The U.S. Department of Education is hosting an opening for an art exhibit on Tuesday Nov. 18 at 11 a.m. ET from the VSA International Art Program for Children with Disabilities, featuring some 40 works by students from across the globe. The featured artists are from the United States, St. Lucia, Taiwan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. In addition, there will be a performance by students in the P.S. 177 Technology Band from Queens, New York, an iPad band comprised of nine students led by teacher Adam Goldberg, recognized for his use of technology in music education.
Michael Yudin, acting assistant secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and the Department’s Director of International Affairs Maureen McLaughlin will give remarks at the opening, along with Betty Siegel, director of the Office of VSA and Accessibility at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Goldberg, one of the band members and a parent also will speak briefly. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will officially mark the opening of the exhibit.
The theme of this year’s VSA show is Yo Soy … Je Suis … I Am … My Neighborhood. The event is in honor of the 15th anniversary of International Education Week.
VSA is an international organization on arts and disability and an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The organization was founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities could learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts.
The Department’s Student Art Exhibit Program, now in its 11th year, features visual and performing arts created by students in U.S. and international schools, pre-k through professional art school. The program provides students and teachers an opportunity to display creative work from the classroom in a highly public place that honors their work as an effective path to learning and knowledge for all.
NOTE: Sign language interpretation and captioning will be provided.