To ensure the arts are accessible to all—from children to older adults—we make Kennedy Center performances and facilities accessible to all audiences, and provide resources, programs, and opportunities for educators, cultural administrators, emerging and professional artists and performers with disabilities.
You'll find:
Learn about our upcoming events, programs, resources, and opportunities below.
Together we can be a catalyst for change.
The VSA International Network's mission is to connect and lead a vibrant network or organizations and individuals working towards the full inclusion and participation of people with disabilities of all ages in artistic and cultural endeavors.
Do you have what it takes? Are you interested in exciting and dynamic VSA programs?
This award annually recognizes outstanding emerging young musicians living with disabilities, ages 14 to 25, from around the world and nurtures their pre-professional career experiences.
High school students are invited to explore the disability experience through the art of writing for performance.
The VSA Emerging Young Artists Program, a Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program, recognizes and showcases the work of emerging young artists with disabilities, ages 16-25, who are residing in the United States. Each year, works by 15 emerging young artists with disabilities are selected to be showcased in an exhibition that tours nationally.
Established in 2000, the innovative Experiential Education Initiative (EEI) Internship is a semesterlong, paid internship for individuals with intellectual disabilities, 19 to 30 years of age, who are interested in careers in arts organizations.
èßäAVoffers numerous resources related to the Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD®) program, including tipsheets, books, videos, and webinars.
The VSA and Accessibility Department offers a large selection of publications, guides, and other resources dealing with a wide variety of subject matter in arts, education, and disabilities.
The Arts & Special Education Webinar archive is a free resource that supports arts learning for students with disabilities.
Every year the Kennedy Center's Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD®) conference brings experienced and new professionals together to explore practical methods for implementing accessibility in cultural environments. At LEAD® we share resources and knowledge, develop best practices, and experience accessibility in action.
The Vice President of Education is generously endowed by the
Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Bank of America; Capital One; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Ednah Root Foundation; Harman Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The Kiplinger Foundation; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; The Markow Totevy Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives;
Prince Charitable Trusts; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Jackie Washington; GRoW @ Annenberg and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family; Wells Fargo; and generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts..
The content of these programs may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government.
