Arts Access Newsletter Fall 2000

Comparisons

Wishes are lime and roses.
Money is green lettuce.
Advice is like following a brick road.
The world is like a moving screen.
I am like Jethro Bodeen.
A beach ball is like a meatball.
The big clock is a puff of air circling.
Music is a parrot singing.
His laughter is like a chimpanzee.
Iím a donkey.
My mother is a universe.

The Big Brag

I am the hardworking one.
I am the one who cleans counters in the kitchen.
Because I do a good job, my friends get angry.
This is the truth.
I am always on the go!

I am the great one.
I am the one who got good grades in school.
Right now, I am the greatest drawer.
Because I draw beautiful pigs,
My friends are jealous.
This is the truth.
I am always imagining new things to do.

VSA arts of Minnesota knows that there are at least 500 Minnesota people with a disability who are actively involved in one form of the arts or another. Over the years, our database has grown to include people with interests in music, visual arts, dance, theater, writing and other creative artforms from around the state. Last year, the 1999 edition of the Minnesota Directory of Artists with a Disability was released and included over 100 people. Now, we are ready to take our next step in providing information to Minnesota artists with disabilities on an on-going basis.

We are seeking email addresses of individuals of all ages, disabilities and arts areas. We are asking you for this information so that we can easily and economically circulate to you things such as:

Job Postings;
Calls-for-Art (four our exhibits as well as other galleries & art centers);
Class announcements;
Information about VSA arts national programs;
Grant and other funding opportunities;
Exhibiting opportunities.

It is expected that you will get 1-2 mailings a week. All messages will be monitored or created by VSA arts of Minnesota staff and volunteers. There will be no solicitations for donations or any sales pitches (in other words, no SPAM). Although some of the messages may not directly relate to you or your current arts activity, in the long run, most will. You will of course be able to be removed from the list at any time. Finally, your name and email address will not be released to any other organization (either for profit or nonprofit) without your permission.

To become a part of the VSA arts of Minnesota Arts Pipeline, simply send a message to us at info@vsaartsmn.org saying that you want to be added to the Arts Pipeline email list. Your request will be confirmed via email and you will begin receiving information almost immediately. Email or call the VSA arts of Minnesota office with any questions about the process.

One final thing. To ensure compatibility, all Arts Pipeline messages will be sent in simple ASCII format (text file) as part of the email message. No attachments will be used. This should allow all users to handle all of the messages. Let us know today if you would like to be added to the list.

VSA arts of Minnesota is again requesting nominations to recognize Minnesota artists, educators and arts organizations in the areas of accessibility to and awareness of people with disabilities. While nominations for the fourth annual Arts Access Awards were initially sought last fall, it was decided to extend the call and delay the presentation until July to coincide with celebrating the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Nominations will be considered in all areas that address exemplary achievement in the intersection of people with disabilities and the arts. Possible nomination categories include:

• Educator: Most Outstanding Arts Educator Working with Students with Disabilities;
• Minnesota Artist: Most Active & Visible Minnesota Artist with a Disability (includes all performance, visual arts and writing);
• Theater/Performance Group: Most Active Producing Group Involving People with Disabilities in Theater or Performance;
• Performing or Exhibiting Space: Most User-Friendly Performance or Exhibiting Space for People with Disabilities.

The 1996 and 1997 winners received the Jaehny, an ornamental mask designed by Minneapolis sculptor, Tara Arlene Innmon. The 1998 Jaehny was a clay statue created by Helene Oppenheimer. The Jaehny is named in honor of the organization's co-founder and former board member, Jaehn Clare.

Nominations may come from either an individual or an organization but not from the individual or arts organization being nominated. All nominees will receive a certificate to acknowledge their nomination. Award recipients will be chosen by the VSA arts of Minnesota Program Committee. All nominations received last fall will be considered with all new nominations.

Arts Access Awards nominations should be submitted typed, printed, via email, or on audio tape, not by telephone. Nominations, no longer than two pages (or five minutes on audiotape), should be postmarked by Friday, June 23. Include:

• Contact information about nominee and nominator (name, address, phone, etc.);
• Relationship of the nominee to the writer;
• Reasons why the nominee deserves to be recognized.

For more information, contact VSA arts of Minnesota.

Just as access to transportation, jobs, buildings and public services is important to people with disabilities, so is access to the arts - both attending arts performances and participating in the creation of art, music, dance, theatre.

The number of accessible theatre and dance performances has been growing, as well as the audiences for those services ñ thanks, in part, to a new Access to Theatre program being conducted by VSA arts of Minnesota and several collaborating organizations.

Funding from United Arts and VSA arts has made it possible for theatre and dance companies to receive help in paying for American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters and for Audio Describers, as well as ticket subsidies for audience members using those services at selected performances. Publicity for these events has also increased and can be found on:

• Minnesota Association of Community Theatre web site (www.mact.net);
• Vision Loss Resources web site (www.visionlossresources.com);
• MACT Hotline, box 4: Phone: (612) 521-5692 or (800) 290-2428;
• flyers at information booths in City Center, Gaviidae Common, Hennepin Center for the Arts, Minneapolis; Landmark Center, Minnesota State Arts Board, St. Paul;
• KFAI-FM Radio (Fresh Air), Tuesdays 7:30 p.m. "Disabled and Proud, It's Not an Oxymoron," 90.3 Minneapolis, 106.7 Saint Paul.

People with access to e-mail can receive monthly Access to Theatre listings, including theatre name, phone number; play title; performance venue, city, location, date and time; name of audio describer or ASL interpreter, and notes when reduced price tickets or sensory tours are available. To request this Access to Theatre list-serv (either ASL listings for deaf or hard of hearing people, Audio Described listings for people who are blind or of low vision, or a combined ASL/AD list of accessible performances around Minnesota, send an e-mail to info@vsaartsmn.org or call VSA arts of Minnesota at (612) 332-3888 (voice/TTY) or (in greater Minnesota) (800) 801-3883.

Funding from the Dayton Hudson Foundation (newly renamed the Target Foundation) is supporting expansion of Access to Theatre publicity and coordinating efforts, as well as research into ways that arts accessibility can continue to be improved (through surveys and meetings of audience members, interpreters, describers and theatres), and some additional trainings of describers and interpreters.

For more information on how theatre or dance organizations in your area can participate in offering more accessible performances, contact VSA arts of Minnesota for any of the following: Access to Theatre Project Information and Forms, Surveys (for theatres, individuals who are blind, individuals who are deaf, ASL interpreters, Audio Describers, media), Guides for Interpreted Performances, lists of Audio Describers and ASL Interpreters, Ticket Pricing Guidelines, or the monthly e-mail list-serv of accessible performances. Comments and suggestions are also appreciated by mail, e-mail or at meetings being held in February.

Collaborating with VSA arts of Minnesota on this project are the Guthrie Theater, Minnesota Association of Community Theatres and DOORWAYS.

Seven playwrights with disabilities have participated in Playwright Discovery activities through VSA arts of Minnesota and the Playwrightsí Center, located in Minneapolis. Six students received funding to attend playwriting classes taught by Jaime Meyer in November and December. They were Carol Hough, Eric Peterson and James Livingston of Minneapolis, J M (Joy) Shephard of Bloomington, Nicole Roberts of Burnsville and Julie Zallek of St. Peter. Four playwrights will work with dramaturgs to further hone their work: Carol Hough, James Livingston, Julie Zallek, and Deb Salstrom of St. Paul. One playwright, Carol Hough, will have a play read at the Playwrightsí Center, 2301 Franklin Ave. E., on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 6:00 p.m.

VSA arts will also sponsor a free public reading of plays by Hough and other playwrights on Saturday, April 1 at 2:00 p.m. at the Acadia CafÈ Performance Space, Franklin & Nicollet avenues in Minneapolis.

In addition, a forum for writers with disabilities will be scheduled in the spring as an opportunity to share work and meet other writers who may have similar skills, interests and life experiences. A moderator and refreshments will be provided. To receive more information about this event, please contact VSA arts of Minnesota.

The deadline for plays about disabilities to be entered in the national VSA arts Playwright Discovery competition is May 1, 2000. Details will be available on the national and state web sites, info@vsaartsmn.org or http://mn.vsarts.org, or by calling the VSA arts of Minnesota office.

Six Minnesota artists with disabilities have been awarded grants for their artistic efforts and activities by VSA arts of Minnesota. The fourth annual Artist Recognition Program presented the six $750 awards through funding from the Jerome Foundation of St. Paul. The grant recipients were chosen based on the overall quality of their work and their on-going dedication and practice of their art. The selected grantees include:

• Dennis Behr, Minneapolis, Visual Arts: Pastel, Pencil & Conte Crayon;
• J. D. Carlson Grand Rapids Writing: Short Stories;
• Mary Degen Minneapolis Visual arts: Construction & Photography;
• Jane Gerus St. Paul Visual Arts: Painting, Acrylics;
• Mary Carol Peterson Pelican Rapids Visual Arts: Pastels;
• Carei Thomas Minneapolis Music Performance: Composition.

The grants were awarded following a jurying process conducted by individuals with extensive backgrounds in the written, visual and performing arts. This yearís panelists included:

• Tom Borrup, Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis;
• Cora Culbert, Range Center, Chisholm;
• Dave Glenn, Minnesota Craft Council, Minneapolis/Saint Cloud;
• Renato Lombardi, Saint Paul visual arts educator;
• Elaine Shelly, Minneapolis performance artist/writer;
  Pat Young, Mental Health Association of Minneapolis.

It is expected that a call for entries for the 2000 Artist Recognition Grant program will be announced in late August of this year. Watch the VSA arts of Minnesota website and future newsletters for that information.

Anne Jack Memorial Fund: Carol Earle, Fran Eberlein.

James Dunn Memorial Fund: Elizabeth Gulick, Kathy Klein.

Supporters: Bruce Abas, Hinda Abrahamson, Shirley Adamczyk, John & Barb Armour, Jack Becker, LaDelle R. Berkowitz, Elizabeth R. Blood, Perrin Boyd, Gene Chelberg, Elizabeth Colvin, Barbara Davis, Margaret Dawson, Robert Dykstra, Audrey Lee Falk, Thomas Fetsch, Peter D. Freeman, Denise Fries, Jim Giel, Debra Glassman, Paul Haack, Hilree Hamilton, Katie Knips Ladas, Candace LaFontaine, Ann Lohn, Phil Losacker & Kirby Bennett, Rose McKee, Linda Mindel, Gretchen Musicant, Scott Nelson, Donna Norberg, Steven Oates, Chris Osgood, Sally Ratke, Stephanie Schwartz & James Kelly, Patrick Scully, Charlie Smith, Marti Starr, Steve Tanner, Dan Timlin, Thomas J. Triplett, Ann Wasserman, Tom & Kathy Weber, ìRedî Wells, Beth Wright, Pat Young.

Sponsors: Access Press, Mary Altman, Russell Belk (Museum Services), Gregory Bitz, Diane Blake, Rachelle Cooper, Stephanie Cunningham, Taras & Mary Dykstra, Marvin & Rosemary Fish, Sherri & Wayne Fuller, Pierre Girard, Graffiti Sign & Design, Barbara & Warren Hove, Dodie Kostishack, Phill Lindsay, Rep. Darlene Luther, James R. McLaughlin, Sharon McLaughlin, Metro Regional Arts Council, Eric Peterson, Mr. & Mrs. Norman Peterson, Steven Schmidt, Jon Skaalen, John Stanoch.

Advocates: Chris Duff, Craig Dunn & Candy Hart, Clete Fleming, Ida Fried, Martha Hage, Pam & Jim Hall, Dolores Hart, Sue Lasoff, Merle W. Loppnow, Mental Health Association of Minnesota, William P. Muchow, Eileen A. Pinto, Larry Redmond, Kit & Dick Schmoker, Mary Vavra-Gibis & Chuck Gibis.

Benefactors: Boeckermann, Heinen & Mayer, Courage Center, Jade Foundation, Minnesota Department of Children, Families & Learning, United Arts.

Major Benefactors: McKnight Foundation, Minnesota State Arts Board, VSA arts (Washington, D.C.).

"KEEP ART ALIVE FOR ALL" is a pretty good battle cry for a member of the VSA arts of Minnesota Board. And it is one of the goals of Susan Lasoff, Minneapolis.

A native of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Sue works as an Accessibility Specialist with Disability Services at the University of Minnesota. Her vocation has included occupational therapy, vocational rehabilitation and architectural drafting.

Sue joined the VSA arts of Minnesota board of directors three years ago because of her interest in art and her involvement in disability and access issues. (In her family of seven, she has a brother who is developmentally disabled, and several family members suffer from depression. She also volunteers for the Minnesota AIDS Project, Open Arms of Minnesota, the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities, and St. Stephens Church.) She currently serves as board treasurer and is a member of the Executive and Administration committees.

Since Sue believes ìart is so important in life,î and she especially enjoys black-and-white photography and classical music, she is eagerly anticipating the ìArt of the Eyeî exhibit coming to St. Cloud, Minnesota in March and April. (Weíre sorry we canít bring in Ithzak Perlman or Yo Yo Ma to play for you, SueÖ. Take a rain check?).

I noticed an article in the business section of the Star Tribune the other day on how the Internet is becoming a new way to donate to your favorite charity. One thing that caught my eye was how some of the various sites forward donations on to designated charities with many sites keeping a percentages for themselves. It made me think that all this is really doing is bringing telemarketing activities to the Internet. In both cases, the charity has a certain amount given to it by an individual but that full amount does not make it to the organization; some of it stays behind with the fundraiser.

I wanted to let you know that all donations that come to VSA arts of Minnesota are received in full. We employ no telemarketers or Web solicitors. We even decided this past month not to accept credit card donations because the process would cost just short of $500 each year. Right now, that is too expensive for us. We will continue to do two fundraising mailings each year and will continue to print the donation form in each of our newsletters. We hope that if you are so inclined, you take the opportunity to make a donation this year knowing that the entire amount will assist us in providing our on-going programs and services.

Craig Dunn.