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.
The Kennedy Center offers 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.
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 A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; Annenberg Foundation; the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Bank of America; Bender Foundation, Inc.; Carter and Melissa Cafritz Trust; Carnegie Corporation of New York; DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities; Estée Lauder; Flocabulary; Harman Family Foundation; The Hearst Foundations; the Herb Alpert Foundation; the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The King-White Family Foundation and Dr. J. Douglas White; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation;
Music Theatre International; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; the National Endowment for the Arts; Newman’s Own Foundation; Nordstrom; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Prince Charitable Trusts; Soundtrap; The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; and Volkswagen Group of America. 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.
