VSA presents a variety of programs that enable people of all ages and all abilities to more fully participate in the arts. Most of these opportunities are made possible through the generous support of sponsors who donate money and resources needed to facilitate and present the various programs in addition to countless hours of volunteer time to help plan and conduct these programs. Our sponsors are truly appreciated by all who benefit from their support and VSA gratefully acknowledges and thanks those who give so generously.

Thanks to Midwest Airlines, who provides the travel for staff to attend the VSA arts national meetings.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for a variety programs at the local and statewide level. Programs include Artist Residencies, Choirs, VSA Day, the VSA Art Center and many more. If you or your company would like to learn more about becoming a VSA sponsor, please call 608-241-2131.

Adult Art Collection | Children's Art Collection | Artist Residencies | Choirs | Newsletter | Outreach (Collected Thoughts Collaborative Murals, Stories in Art | VSA Art Center | Early Childhood Program | VSA Day | Steve Stricker Golf Event

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Adult Art Collection - The VSA Adult Art Collection showcases the artistic talents of Wisconsin adults with disabilities. Following an annual statewide Call for Art, artists may submit their work for review by art professionals who look for originality, creativity and skill. Five entries are selected to be added to VSA's Traveling Adult Art Exhibit and the artists are honored at an Awards Ceremony. Corporations, libraries, museums and galleries throughout the state host the collection. Sponsors are acknowledged throughout the Call for Art and jurying process. Sponsor names are displayed at exhibit sites throughout the state, and are recognized at the Awards Ceremony.
This program was made possible in FY'08 in part through funding provided by:
Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission
Insty-Prints
Wausau Insurance
Central office of VSA arts, under an award from the U.S. Department of Education.
Sponsorship opportunities still exist.

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Community Artist Residencies

Madison Art Center sponsors:

ArtSparks - Open to children and adults with and without disabilities, ArtSparks are one-day arts sessions designed to engage participants in exploring one or more art disciplines. Conducted by VSA teaching artists, ArtSparks involve interactive, hands-on activities and are typically 1½ or three hours in length.
Sponsorship opportunities exist for ArtSparks programs.

Early Childhood Programs - VSA arts of Wisconsin's nationally recognized Early Childhood Program, which serves children from birth to age 6, provides arts programming at early childhood sites across the state. Our programs focus on working with teachers whose classrooms have children with disabilities or serve a high at-risk population.

• Major support for VSA's statewide Early Childhood initiative has been provided by the Shopko Foundation and the central office of VSA arts, under an award from the U.S. Department of Education.
• Local sponsors for FY'08 include:
  • Burmester Charitable Trust (Janesville)
  • Council for the Spanish Speaking (Janesville)
  • Dorothy Ashcraft Charitable Trust (Janesville)
  • Greater Milwaukee Foundation (Milwaukee)
  • Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Mary Nohl Fund (Milwaukee)
  • Sub-Zero Foundation, Inc. (Madison)
  • Target (Green Bay, Janesville, Madison, Milwaukee, Stevens Point

Sponsorship opportunities still exist; please contact VSA for more information.

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Newsletter - VSA arts of Wisconsin's quarterly newsletter features programs, participants and volunteers from across the state. It is made possible in part through funding provided by the central office of VSA arts, under an award from the U.S. Department of Education. Additional support has been provided by:

Advertisers Press
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Outreach - Collected Thoughts Collaborative Murals | Stories in Art

VSA arts of Wisconsin offers Outreach programs throughout the state. VSA's Outreach programs are designed to broaden and expand involvement of groups and audiences in VSA programs. Typically, outreach programs are short-term initiatives that involve more than one session with a VSA artist. Outreach initiatives can be in any art medium, including visual art, movement, music, drama and creative writing.

Collected Thoughts Collaborative Murals - VSA is offering a unique opportunity for individuals with and without disabilities to create a collaborative mural in Collected Thoughts Collaborative Murals, a first-of-its-kind initiative.

• Apple Family Foundation
• Kikkoman Foods Foundation
• Liberty Mutual Foundation
• Loehrke Family Charitable Foundation
• Northwestern Mutual Foundation
• Stackner Family Foundation
• VSA arts, under an award from the U.S. Department of Education
• Wisconsin Arts Board, with funds from the State of Wisconsin

 

Stories in Art - The eight-hour program will involve as many as 50 students (36 with disabilities) and their teachers in an in-depth exploration into fiber art. Students will work with a VSA teaching artist to create a fiber arts piece of artwork depicting their personal stories and interests, enhancing their artistic skills and encouraging their creativity and pride in their work. All the pieces created by each participant will be quilted together into finished panels that will be on public exhibit in the Wausau area at the conclusion of the program.

Support for this program has been provided by CESA 2 through a discretionary grant from the Department of Public Instruction, the George Kress Foundation, Judd S. Alexander Foundation, Thomas Jacob Foundation, Wausau Paper Foundation, VSA arts, under an award from the U.S. Department of Education and through the Community Arts Grant program of the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, with funds provided by the Wisconsin Arts Board, a state agency, the Community Foundation, and the B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation.

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VSA Day at Camp Randall - Each year, hundreds of VSA Choir and Marching Band members gather to perform at a University of Wisconsin football game. Choir members sign the National Anthem in American Sign Language and Marching Band members perform alongside the UW Marching Band at halftime. VSA Day sponsors are acknowledged in publicity leading up to the event and sponsor logos are displayed on sweatshirts (pictured) worn by all participants and volunteers (approximately 350 in all). In addition, sponsors are acknowledged and thanked at various points throughout the game and at halftime on the Camp Randall video screens and message boards, and are acknowledged by the PA announcer. VSA also places a half-page ad in the next day's Wisconsin State Journal, thanking all sponsors and volunteers for their support.

2007 VSA Day sponsors:

     

Additional support by University of Wisconsin Athletic Department, and Mike Leckrone and the UW Marching Band, with special thanks to Nick Motl ("Hey Beadman!"), Top Promotions, Whole Foods and the Wisconsin State Journal.

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Annual Golf Exhibition With Steve Stricker - For the 11th consecutive year, PGA golfer Steve Stricker will take a day out of his busy golf season to support the VSA Art Center with a golf exhibition and luncheon at Cherokee Country Club July 28. Steve plays nine holes with Major Event sponsor representatives; luncheon guests have the opportunity to follow along as part of the gallery and observe the PGA golfer in action. The event has raised nearly $450,000 to support the VSA Art Center from sponsorships and proceeds from donated silent auction items.


In addition to these statewide programs, sponsorship opportunities are also available on a local level for such programs as Artist Residencies, choirs, VSA Art Center and more. Please contact either VSA, for more information.

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