Artworks: Creative Industries is VSA Texas’ career development program for emerging artists with disabilities. The program serves artists around the state who, in addition to the regular challenges faced by artists starting their careers, face unique challenges of their own. To meet these challenges, Artworks: Creative Industries provides skills training and professional development resources in all artistic disciplines – music, visual art, performance and literature. Artworks: Creative Industries supports artists at any stage of development: youth transitioning into college or work, beginners just learning to draw and accomplished artists preparing to start their own business.
Through a variety of regular regional workshops the Artworks: Creative Industries program offers customized services, including:
Classes – Classes in creative writing, drawing, watercolor, stained glass and other media. Read about upcoming classes.
Workshops – Half-day and full-day workshops on business topics such as goal setting, marketing, portfolio development, managing a business, and Social Security work incentives. Read about upcoming workshops.
Simplified Social Security Information – As an artist with a disability, you may be asking yourself these questions: Am I allowed to get a job or work as an artist and sell my paintings? If I work too much will I stop getting Social Security checks? Read more about working as an artist with a disability.
Online Gallery – At VSA Texas Online, we offer free space to help you market your visual art, CDs, or books. All sales through the website go directly to the artist. Visit the online gallery.
Access Gallery – The VSA Texas art gallery in Austin, TX provides opportunities for visual artists to exhibit their artwork. Read more about Access Gallery.
Artist Registry – Sign up for our artist registry so that you can stay informed about upcoming events, workshops, exhibits and calls for art and to help us promote you as an artist. Download an Artist Registry form.
Statewide Calls for Art – VSA Texas hosts annual calls for visual arts, literary and performing arts. Read more about upcoming calls for art.
Open Mic and Cabaret Nights - Here is a wonderful opportunity to share your talents and enjoy the talents of others. We will start with audience warm up theater games and move into short performances. Read more about Open Mic Night.
Networking Meetings – Artworks Network a series of networking meetings to help artists with disabilities organize and structure informal networks in their area. The meetings will give artists a chance to meet other artists with disabilities and learn about resources in their area. Initial meetings were held in Fall 2007 in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Dallas, and Tyler. We have since added meetings in South Texas. Future meetings will be led by the artists themselves and may be used as open studio time, critique sessions, discussion groups, exhibition planning, or other ways of fostering mutual career support. The goal of Artworks Network will be to create self-sustaining mutual support networks for artists with disabilities. If you are interested in joining or starting a networking group in your area, please contact April Sullivan, Artworks Director at april@vsatx.org or toll free at 866-489-8412.