News
- The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston announced a number of upcoming American Sign Language and ASL interpreted events to be held from January 22 through April 26, 2012.
- Fundraising consultant Benovon will hold an introductory session Friday March 2, 2012 from 9 - 10:30 am. Hosted by VSA Massachusetts and Third Sector New England, the session will take place in The Non-Profit Center's Community Room at 89 South Street, Boston.
- On January 16, 2012 from 10 am - 4:45 pm, The Museum of Fine Arts will hold an open house in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Events will include: Perkins School for the Blind Chorus, CommUNITY Puzzle, Story Hour, Local Youth Film Shorts Showcase, and much more. Free admission for all.
- The Open Door Gallery presents Jon Sarkin: Line by Line January 9 through March 9, 2012. Artist reception, book signing, and discussion will take place January 19, 2012 from 4 PM to 8 PM. CART provided if requested by January 15th. . Sarkin's work has been featured in The New Yorker, The New York Times, ABC Primetime, This American Life, GQ, ArtNews, The American Visionary Art Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum.
- The Boston Jewish Film Festival presents REELAbilitiesBoston February 2 through 8, 2012 which includes six films from around the world about people with disabilities.
- The Senses Askew Company is currently seeking script submissions, under fifteen minutes in length, for workshop productions in the 2012/2013 season. Submissions will be accepted through March 1, 2012 and may be an excerpt from a full length play, an one act play, or a scene.
- We've started a new Student of the Month initiative! VSA will celebrate the accomplishments of students who have exhibited significant artistic, social, or academic growth throughout their participation in a VSA Massachusetts residency program. Sheila Richards from the Adams Elementary School was named the December Student of the Month.
- Call For Entries - 2012 VSA International Young Soloists Award. Application deadline is January 31, 2012.
- The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is seeking proposals from not-for profit cultural arts and arts service organizations for the Rosemary Kennedy Internship Initiative. The goal is to serve youth with disabilities, ages 15 to 25, who are interested in pursuing careers in the arts, arts administration, and arts education through internship, apprenticeship, and training programs. The deadline to apply is January 9, 2012 at 9:00 p.m. EST.
- Arisia will hold it's 2012 Science Fiction Convention at the Westin Waterfront, January 13-16 2012. Numerous accommodations are available for people with disabilities.
- The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston has introduced a Handheld Multimedia Guide with an American Sign Language Option to be held each month. MFA ASL Guide Leon Jerfita will guide visitors through a tour of the museum collections with a different focus each month. The free, drop-in tours will take place the second Wednesday of each month except July at 6:00 p.m. Just ask any cashier for an admission ticket anytime after 4:00 p.m. and meet Leon at the Sharf Visitor Center before 6:00 p.m. For more information contact Valarie Burrows Tuesdays and Wednesdays, or Friday mornings, 617-369-3302 Voice, 617-267-9703 TTY, vburrows@mfa.org, www.mfa.org/visit/accessibility.
- American Repertory Theater announced details of upcoming American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted and audio described performances December 11, 2011 through March 4, 2012.
- The Open Door Gallery presents Handmade Holiday November 29, 2011 - January 6, 2012. Everything is for sale in this alternative craft and art exhibit featuring the work of local crafters and artists of all abilities. Weaving, printmaking, jewelry, felting, painting and much more! An artist reception with light refreshments will be held Friday December 9, 2011 from 4 - 7pm and a felting workshop will take place Thursday December 8, 2011 from 5:30 - 7:30pm. Suggested donation for the workshop is $10. Please RSVP to .
- Citi Arts Performing Center will present an ASL Interpreted and Open Caption performance of La Cage aux Folles Wednesday, December 14 2011.
- José Mateo Ballet Theatre in partnership with Jewish Family & Children's Service present Dance For Parkinson's, a 5-class dance series for people with Parkinson's disease and their care partners. Classes take place Mondays, November 14 through December 12 2011.
- The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind's Horizons radio program interviewed Fulbright Fellow Simon Hayhoe who participated in VSA's panel discussion "How the Blind View Art". Included in the recording is clips from our October 5, 2011 forum about audio description and the importance of arts inclusion.
- Tricia Lampron, Principal of Dr. William Henderson Inclusion School, forwarded an invitation to Bill Henderson's book signing event to be held November 10, 2011 at Florian Hall in Dorchester.
- The Boston Jewish Film Festival is holding some events that may be of interest including a Deaf Jam November 9 and 10, 2011 plus a number of films exploring disabilities between November 3 and 15, 2011.
- VSA Mass. Executive Director Charlie Washburn and Betty Siegel, Director of VSA and Accessibility, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts co-authored "Accessibility Resources for New England Museums" which was published in New England Museum Association's Fall, 2011 NEMA News. This edition of NEMA's quarterly journal includes other articles related to museum accessibility.
- Bill Henderson, VSA Mass. consultant and former principal of Boston's O'Hearn School (recently renamed Henderson School) was interviewed 10/19/2011 on WGBH radio by Callie Crossley.
- Read our newly published report "A Closer Look at Learning in Inclusive, Arts-Integrated Classrooms" which documents the learning and social behaviors of nine students in three residencies.
- A captioned video was added to the announcement about Company One seeking deaf actors with ASL skills.
- Museum of Science, Boston is looking to recruit focus groups of visitors with or without disabilities to review some Live Shows for accessibility.
- An audio description of Jiayi Zhou's exhibit is now posted on the Open Door Gallery page along with an MP3 download and transcript.
- The 2010 - 2011 VSA Massachusetts Education Report is now available.
- Company One is seeking actors with ASL skills to audition for a Spring production.
- Fulbright Fellow Simon Hayhoe from the Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science at the London School of Economics will participate in two events taking place October 5, 2011. The 12pm presentation "Is Belief More Important Than Perception to Blind Students Studying Fine Art?" will take place at Harvard and "How the Blind View Art" will be discussed 6pm in the Open Door Gallery.
- Bill Henderson, VSA Mass. consultant and former principal of Boston's O'Hearn School (recently renamed Henderson School), has authored a book titled "The Blind Ambition - How Going Blind Made Me a Stronger Principal and How Including Children with Disabilities Made Our School Better for Everyone". Published by Harvard Education Press, a 20% discount is available by using sales code BAAP11.
- The Open Door Gallery, in association with Third Sector New England, is proud to collaborate with Gallaudet University Regional Center at Northern Essex Community College and DEAF, INC to host Jiayi Zhou's exhibit September 9 - November 21, 2011. A talented artist from Shanghai China, Jiayi will be at the opening reception Friday, September 16, 2011 from 5-8pm to discuss her works. Her presentation is scheduled to start at 6:30pm. Questions and answers will follow the presentation which will be accessible with CART and ASL/Voice interpreters.
- VSA Teaching Artist Fellow Donna Folan and her colleague VSA MA Teaching Artist Maureen Finnerty represented us this summer in a panel discussion at Dance for World Community in Cambridge MA. Excerpts of their discussion appeared in the DWC newsletter.
- More free summer cultural events are detailed in our latest email newsletter.
- Don't miss Commonwealth Shakespeare's free ASL performance of "All's Well That Ends Well" Saturday, August 13th at 8:00pm on the Boston Common. Rain date is Sunday, August 14th at 7:00pm.
- The Boston Herald posted a video of the VSA Zestival Bunny Hop Flash Mob on their website.
- BNN News reported on the July 20, 2011 VSA Zestival "Bunny Hop" which took place at South Station in Boston.
- Charles Washburn was interviewed July 15, 2011 for the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind's Horizons radio program produced for the Talking Information Center's state-wide radio network:
- Lots of summer programs and events have just been announced. Read our newsletter for all the information.
- The Open Door Gallery, in association with Third Sector New England, is hosting Collaborations: Gateway Arts June 29 - August 29, 2011. The exhibit includes drawings, paintings, and sculptures by 40 established and emerging artists from Gateway Arts of Brookline. An ASL interpreted reception with the artists will be held Thursday, August 18, 2011 from 4pm - 7pm.
- Saori Worcester, VSA Massachusetts, and others are sponsoring the 4th annual Creative Laundry Day Friday August 12, 2011 from 9am to 3pm, Elm Park, Worcester, MA.
- Please read an important message from Executive Director Charles Washburn regarding Congressional funding and the impact it may have on VSA.
- The VSAM Zestival, originally scheduled for May 19, has been resheduled for Wednesday, July 20th from 12 noon - 6pm with a raindate of Friday, July 22nd.
- Join us next week for the VSAM Zestival! Thursday May 19, 2011 from 12 noon - 6pm, South Station - Dewey Square Plaza.
- BNN News aired a video May 13, 2011 about the Henderson Inclusion Elementary School and the arts-based teaching strategies developed with VSA.
- Our Treasurer, Jeremy Alliger, was featured in a Boston Globe article April 29, 2011.
- The Open Door Gallery recently installed Volkswagen's "Green Light" in collaberation with Third Sector New England. The exhibit will run through June 20, 2011. Please join us for a reception May 24th from 4:00 to 6:00pm.
- Executive Director Charles Washburn talks about the VSA conference in Boston and arts programs helping children in local schools in a video segment on BNN News which aired April 26, 2011.
- Andrea Smardon aired a feature on WGBH answering the question, Why are people coming from 17 countries to learn about what's going on at the Henderson School in Dorchester?
- Cultural Events in April you do not want to miss!
- Please join delegates to the VSA International Conference and supporters of VSA Massachusetts to celebrate 30 Years of Service to Boston on April 29th at the Institute for Contemporary Art at 6:30 PM. In association with Alliger Arts and the ICA, VSAM will present the aerial silk duet choreographed by the renowned choreographer Heidi Latsky with original live accompaniment by Stan Strickland that has been touring internationally with GIMP. GIMP has been described by Dance Magazine as "a gleaming milestone in the progress of contemporary dance and theater, proving that the term 'disabled dancer' is an oxymoron." Dramatically presented on the edge of Boston Harbor, this promises to be a truly memorable event. After the performance the celebrants will be treated to tours of the museum. Please or phone 617-350-7713 x102.
- The continuing resolution that will keep the US Government open for the next two weeks includes a provision to eliminate funding for Arts In Education, including VSA nationally. Please read this important message from VSA Massachusetts Executive Director Charles Washburn and contact your Senator encouraging the restoration of support for national programs at the U.S. Department of Education like VSA and other education programs at the Kennedy Center. Your opinion counts!
- The Museum of Science has invited VSA Massachusetts to participate in Celebrating Neighborhoods Days Saturday, March 12th which includes viewing the "RACE: Are We So Different?" exhibit. A limited number of free admission tickets are available. The event will be ASL interpreted from 10 - 4pm.
- The International VSA Education Conference will be held April 27-30, 2011 right here in Boston. We are looking for a team of volunteers to give us a hand. If interested, fill out this form (Microsoft Word document) and send it back to us by March 11, 2011.
- The Boston Opera House presents the broadway magic of "Mary Poppins" with Open Captioning March 1, 2011; Audio Description March 12, 2011; and ASL Interpretation March 13, 2011.
- ADA National Network, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Knowbility, and International Ticketing Association have announced a February 25, 2011 free webinar addressing the new ticketing regulations found in the 2010 revisions to the ADA regulations.
- Saori Worcester and VSA Massachusetts are offering freestyle weaving classes every other Sunday from January 30 through March 27, 2011 at the NonProfit Center in Boston.
- The Open Door Gallery installed an exhibit of pinhole photography by Liz Doles. View the exhibit January 17 through March 31, 2011 and join us for an artist reception and talkback March 30.
- Calling all children! VSA arts and CVS Caremark All Kids Can encourages children across the United States to share their creativity by submitting artwork to "All Kids Can Create", a national call for children's art. The call invites young people with and without disabilities to create visual art on the theme "Imagination Across America". Open to children ages 5-15, the deadline is Feb 4, 2011. All submitted artwork will be included in an online gallery and two pieces of artwork from each state will be selected for a touring exhibition that will debut June 2011 in Washington, DC. This visual arts program is designed to showcase how students with and without disabilities learn through the arts in their schools and communities. For details on applying, visit vsarts.org/allkidscancreate.
- VSA Massachusetts along with 15 countries worldwide celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3, 2010, by screening Simon Mckeown's groundbreaking video installation "Motion Disabled".
- Our "Holiday Affair" show in the Open Door Gallery is featured in the "Your Town" section of Boston.com. Additionally, the individual artists are listed on each of their town's page.
- "Universal Signs", a groundbreaking 'silent' film presented in American Sign Language with English subtitles, proceeds will benefit National Theatre of the Deaf. Thursday November 11 at 7:00pm.
- Museum of Science "K'NEX: Building Thrill Rides" exhibit, ASL interpreted, November 12 and 14.
- "Shooting Beauty" at the NonProfit Center's Community Room, Wednesday, November 17, 4:30pm - 7:00pm.
- Saori Worcester announced their Autumn weaving workshops to be held at 89 South Street, Boston. More details can be found here.
- Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library provided us with an announcement about Audio Described performances for the 2010-2011 Season at Broadway Across America venues. Read all about it here.
- VSA Massachusetts along with the City of Worcester, SAORI Worcester Freestyle Weaving Studio, Orchid Patch Farm, Thread Gardens, Moondance Color Company, The Sheep Shack, Worcester Center for Crafts, Wachusett Spinners Guild, Lori Schafer Public Relations, and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation are sponsoring "Sheep to Shawl - Llama to Pajama", a free event to be held October 23, 2010 at Green Hill Park Farms in Worcester. More information can be found here.
- ASL interpreted and open captioned shows of the blockbuster hit "Rock of Ages" have just been announced. Click here for all the details.
- ASL interpreted and open captioned shows of the blockbuster hit "Wicked" have just been announced. Find out all the details here.
- The Open Door Gallery is pleased to exhibit the artwork of Stefrose in her show entitled "Threading Between Worlds" September 7, 2010 through November 5, 2010. There will be an artist reception October 28 from 4 to 7 PM with artist talkback at 5:30. Light refreshments will be served. Visit our gallery page for more details including RSVP information.
- The Boston Arts Consortium for Health (BACH) Symposium invites you to attend its Conference "The Arts of Compassion: Perspectives on Arts and Health" October 2nd, from 9:00am - 5:00pm at David Friend Recital Hall, Berklee College of Music. Experts will gather to consider the role of compassion and the integration of the arts in healing. The symposium is open to the public and will culminate in a performance by Longwood Symphony Orchestra at 8:00 p.m. in New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall. Registration fee is $35. For more information visit the Longwood Symphony website.
- VSA Massachusetts is proud to be a sponsor of Commonwealth Shakespeare's "Othello" at Boston Common's Parkman Bandstand Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 8:00 pm. The performance will be ASL interpreted and is free to the public. There will be an ASL section reserved for deaf and hard of hearing patrons. Be sure to come early and reserve your spot! The show runs approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including intermission. Other sponsors include John W. Henry Family Foundation and Boston University Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.
- The Open Door Gallery's "Exploring the Primaries" exhibit is featured in The Boston Globe's August 9, 2010 "G" section and as "Things To Do" on Boston.com
- VSA Massachusetts' Open Door Gallery was mentioned in the recent issue of "Disability Issues".
- The Highland Street Foundation is underwriting free admission to different museums, zoos, and cultural attractions every Friday through 9/4/2010. No Registration is Required! Visit Highland Street's "Free Fun Fridays" web page for more details. For access information, please check with the venues in advance.
- VSA Massachusetts and 3 other state affiliates recently proposed an innovative idea for funding at the US Department Of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement. The VSA Arts-Integrated Learning Initiative that we have proposed will provide professional development, assistance in the classroom from teaching artists, and other supports for using the arts to promote learning by all students in inclusive schools. The project is now posted on the DOE's Innovation Portal and if you think the idea is a good one, please create an account on the US DOE's website, log in, and find the initiative by searching for it using the whole title or just searching for "VSA". Once you're in look at the listing and learn about our plan, make a comment, and ask others to do the same. Please help support our idea!
- Monday, July 26th, 2010 marks the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. There will be a March and Celebration from 11:00am - 3:00pm. The march is planned to leave from the Common at the corner of Tremont and Boylston at approximately 11:15 am. Enjoy live entertainment including Comedian Jonathan Katz, the Matt Savage Trio, the Tommy Filiault Band, and keynote speaker, John Hockenberry! Please bring food and drink with you to enjoy! Be prepared for extreme weather, heat or rain. For more details about how to be fully prepared for the celebration, click here. For more details about the march and celebration visit NewEnglandADA.org. If you need an accommodation, call 1-800-949-4232 (voice/tty).
- Commissioner Janet LaBreck along with Jay Rufo of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind recently recorded their tour of The Open Door Gallery's Gordon Sasaki NY Portraits exhibit. Here's the resulting program that was broadcast Monday, April 12, 2010 over the Talking Information Centers state-wide radio network:
- The VSA Massachusetts Inclusive By Design performance by Henry Butler recorded at WGBH last year was recently released on DVD! Read about the principles of Universal Design and enjoy the entire video here.
- The April 8, 2010 Boston Globe listed The Open Door Gallery's Gordon Sasaki NY Portraits exhibit as a "Critic's Pick".
- Nicole Agois, VSA Mass Education Program Manager, was quoted in NECN's March 24, 2010 article and video "State of Education: The Arts Advantage".
- An evaluation of VSA's 2008 - 2010 ADA Cultural Inclusion Grants conducted by The Institute for Community Inclusion has been posted.
- Visit our Educational Resources page where you can now purchase our teaching materials online.
- VSA Mass is mentioned in the Boston Herald March 18, 2010 article "Deaf Iranian Theatrical Troupe Enjoys Warm Boston Welcome".
- With Disabilities No Obstacle, School Salutes Its Inspiration - The Boston Globe June 23, 2009.
