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VSA Vermont gives thanks

Submitted by tim on
VSA Vermont uses the magicof the artsto engage the capabilities and enhance the confidenceof children and adults with disabilities.

It's November - Time to give thanks!

A gray map of Vermont is speckled with colored dots around the state representing the locations of VSA Vermont programs.

It’s November, which brings with it chilly temperatures and Thanksgiving, a time to reflect and give thanks for the past year. At VSA Vermont, we have so much to be grateful for! Over the 2016-17 program year our 1,268 activities reached almost 5,000 participants at 79 sites acoss Vermont.

We recently welcomed a new Executive Director, Susan Evans McClure. Our previous director, Judy Chalmer, was with us for more than a decade and we are so grateful to her. Her passion for and dedication to the arts and inclusion will surely be missed. "Judy led with grace and joy and has a positive impact on everyone she knows,” said Katie Miller, VSA VT’s Development and Communications Director.
Though Judy will forever hold a special place in our hearts, we are so excited to have Susan with us as Executive Director. “She has that same thoughtfulness and admiration for the work we do,” says Toby MacNutt, Program Manager. We are all eager and excited to see where this next chapter leads VSA Vermont!
As we look to 2018, we are so thankful for you - the participants, teachers, volunteers, and partners that make up the community that is VSA Vermont. Thank you for making it possible to encourage inclusion and accessibility for all in the arts and beyond!

Why the funky coffee sleeve?

a collection of decorated coffee sleeves

Back again this year is VSA Vermont’s coffee sleeve project. Starting in mid-December and throughout the holiday season, individually decorated coffee sleeves will add some extra kick to cups of coffee purchased at local coffee shops.

Artists, we need your help! We have more than 1,000 blank coffee sleeves and brightly colored markers - but need your help creating the artwork on sleeves. Individuals can arrange a time to come to the VSA VT office or host a decorating table at an event of your own.

If you would like to decorate sleeves or be a presenting coffee shop, contact:

Caroline Garretson

VSA VT Social Work Intern

[email protected]

Photography Exhibit - On Display Throughout November

Alexandra Turner stands with a student in front of his artwork on display at Penny Cluse in Burlington.

"Frame, Focus, Click" is a collection of images captured by participants in VSA Vermont’s Digital Photography Course taught by Alexandra Turner in the Spring of 2017. These images represent a snapshot of the world, as each artist sees it. During the course, students worked on framing, angles, zoom, and composition as they have focused on portraits, architectural, and personal photographic projects. The program is run in partnership with Champlain Community Services.

The work is on display at Penny Cluse Cafe in Burlington through November 30th. Make sure to stop by, grab some breakfast, and check it out! For information on their hours and menu, visit Penny Cluse’s website.

For more information on adult programs at VSA Vermont, contact:

A student stands in front of her artwork on display at Penny Cluse Cafe in Burlington.Heidi Swevens
Volunteer Coordinator & Program Manager

Make a difference - become a mentor!
Do you have one hour per week and want to make a difference in the life of a student with a disability? If so,consider becoming a mentor in VSA Vermont’s Mentoring Program. Matches in our program meet regularly to take part in arts-based experience both in schools and the community. No experience in the arts is necessary, just interest and curiosity in trying new things.

We currently have 4 students waiting for mentors, so if you’ve been considering this opportunity, the time to sign up is now!

Source: VSA VTVSA Vermont is a member of the VSA Affiliate Network, a program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.