VSAFL received the 2007 VSA arts National Award for Excellence in Organizational Management. VSAFL received the award at the annual VSA arts Award Dinner on March 10 in Washington D.C. In her comments, Soula Antonio, VSA arts President, stated that VSAFL was a national leader in the diversity and quality of its programming in the arts for and by individuals with disabilities. VSAFL is honored to be selected as the winner of the 2007 Arts And Education Inspiration Award for its partnership with the Miami Children's Museum and the Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs at the All Kids Included Festival held at the Miami Children's Museum. The award will be given on May 22 in Miami at the Serving the Arts Luncheon sponsored by the Arts and Business Council of South Florida.

"Through My Eyes" exhibition at the Tampa Museum of Art - May 19th-June 24th. The exhibit features juried art work created by members of the VSAFL artist registry. The exhibit provides artists with disabilities the opportunity to have their art shown in a professional setting that is open to the entire community. Artists in this exhibit have different levels of experience and diverse backgrounds in art ranging from a life long career to a new found joy. Events planned during the exhibition include: children's workshops, inclusive art camp, career development workshop for artists, guided tours including ASL interpretive tour, workshop for teachers on strategies for successful learning in and through the arts, and introduction to access for arts organizations. For more information contact Jennifer Bade at 813-558-5093.

The Tampa Museum of Art hosted its first VSA festival on April 20th. Schools that participated in the VSA arts/Met Life Partners In Art/Art Connects All program enjoyed a morning of dance, story telling and art making. The Partners in Art program involved teaching artists working with special education students at 6 schools to create a visual art piece based on their individual written story. The artwork was exhibited in the center gallery of the museum. What an opportunity for these young artists to have their work viewed in an art museum! Congratulations to the museum for this excellent program.

Feel the Art" opens June 7th at Explorations 5 Children's Museum, Lakeland. " Feel the Art" features art work created by high school art students from Miami-Dade that is accessible to those who are vision impaired by creating tactile reproductions of famous pieces of work of artists such as Magritte, Picasso, Kahlo, Klee, Van Gogh, Dali and O'Keefe. The museum will use the exhibit as a tool to engage museum visitors on disability awareness. Outreach will connect the museum to individuals who are vision impaired through the local offices of the Division of Blind Services. The exhibit is available to tour. Contact Marian Winters at 813-558-5095 for more information.

Marian Winters Executive Director (813) 558-5095, E-mail: mwinters@tempest.coedu.usf.edu

Jan Beals Finance Coordinator (813) 558-5091, E-mail: Beals@tempest.coedu.usf.edu

Lee Moniz Education Coordinator (813) 558-5094, E-mail: lmoniz@tempest.coedu.usf.edu

Marilyn Farber Professional Development Coordinator (813) 558-1144, E-mail: mfarber@tempest.coedu.usf.edu

Jenn Bade Adult Program Coordinator (813) 558-5093, E-mail: bade@coedu.usf.edu

Karen Belsole Media Coordinator (813) 558-5092, E-mail: belsole@coedu.usf.edu

Beth Gordon Cultural Access Coordinator (786) 261-6021 E-mail: bgordonvsa@gmail.com

The content of this informational piece was developed in part through funding provided by the central office of VSA arts, under an award from the U.S. Department of Education. the content, however, does not necessarily reflect the policy of the U.S. Department of Education and endorsement should not be assumed. VSA arts of Florida is funded in part by VSA arts; Florida State, Division of Cutural Affairs, Kurt S. Browning, Secretary of State; The Florida Arts council, the National Endowment for the Arts; and the University of South Florida.