the arts and arts education.

The festival will feature a dazzling array of visual, performing, literary, and media artists. The guest list includes more than 2,000 people, including VSA’s 52 international affiliates, its U.S. network, and audience members from all corners of the globe.