NAG receives grant from SEMAC for ADA retrospective

Last week, the Northfield Arts Guild received a $10,000 from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) for a project entitled “Artists Disabling Assumptions” during October 2015. The project seeks to reflect upon the 25th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the effects that it has had on people with disabilities. The project features an invited exhibition in the Main Gallery featuring artists with disabilities from multiple disciplines and will also feature artwork from the Guild’s A+ Art Club and other artists with disabilities from the local community.

The project will also include a community conversation series around topics and issues in arts accessibility, such as an “Arts Access 101” workshop, as well as a professional development workshop for educators around designing inclusive classrooms through art making led by the Guild’s Autism and the Arts Coordinator, Laura Goodwin. All aspects of the project will have accommodations available upon request for patrons, including audio description, ASL interpretation, and CART open-captioning technology. The Northfield Arts Guild is working with VSA Minnesota on providing accommodations and expertise in developing this project.

The project coincides with the National Disability Employment Awareness Month that has occurred each October since 1988 and other 25th anniversary events that are being coordinated by VSA MN. To learn more about the Northfield Arts Guild, please visit northfieldartsguild.org, and for more information about VSA MN 25th anniversary events, including an Arts Access Chautauqua on September 25-26, please visit vsamn.org.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.