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The Kennedy Center Office of VSA & Accessibility hosts multiple Creative Careers programs throughout the year, open to young and emerging artists! Access/VSA Creative Careers Programs In addition to the opportunities below, you can discover calls for art, auditions, residency applications, plus promote your organization's opportunity to a global audience in our members-only forum. Access/VSA Creative Careers Programs The Access/VSA International Network is proud to support young emerging artists with disabilities. Musicians, playwrights, and visual artists may apply to annual competitions. Multiple winners receive monetary awards and get the chance to be mentored by industry professionals, participate in professional development activities provided by the Kennedy Center, and showcase their work at a national level. Past Access/VSA program recipients have gone on to successful careers in music, theater, and the visual arts. We hope you, your students, and/or mentees will take advantage of these fabulous opportunities. Access/VSA Emerging Young Artists Program Artists with disabilities are invited to submit artwork that demonstrates excellence and their individual perspectives from the experience of disability. Artists must be ages 16-25 and reside in the United States. Applications for the 2026 program are now closed. Learn More Access/VSA International Young Musicians Program Calling all musicians with disabilities ages 14-25! The Access/VSA International Young Musicians program is open to U.S. and international soloists and ensembles of any genre or instrument, including voice. Applications for the 2026 program are due by Wednesday, January 7, 2026 . Learn More Apply Now Access/VSA Playwright Discovery Program Young writers with disabilities (generally, ages 14-22) enrolled in high school or high school equivalency are invited to submit a 'ten-minute script' on any topic. A panel of theater professionals selects division winners. Applications for the 2026 program are due by Wednesday, January 7, 2026 . Learn More Apply Now

Get quick access to our member-only links on the Access/VSA network site. Member Quick Links Members! Below are links to our most frequently visited pages within the members-only section of the website. Community Forums Calls for Papers and Pro posals Career Opportunities Funding Opp ortunities Artist Opport unities Performances and Exhibits Featuring Artists with Disabilities Other Links Search the Access/ VS A Network Me mber Directory Access/VSA Network Blog Curated Content Library Webinar Past Re cordings REMINDER: You will need to be a current member and logged into MemberClicks to access these pages. Have a question about your membership or need assistance resetting your password? Send us an email at vsainfo@kennedy-center.org and we will be happy to assist you!

Become a member of the Access/VSA International Network. Contact We would love to chat with you more about joining the Access/VSA International Network, how to make the most of your membership, or answer any questions your have! How to get in touch EMAIL Send us an email at vsainfo@kennedy-center.org . PHONE Call us Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET at 202-416-8898 . 1:1 VIDEO CHAT Email us at vsainfo@kennedy-center.org to schedule a one-on-one video chat with a member of our Access/VSA Network team. Let us know what you would like assistance with (technical support, membership schedules, how to get involved, etc.) and we will set up a time for you to meet with us!

Join us for the annual Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability Conference, hosted by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts! In 2024, the conference will take place July 29-Aug 2 in Seattle, WA. Conferences Connect with like-minded individuals from across the nation--and even the globe--to learn, network, and share ideas! Learn more about our annual LEAD Conference Every year we present virtual and in-person conferences bringing experienced and new professionals together to share resources and knowledge, develop best practices, and experience accessibility in action. Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD®) August 11-14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA The 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. Basic to Advanced: No matter what level of experience you have, there's always something to learn. The building blocks will give newcomers the tools and information they need to develop a successful accessibility program while the discussion groups and advanced track address accessibility for the most experienced. Facilities to Programs: Sessions and discussions will cover all aspects of accessibility from the built environment to programs and communication. Legal Obligations & Customer Service: Learn about relevant laws and regulations and explore accessibility from the customer service and business case perspectives. Networking: Engage in conversations with colleagues who are enthusiastic about accessibility and eager to share their insights and learn from others. Join the dialogue, share exciting ideas, and explore new and innovative ways to welcome everyone. Find out more, by visiting accesslead.org .

The Access/VSA International Network hosts webinars and other professional development opportunities throughout the year! Webinars Connect with experts across the field of arts, education, and disability from the comfort of your home or office. Access/VSA Network Webinars The Access/VSA International Network Webinar series provides ongoing professional development for special education and art educators, art administrators, cultural organizations, school districts, and artists with disabilities. These webinars address instructional practices, critical issues, exemplar programs, and emergent research, with time for live Q&A with presenters. Stay up to date on current issues and trends in your field. Develop cutting-edge strategies for promoting access and inclusion in cultural institutions and schools. As a member of the Access/VSA International Network, you can participate for free in live webinars that bring the knowledge of experts across the country right to your screen and access webinar recordings for a full year before they become a part of the public Access/VSA International Network webinar archive. The best part is that there’s no limit to how many you can register for, so make sure to take full advantage of this robust professional development resource! Closed captioning and ASL interpretation are both available for all webinars. For the most accessible viewing experience, we recommend watching the webinar on a desktop computer or laptop screen. For more information or to request other access services, please contact the Office of Accessibility and VSA at (202) 416-8898 (voice) or vsainfo@kennedy-center.org . Webinars and recordings are $15 for non-members, unless otherwise noted. View Upcoming Webinars on our Events Calendar View Upcoming Webinars in our Events List Available Webinar Recordings 2025-20 26 Season Is Your Job Posting Pushing People Away? (1/27/26) - Details and registration Arts & Education: Sensing Success: Inclusive Strategies Borrowed from the Music Classroom (12/10/25) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Restorative Arts: Building Neuro-Inclusive Communities through Creative Practice (11/19/25) - Details and Registration LEAD Lightning Talk: Accessible Restrooms in 10 Minutes or Less (11/13/25) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Universal Design for Learning: Moving from Accessibility to Empowerment (10/29/25) - Details and Registration The Act of Accessibility Intelligence: Creativity, Mindset, and Institutional Impact (10/7/25) - Details 2024-20 25 Season Access Unlocked: How AI is Empowering Independent Exploration of Museums and Public Spaces (9/10/25) - Details and Registration Lightning Talk: From Access to Aging: 5 Strategies for Building or Expanding a Creative Aging Program (5/20/25) - Details and Registration The REAL POWERTM Shift: Redefining Leadership for Today's Cultural Changemakers (5/6/2025, FREE) - Details Arts & Education: Curricular Renovations (4/9/2025) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Collaborate to Create: Supporting Youth with Disabilities in Developing Collaboration, Problem-Solving, and Art Skills by Simulating the Music Album Production Process (3/26/25) - Details and Registration Making Inclusive Museums Now (3/18/25) - Details and Registration Lightning Talk: Updates to the Latest Version of the UDL Guidelines and How There Changes Impact Arts Instruction (2/4/25) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Variations and Translations: Building Access-Centered Theatre Games (1/29/25) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Diversity in Neurodiversity: Access and Inclusion in the Arts (12/11/2024) - Details and Registration LEAD Lightning Talk: New Accessibility Self-Assessment Tool for Arts and Culture Organizations (11/19/2024) - Details and Registration LEAD Lightning Talk: Access in the Outdoors- Simple Solutions for Reducing Barriers in Outdoor Events/Education (10/24/24) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Using Improv Theater Games to Strengthen Academic and Social-Emotional Skills for Students with Disabilities (10/23/24) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Universal Design for Learning in the Arts: A Framework for Inclusion (9/23/24) - Details and Registration LEAD Lightning Talk: Service Animals and Cultural Organizations: Navigating Equal Opportunity in Employment (9/10/24) - Details and Registration 2023-20 24 Season LEAD Lightning Talk: Using An Accessibility Page To Attract People With Disabilities (6/5/24) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: The Power Of The Arts: Teaching Students With Language-Based Learning Differences Through The Visual Arts (5/16/24) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Cultivating Supportive Arts Learning Spaces Through A Trauma-Informed Approach (4/24/24) - Details and Registration Lightning Talk: Cultural Competency In Audio Description And Alt Text (3/20/24) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Crip Movement Lab - Centering Disability in the K-12 Classroom (3/13/24) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Art and Science to Enhance Social Competence for Students with Autism (1/24/24) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Using the Arts to Accelerate Social-Emotional Learning (12/13/23) - Details and Registration LEAD 2024: Tips for Proposals (11/15/23) - Learn More or View (FREE) Arts & Education: Music For All, Engaging All Learners in the Accessible Music Classroom (11/16/23) - Details and Registration From Checklist to Culture Shift: Crafting an Anti-Ableism Training (11/8/23) - Details and Registration Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities: An Expert Panel (10/25/23) - Learn More or View (FREE) Arts & Education: Intersections and Bridges: Arts Integration Strategies to Support Gifted and Talented Learners" with Laura Schulkind (10/25/23) - Details and Registration How to Find Gold in Our Community Forums (10/19/23) - Learn More or View (FREE) Tools for Thinking: Design Questions as a Collaborative Planning Tool (10/11/23) - Details and Registration 2022 -2 0 23 Season Arts & Education: Disability Theories in Music Education with Rachel Grimsby (9/27/23) - Details and Registration Arts & Education with Dr. Alicia Barksdale - In My Own Voice: Music Therapy in Special Education (7/26/23) - Details and Registration Arts & Education with Lindsey Vance: Unlocking Healing Through Therapeutic Arts: Cultivating a Nurturing and Empowering Classroom Environment (6/21/23) - Details and Registration A Conversation About Alt Text (6/14/23) - Details and Registration Arts & Education with Ryan Hourigan- Reaching Students with Autism Through the Arts: Implications for Inclusive Arts Classrooms (5/24/23) - Details and Registration Using Popular Music to Teach Social and Emotional Learning (4/26/23) - Details and Registration Disability Justice in the Arts (4/12/23) - Details and Registration Disability & Classical Music Today (4/3/23) - Learn More or View (FREE) Arts & Education: Trauma-Informed Pedagogy in Music Education (3/22/23) - Details and Registration Documenting Your Work (3/13/23) - Details and Registration Ask an Expert: LEAD Listserv Live! (3/8/23) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Promoting Positive Climates for Learning with Dr. Kareem Thompson (2/22/23) - Details and Registration Accessibility and Neurodiversity (2/8/23) - Details and Registration Make the Most of Your Membership (1/31/23) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Art through an Equity Lens: An Experience with Folami Prescott-Adams, Ph.D. (1/25/23) - Details and Registration Accessibility and Inclusion for Festival Settings (1/11/23) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Mentoring: Empowering the Community Through Connection (12/14/22) - Details and Registration Tax Considerations for Artists in the Gig Economy (12/12/22) - Details and Registration AccessLEAD: Tips for Proposal Writing (11/14/22) - Learn More or View (FREE) Arts & Education: Engaging with the Trauma Survival Guide (11/16/22) - Details and Registration Tips for Writing a VSA Program Site Proposal 2022-2023 (11/10/22) - Learn More or View (FREE) House WERK: When Employees have Respect and Knowledge (11/2/22) - Details and Registration ADA Basics (10/26/22) - Details and Registration Understanding and Advocating for your Artwork (10/24/22) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Inclusivity with Intention (10/19/22) - Details and Registration LEAD Snapshot: Lightning Talks - Originally presented at the 2022 LEAD Conference in Raleigh (9/10/22) - Details and Registration 2021 -2 0 2 2 Season Membership Benefits & Website Tour (8/24/22) - Learn More or View (FREE) Hybrid Sessions from the LEAD Conference 2022 - a curated series of session from the conference - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Promoting Inclusion Through Accessible Social Media (7/13/22) - Details and Registration AccessLEAD: Creating Accessible Handouts (6/8/22 & 6/28/22) - Details and Registration Encourage Self-Awareness and Self-Confidence in Special Education Classrooms Through the Arts (6/22/22) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Deaf Culture & Etiquette for Hearing Professionals in the Classroom (5/25/22) - Details and Registration Intersectionality and Cultural Access: What Should Cultural Arts Organizations be Thinking About? (5/12/22) - Learn More or View (FREE Making Benefits Work for You (5/1/22) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Exploring the Rhythms of the Latin World (4/13/22) April 13, 2022 - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Making Dances that Matter, Part 1 & 2: Ask, Listen, Move! (3/9/22 & 3/23/22) - Details and Registration AccessLEAD: Thinking About and Supporting People with Long-Haul COVID-19 (3/10/22) - Learn More or View (FREE) Arts & Education: Oh, How Dramatic: Using Drama in Multiple Settings to Teach Curriculum and Meet IEP Goals (2/23/22) - Details and Registration Arts & Education: Dancing Wheels, Certification Level I: Outcomes and Advantages (1/26/22) - Details and Registration AccessLEAD: Tips for Proposal Writing (11/18/21) - Learn More or View (FREE) Making Musical Connections: String Orchestra for Special Learners (11/3/21) - Details and Registration Collaborative and Accessible Arts Education for Deaf Disabled students: Envisioning, Creating and Adapting for Pre- and Post-Pandemic Programming (10/8/21) - Details and Registration Supporting Youth with Disabilities in Preparing for Creative Careers (9/8/21) - Details and Registration 2020 -2 0 2 1 Season High Support N eed Students in the Zoom Music Classroom (8/11/21) - Details and Registration 5 Ways to Enhance Student Learning through Inclusive Musical Theater (7/28/21) - Details and Registration Movements to Move the Marginalized from the Margins (6/25/21) - Details and Registration Intersectionality and Participation in Music Education: Strategizing to Increase Equity and Access (6/9/21) - Details and Registration Improv as a UDL Strategy to Increase Accessibility in High School Writing Instruction (5/5/21) - Details and Registration Together while Apart: The Creative Doodle Book and Inclusive Online Arts during Covid-19 (4/28/21) - Details and Registration Universal Design in Music Education: Perspectives on Deaf Music Making (4/7/21) - Details and Registration Exploring Fiber Art: Kandinsky Study in Wool (3/24/21) - Details and Registration The Hunter Heartbeat: An Exploration of Shakespeare’s Relationship to Autism (3/10/21) - Details and Registration Addressing Student Trauma through Mindful Art Practices during COVID: Lessons from New Orleans (2/24/21) - Details and Registration An Overview of Special Education Rights in Public Schools (2/10/21) - Details and Registration A First Step to Facilitate the Engagement of Individuals with Severe Disabilities in the Arts (1/27/21) - Details and Registration Previous Webinar Recordings MEMBERS receive full access for FREE to recordings and transcripts for every Access/VSA International Network Webinar. NON-MEMBERS can register to access recordings of select webinars for $15 per webinar (unless otherwise stated). Member Login for FREE Webinar Recordings

Search job opportunities on our Access/VSA International Network job opportunities page! Job Opportunities To drive arts access forward, we must exchange ideas and information: to highlight issues, propose solutions, and replicate successes. Job Opportunities Network Job Boards The largest number of arts access jobs come from our members. Spread across the globe, from organizations big and small, in multiple arts genres, educational environments, and cultural settings, these job postings are only available to members. Members are also encouraged to post jobs. Members can click her e to see the network job boards . Kennedy Center Careers & Internships Browse listings for Careers and internships at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC – Open to members and non-members, these jobs may or may not be connected to accessibility. Contracts with the Accessibility and VSA Office On occasion, the John F. Kennedy C enter for the Performing Arts Office of Accessibility and VSA seeks independent contractors for accessibility- or disability-related work. Currently open is a Request for Proposals for Digital Services: Website Design & Maintenance, Social Media Management, and Content/Resource Development . Access/VSA is soliciting proposals from qualified contractors to provide comprehensive digital services—including website design and development, ongoing website maintenance, social media management, and content/resource production to strengthen the digital presence of the Access/VSA Employer Community of Practice, Access/VSA International Network, and various creative career initiatives. Please review the RFP for full details. Proposals must be submitted to bsiegel@kennedy-center.org by December 1, 2025.

Are you interested in providing exciting and dynamic VSA programs at your cultural institution? Access/VSA Creative Career Internship Program Ready to make a difference? Join us in offering Access/VSA internships in creative careers, empowering individuals with disabilities in your community. Request for Contract Proposals The Office of Accessibility and VSA seeks contractors to provide Access/VSA Creative Career Internship Program career development opportunities in creative industries, arts management or administration, design, production, or technical theatre for individuals with disabilities, ages 21-30. The program provides community-based internships that are designed to have immediate competitive integrated employment outcomes and lead to ongoing employment in a creative career. Program participants receive instruction and hands-on employment in which they develop critical 21st century business skills and knowledge needed for success in the creative career workforce, acquire real world experience working with actual employers, and have the opportunity to interact with peers and professionals in an employment setting. Organizations and companies are invited to submit proposals to implement the Access/VSA Creative Career Program. Please review the following Request for Contract Proposals to apply: RFP Access/VSA Creative Career Internship Program Proposal Submission Deadline: November 7, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET Notification: Selected recipients will be notified by December 8, 2025 Program Implementation Period: January 1 - August 31, 2026 Eligible and qualified organizations and companies are required to sub mit contract proposals online by the deadline to be considered for this program. A Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program. The content of this program was developed under grant H421F240164 from the U.S. Department of Education (Department). The Department does not mandate or prescribe practices, models, or other activities described or discussed in this program. The content of this program may contain examples of, adaptations of, and links to resources created and maintained by another public or private organization. The Department does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. The content of this program does not necessarily represent the policy of the Department. This program is not intended to represent the views or policy of or be an endorsement of any views expressed or materials provided by any Federal agency (EDGAR 75.620).

Access to the virtual sessions from the Kennedy Center 2023 LEAD Conference. 2023 LEAD Conference Hybrid Sessions Stay tuned for the 2024 LEAD Hybrid Series recordings. We are diligently working on getting them edits and captioned! Recorded August 29-31, 2023 as part of the Kennedy Center's 2023 Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) conference. For more information about LEAD, visit kennedy-center.org/lead . Access to the 2023 LEAD Hybrid Session is an exclusive benefit of the Access/VSA Network. Membership starts at just $30 a year and includes access to professional development webinars, conference discount, networking opportunities, and more! Learn about becoming a member today. Member Log In for FREE access to recordings LEAD 2023 Awards Everyone can view the 2023 LEAD Awards ceremonies by visiting the following links: Wednesday, August 30 Ceremony: Award for Emerging Leaders: Gustavo Padrino and Cultural Voice of North Carolina, Inc. Community Asset Awards: Fred Beam and Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo Thursday, August 31 Ceremony: Award for Emerging Leaders: Ross Edelstein and Francisco echo Eraso Community Asset Awards: Dan Ellison and Britt Sutton LEAD 2023 Hybrid Sessions Welcome to LEAD 2023 & Keynote with Kerry M. Thompson Kerry M. Thompson is the Executive Director for Silent Rhythms, Inc., which she founded in 2008 with the mission to creating inclusion in the arts for people of all abilities. She is a renowned dance instructor and has performed worldwide including in Paris and Havana. In addition, she is a global human rights activist driven by her own struggles as a person with Deafblindness. She co-created Text4Deaf, a communication tool to bridge the communication gap between the Deaf and Hearing communities in healthcare. Since 2008, she has worked to advance human rights in the Global South as part of her work with the Disability Rights Fund setting up best practices in grantmaking, communications, programs, operations, and analytics. She completed a master’s degree in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University with a focus on international law and human rights. Why Can't I Say That? On Semantics, Circumstance, and Disability Justice Language matters and has a direct impact on welcoming and centering disabled people. People First Language or Identity First? Who can use “crip”? Join a group of disabled cultural access workers to discuss and share best practices on how to consider and understand the ever shifting landscape of language, so that our personal and organizational choices demonstrate awareness and respect. Presenters: Rachel Arfa, Commissioner, City of Chicago Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities Robin Marquis, Cultural Access and Inclusion Specialist, Prime Access Consulting Ayla Dumont Funding at the Intersection of the Arts and Accessibility What are key considerations related to accessibility in arts funding? Join Michael Bobbitt, Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council, Michael Greer, President and CEO of ArtsFund, and Kerry Thompson, Senior Advisor, Inclusion & Accessibility for Disability Rights Fund, and the Executive Director of Silent Rhythms. The panel will share information and perspectives to prompt discussion and questions. Presenters: Michael Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council Michael Greer, President & CEO, ArtsFund Kerry Thompson, Executive Director, Silent Rhythms, Inc. Accessible Social Media This session covers the core concepts of accessibility on social media platforms. Presenters will cover key information, terminology, and demonstrations, and provide a dynamic environment to cover practical applications. Presenters: Brian Charlson  Austin Dunn, Social Media Coordinator, Wexner Center for the Arts  Jay McKay, Assistive Technology Specialist, Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services  Onsite or Online: Cultivating Multisensory and Meaningful Group Programs For school and community groups with disabilities, museums and cultural organizations offer tremendous opportunities for multisensory and meaningful engagement both in person and online. Explore how to make the most of both settings and how and why to adapt programs from one to the other. Presenters: Charlotte Martin, Director of Access Initiatives, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Alejandra Rodriguez, Senior Educator, K-12 Student Experiences, Art Institute of Chicago Good Architecture Includes Everyone Too often building design adheres to the narrowest reading of the ADA and building code, missing nuance and the over-arching goal of equal access for people with disabilities. What would happen if architects approached every building opportunity as a chance to design around the full range of human experience and ability? This session brings panelists together to discuss just that – through the lens of experience and commitment to accessibility and human-centered design.  Presenters: Aaron Wong, Architectural Designer, SmithGroup  Valerie Fletcher, Executive Director, Institute for Human Centered Design Alexa Vaugn, Landscape Designer, Accessibility Specialist, & Consultant, UCLA Architecture + Urban Design Historic Sites and Accessibility There are many misconceptions about historic sites and accessibility, both what is required and what is possible. Don't underestimate the potential historic sites have to connect and be innovative. In this session three panelists describe some of the key challenges found at three historic houses and share creative and practical methods used to approach those challenges. This session will also include an opportunity for participants to exercise problem solving skills together.   Leave with a customized tool you can put into immediate action back at your historic site. Presenters:  Kristin Peszka, Interpretation & Visitor Services Director, Paul Revere Memorial Association  Aaron Rawley, Outreach Specialist, Partners for Youth with Disabilities  Wanessa Tillman, Director of Visitor Services, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Working with Advisors and Building Community There are many ways to center people with disabilities in the Access and Inclusion work at your institution or program. Engage with the presenters in the sharing of models and approaches that have respect, authenticity, and creativity at their core. Attendees will have ample opportunity to ask questions, and consider how they might try something new or enhance what they are already doing. Presenters: Maria Cabrera, Co-Director, Families Creating Together Susan Glass, Poet Lisa Eriksen, Principal, Lisa Eriksen Consulting