WELCOME!
Arts for Learning Connecticut
is an Affiliate of VSA – The International Organization on Arts and Disability
October is National Disability Month
- Schedule an Artist for your School or Community Center
- Design a book discussion on a book concerning persons with disability
- Buy a piece of artwork for your collection
- Donate Now to make the arts happen across Connecticut for students and adults with disabilities
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Statewide Arts & Abilities Forum
Coming Soon……
University of Saint Joseph
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News and Opportunities
The Artist Services Team at VSA & Accessibility
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
202-416-8898 vsainfo@kennedy-center.org
ART in Embassies Program
Deadline: Ongoing
Established by the United States Department of State in 1964, the ART In Embassies Program is a global museum that exhibits original works of art by U.S. citizens in the public rooms of approximately 180 American diplomatic residences worldwide. Information regarding artwork submission is on the website.
Be an Artist-in-Residence at the National Park Service
Deadline: Ongoing
There are programs for visual artists, writers, musicians and other creative media. Programs vary, but residencies are typically 2-4 weeks in length and most include lodging. Often artists are invited to participate in park programs by sharing their art with the public. Each park in this directory has its own application process and timeline so visit the park’s website for further information.
DC Photo Grid
Deadline: Ongoing
The DC Photo Grid is an aggregated map of the city generated from user-submitted photographs, and the DC Crowd-Sourced Video Project offers a constantly looping portrait of the city as viewed by its inhabitants. For more information, please visit the website.
National Music Centre Residency
Deadline: Ongoing
The National Music Centre’s Artist-in-Residence program is designed to feed and nurture artistic creativity and technical innovation by providing artists at various levels of professional development with uninterrupted time and space, and the use of our unique collection and expertise, to create new and innovative works in a unique and supportive world class facility.
Ann Arbor Film Festival
Official Deadline: October 7, 2013
Late Deadline: November 7, 2013
The Ann Arbor Film Festival is the longest-running independent and experimental film festival in North America, established in 1963. Internationally recognized as a premiere forum for independent filmmakers and artists, each year’s festival engages audiences with remarkable cinematic experiences. The AAFF provides at least $20,000 in cash and film stock/services to more than 20 filmmakers, serves as a qualifying festival for Academy Award® nomination in the short film category and provides touring opportunities for select filmmakers.
The World Competition
Deadlines: Classical – October, Jazz - November, Contemporary – December
Unlike standard location-based competitions, The World Competition is run entirely online – from the submission of video performances through two rounds of judging and a third ‘Finals’ round. A redefining musical opportunity for young and emerging musicians by running four competitions per year in each of three categories – Classical, Jazz and Contemporary music – with a prize pool of $120,000 annually!
Capital Fringe – Request for Proposals
Deadline: November 1, 2013
New for 2014, Capital Fringe is launching a Site-Specific category for their summer Festival. They will reserve 10 slots in the summer performance calendar for this type of work. For more information, please visit their website.
Montalto Sculpture Prize
Deadline: November 1, 2013
The Montalto Sculpture Prize of $30,000 is an acquisitive award open to all artists in working in any medium. For more information, please visit their website.
2014 TME Composers’ and Young Composers’ Competitions
Postmark Deadline: November 1, 2013
The Third Millennium Ensemble is pleased to announce its 2014 Competition for Composers. The Third Millennium Ensemble offers performances that reflect the energy and diversity of American music and strives to represent a wide cross-section of composers. The winners in all categories will be selected by a panel of composers with input from the ensemble. All entries will be considered for performance. Compositions for any combination of flute, clarinet, trumpet, violin (up to 2 players) viola, cello, piano, percussion (1 player), guitar, harp and soprano, mezzo or baritone voice will be considered. Once pieces have been passed on to the ensemble for final consideration, parts may be requested. Instruments in listed “families” are eligible (e.g. piccolo or bass clarinet).
New Fellowships from VMFA
Deadline: November 8, 2013
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is now accepting applications for 2014-15 Visual Arts Fellowships! Fellowships include $8,000 stipends to professional artists, $6,000 for graduate students in the visual arts or art history, and $4,000 allotted to undergraduate students in the visual arts (including college-bound high school seniors). For more information please visit their website.
National Association of Teachers of Singing Artists Award (NATSAA)
Deadline: November 15, 2013
The biennial NATS Artist Award (NATSAA) competition is designed to assist singers prepared to launch a professional career and, to that end, substantial monetary and performance prizes are offered.
VSA International Young Soloists Competition
Deadline: January 27, 2014
The VSA International Young Soloists Competition annually selects up to four outstanding musicians from the United States and the international arena, and supports and encourages them in their pursuit of a career. These emerging musicians receive $2,500, professional development opportunities, and a performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Washington International Competition for Piano
Deadline: March 7, 2014
Through the authority of its judges, high musical standards, and the quality of young performers attracted, the Washington International Competitions offer a significant opportunity for young artists to step upward from the ranks of talented students to recognition as professionals. The first-prize winner will have a solo performance with the FMMC Avanti Orchestra in the Terrace Theatre of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. The winner will also have a solo recital at the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC.
Unsigned Only Music Competition
Deadline: March 13, 2014
Unsigned Only is a unique music competition designed for solo artists, bands, and singers all over the world who are not signed to a major label record company or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or imprints. The Grand Prize Winner will be awarded $10,000 in cash (plus additional prizes) and one-on-one mentoring by an elite group of record company executives. First Place and Second Place winners will also be selected in each category. First Place winners in each category will receive $1,000 in addition to other prizes. Second Place winners will also receive prizes. All prizes are listed on the Prize page. For more information please visit the contest webpage.
VSA Playwright Discovery Competition
Deadline: April 28, 2014
Middle and high school students are invited to explore the disability experience–-in their own life, the lives of others, or by creating fictional characters–-through the art of scriptwriting. Young writers with and without disabilities are encouraged to submit a one-act script for stage or screen. Entries may be the work of an individual student or a collaboration by a group of up to five students.
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ARTS ACCESS RESIDENCIES 2012-2013
Residencies took place at the following sites: 
Village School in North Haven
ACES HS in Hamden
Hickory School in Norwich
CREC Soundbridge Schools in Wethersfield
IPPI Schools in Stratford
Teaching Artists and Programs Included:
Virginia Anderson-Visual Art and Music
Brian Gillie-Dance
Deirdra Murtha-Music & Movement
Craig Norton-Photography
Bob Bloom Drumming
Sally Rogers-Songwriting 
Mike Kachuba-Music
