ArtPartners is a signature program of VSA Alabama designed to provide a socially inclusive environment where local community artists and emerging artists with disabilities and chronic illnesses can engage in meaningful relationship building through direct one-to-one participation in the creative arts.  Throughout the spring, Mobile and Baldwin County area community artists worked directly with children and adults with disabilities and chronic illnesses to generate unique pieces of art together.  Not only were beautiful masterpieces created in the process, but lasting friendships and new learning processes were developed as well. This annual program culminates with ArtPartners on the Bay, an inspiring event featuring these collaborative works. All of the approximately 75 colorful pieces of art are special and distinctive to the pair that created them!  VSA Alabama is proud to bring this program and event to the Bay area community.

Tickets to attend are $15 each and include fabulous music, hors d’oeuvres, wine, and the opportunity to own an ArtPartners on the Bay masterpiece.  Guests will also have the chance to watch community and emerging artists working together to create art masterpieces before their very eyes! The works will be available for purchase through a silent auction.  Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling VSA Alabama or Eastern Shore Art Center and at the door the night of the event.  Event sponsorships are also available! All proceeds from ArtPartners on the Bay 2010 will enable VSA Alabama to provide free arts programming for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses at the Eastern Shore Art Center and the Independent Living Center of Mobile all year long. 

ArtPartners on the Bay Committee members include Nancy Raia, Carolyn Greene, Cecilia Lewis, Susan Wright, Linda McCool, Mona Hood, and Jimmy Prestwood. For additional information about this program, event, or VSA Alabama, or to purchase tickets, or to become a sponsor, please contact Cecilia Lewis, Committee Member, at 251.928.4818 or Erin Wederbrook Yuskaitis, Program Manager, at 205.307.6300 ext. 15 or erin@vsaalabama.org. 

About VSA Alabama:  VSA Alabama is a statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to serving children and adults with disabilities and chronic illnesses through the arts.  VSA Alabama offers arts programming in educational, community and healthcare settings across the state. The organization is the state affiliate of VSA, an international nonprofit organization serving nearly five million people with disabilities every year through a network of state affiliates and in 51 countries worldwide.  VSA was founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. It is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  www.vsaalabama.org or www.vsarts.org.