VSA, the international organization on arts and disability, was founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to provide arts and education opportunities for people with disabilities and increase access to the arts for all.

VSA is an international organization on arts, education and disability, which was founded in 1974 by former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith, and is headquartered in Washington, DC. [1][2][3] In 2011, VSA became the Department of VSA and Accessibility at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

VSA’s mission is to provide programs and activities that are centered on the principles that all individuals with disabilities deserve educational opportunities in the arts, access to cultural facilities and activities, and the ability to develop appropriate skills for careers in the arts.

VSA arts of Georgia provides access to the arts for people with disabilities and those with low income. We are a statewide resource working with artists and organizations to fulfill our vision of an inclusive community that encourages everyone to enjoy and participate in the arts.

In 1987, Very Special Arts Georgia (VSAG) was created as a subsidiary of Special Audiences, and became part of a national network of arts organizations dedicated to serving persons with disabilities.

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.

The Kennedy Center Access/VSA International Network provides community, education, and resources to creatives, educators, and arts leaders striving for the full inclusion of people in cultural arts and disability.

Founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, VSA offers numerous arts, education, and pre-professional opportunities for children young adults living with disabilities and it provides intensive professional learning opportunities for arts teachers, teaching artists, and special educators working with students with disabilities.

Ranging in age from 10 to 70 and home-residencies from California to Delaware, these VSA arts artists share their stories and passion for the arts. Each story offers readers a unique perspective of how the transformational power of the arts play a …

Founded in 1974 by Jean Kennedy Smith as an affiliate of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, VSA arts is an International organization that creates learning opportunities through the arts for people with disabilities.