Arts and disabilities conversation set

The staff of VSA Minnesota - the state organization on arts and disability - invites the public to join the conversation on how people with disabilities engage with the arts community in Staples and the surrounding area.

Craig Dunn and Jon Skaalen will be in Staples on Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Five Wings Arts Council office at 121 4th St. NE.

Dunn and Skaalen are interested in hearing from people with all types of disabilities:

o People who are blind or deaf,

o People who live with mental illness or a developmental disability or

o People who have physical disabilities or other disabilities brought on by medical conditions. 

They want to hear about:

o What you are doing in the arts? and

o What barriers you might be experiencing that are keeping you from doing what you would like in the arts?

They also want to hear from people who work in arts settings who have questions about how to serve people with disabilities more effectively through their arts presentation or program.

Skaalen will share information about and distribute applications for VSA Minnesota’s Emerging Artist Grant Program for artists with disabilities.  The program, with a deadline in early 2017, provides six grants of $2,000 for chosen artists to create new work in the coming year.  

Dunn will talk about plans for some new work looking to increase the participation of people with disabilities both as self-employed artists and as employees in organizational settings.

Two very important final notes:

o RSVP so they bring enough cookies.

o Even more importantly, anyone needing a sign language interpreter to participate in the gathering must let them know no later than end of day Thursday, Nov. 3, so arrangements can be made.

RSVP’s and requests for an interpreter should be sent to Craig Dunn at craig@vsamn.org or call 800-801-3883.