About VSA arts of Minnesota
Contact Us
VSA arts of Minnesota,
Hennepin Center for the Arts,
528 Hennepin Avenue, Suite # 305,
Minneapolis MN 55403.
Voice 612-332-3888.
Fax 612-305-0132.
Email: info@vsaartsmn.org.
TTD/TTY: 612-332-3888.
Greater MN TTD/TTY: 800-801-3883.
Who does the work at VSA arts of Minnesota?
Hi, I am Craig Dunn and I have been the Executive Director here at VSA arts of Minnesota since August of 1992. Prior to that I was a member of the Board of Directors for four years and served as the board’s President from 1989 until July of '92. My background is in both music therapy and music education having worked primarily with students with developmental disabilities in the Elmbrook School District in Wisconsin and the Anoka-Hennepin District in Minnesota for 13 years before taking over here. I have directed the Merry Music Makers, a 70-voice choir of cognitively disabled adults through Anoka-Hennepin's Community Education program since 1985 and I enjoy singing, playing guitar and piano when I can. I am also a member of the Minnesota Citizens for the Arts board. Listen to Craig's Introduction.
Jeg heter Jon Skaalen. I have been ensconced in the royal purple Program Coordinator chair at VSA arts of Minnesota since the dog days of 1999.
Between bags of popcorn, I coordinate the Access to Performing Arts program; the Artists' Pipeline and Arts Access newsletters; our Artist Recognition grants and Arts Access Awards; and I enjoy serving as a liaison with the Artists With Disabilities Alliance. In a previous life, I edited misplaced apostrophes at the Montevideo newspaper and in numerous newsletters at PACER Center. I volunteer for the Minnesota Association of Community Theatres and Fringe Festivals, and serve on the boards of the American Association of Community Theatre and Interact Center. I love attending plays, am writing some of my own, and am fattening up a dozen goldfish for a future fish fry at my American Prairie style house in Stillwater. Stop by sometime! Listen to Jon's Introduction.
Board of Directors - Fiscal Year 2008
- President - Mark C. Siegel
- Minneapolis
- Policy Consultant, Maintain Independence & Employment, Minnesota Department of Human Services
- Vice President - Susan Warner
- Brooklyn Center
- Marketing/Communications Senior Manager, Courage Center
- Treasurer - Wade Karli
- Faribault
- Retired Special Education Administrator
- Secretary - Lisa Skluzacek
- Minneapolis
- Contract Manager, General Mills
- Jaime Becker
- Saint Paul
- Disability Advocate, Home Care Clients
- Gail Burke
- Woodbury
- Former State Arts Board staff
- Cathy Carlson
- Wayzata
- Special Education Teacher, Sanford Middle School, Minneapolis
- Stephen Danko
- Bloomington
- Co-Owner, Jean Stephen Galleries, Minneapolis
- Connie Fullmer
- Hopkins
- Director of Individual Giving, Girl Scouts, Saint Croix Valley
- Jack P. Roberts
- Saint Paul
- Attorney, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, Minneapolis
- Frederick "Rick" Vogt
- Lakeville
- Attorney, Mackall, Crounse & Moore, PLC, Minneapolis
Our Mission
VSA arts of Minnesota works to create a community where people with disabilities can learn through, participate in and access the arts.
Our History
VSA arts of Minnesota, founded in 1986, is an affiliate of VSA arts in Washington D.C. which was founded in 1974 by Jean Kennedy Smith. VSA stands for Vision, Strength, and Access. It is a non-profit agency that provides programs and services that make the arts available and accessible to Minnesota people with disabilities.
Our Values
VSA arts of Minnesota is dedicated to ensuring that music, theater, dance, creative writing, and visual and media arts play a part in the lives of all people. In addition, VSA arts of Minnesota believes that experiences in the arts enhance personal growth, increase educational achievement and enable career success. Participation in the arts promotes acceptance and inclusion in all aspects of life.
Programs and Services
Artist Services
Artists with disabilities are assisted in forwarding their arts pursuits through several grant programs, workshops, and both a statewide directory of artists with disabilities and a direct link to one of the largest Internet directories of artists with disabilities in the world.
Direct Arts Programs
Arts festivals, performances, artist residencies, exhibits and other types of arts events are produced throughout the year. These activities enable people with disabilities to participate in art forms of all kinds.
Accessibility to the Arts
VSA arts of Minnesota works with arts organizations throughout the state to assist them in making their programs and services accessible to people with disabilities. The Access to Theater program encourages theatre and dance companies to provide accommodations for audience members who are deaf or blind.Education & Awareness
VSA arts of Minnesota provides direct arts programs in selected school settings, assists in disability culture activities, presents arts access awards on an annual basis and promotes increased awareness of disability concerns through a newsletter, web site and e-mail listserv.
What is it that VSA arts of Minnesota does?
- Visual art exhibits by people with disabilities.
- Training workshops for teachers in special education settings.
- Assistance to theaters in making their performances accessible to people who are deaf or blind.
- Artist-in-residency programs for schools & residential centers.
- Arts festivals for people of all ages with a disability.
- Newsletters, artist directories and information via the Internet that connects Minnesota people with disabilities who are interested in the arts.
- And many other programs and services that assist people with disabilities in becoming more involved in arts activities within their homes & communities.
