Case Study: Community Art Projects

Very Special Arts
Youth and Community Artwork

Very Special Arts Vermont (VSAVT) is a non-profit organization, which aims to make the world of the arts more accessible to Vermonters of all abilities. Its programs have a large volunteer component and aim to make people more conscious of involving the disabled in the arts.

VSA Vermont offers weekly arts programs in dance, drama, visual arts and music to Vermont's low-income, hospitalized, disabled and refugee children, teens, families and adults at no cost for the participants. Through the use of the arts it teaches academic skills to children with learning disabilities. It also offers vocational and independ-ent living skills to adults with developmental dis-abilities. Other programs are designed to involve at-risk teens in their neighborhoods, to foster com-munity participation, or to bring enrichment and opportunities to homeless children.

VSA Vermont began its work as part of the Enter-prise Community Grant that Burlington received and since then has become the fastest growing state affiliate of the national VSA organization.

All of VSA Vermont's programs collaborate with other agencies and organizations, such as the Men-tal Health Service, Champlain Initiative, King Street Youth Center, COTS etc. Its programs are designed in collaboration with the coordinating agencies, with the national VSA organization or with interested community members.

Cross Sectoral Benefits

Environment: Foster community and neighbor-hood participation

Economy: Teach vocational skills to adults with developmental disabilities

Governance: All programs collaborate with other organizations and are designed with the help of community members

Social: Make arts accessible to Vermonters of all abilities.