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Guiding Principles of VSA arts of Alaska/Out North

Founding values:
Creativity:  supporting creation and circulation of contemporary work in the arts
Expression:  exploring our life and times fearlessly through the arts and humanities
Community:  building an accessible community of learners who welcome those who are marginalized in our society
Change:  serving as catalysts for progressive culture and policies in our region
Stewardship:  respecting our mission, values, resources and relationships in all we do

Mission:
To discover and share cultural explorers whose ideas challenge and inspire our lives; to raise up creative space where people of all cultures, generations and abilities gather and learn; and to champion, through the arts and humanities, people marginalized in our times.

Work:
Art  +  Community  +  Change

What is VSA arts?
VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. VSA arts of Alaska operates the Out North facility.

VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Arts in Action - VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities.

Education Programs- VSA arts provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities.

About VSA arts of Alaska:
VSA arts of Alaska/Out North is a progressive multi-arts organization offering a vibrant mix of contemporary visual, performing, literary and media art, and engaging in arts activism, human rights, community development, and life-long education.

Established in 1985 as Out North, VSA arts of Alaska has provided a forum for underrepresented artists, especially artists with disabilities, artists of color, gay/lesbian/bi/trans artists, and other marginalized artists. Professional artists, community arts practitioners, and other participants in ON programs come from all corners of Alaska and all parts of the globe.

Out North received the Governor’s Award for the Arts in recognition of ongoing successes in creating and connecting art with the community to challenge conventional notions of what constitutes contemporary culture, and in maintaining an artist-focused platform for underserved artists, art forms, and audiences.

The Alaska Legislature has commended Out North for the leadership role it plays in “promoting the artistic, economic, educational, and cultural development of our communities.

The Office

Program Areas

People

Funders

The Office
Executive Director: Michael Huelsman

Marketing & Development Director: Schatzie Schaefers

Technical & Operations Manager: Petra Banks

Financial Manager: Margaret Brodie

Administration Assistant: Amanda Cash

Box Office: Brittany Jermalovic

Notable Volunteers: Daniel Sparks, Ellen Maling, Alan Erickson, Gabrielle Barnett.

Program Areas
VSA arts of Alaska
Out North is Alaska’s accredited affiliate of VSA arts, an international organization creating a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts. Local and guest artists with disabilities present their work in exhibitions, performances, readings, and the Reel Eyes film program. Access to the arts is provided for people of all ages with disabilities of all kinds, as well as for adolescents who are economically disadvantaged or incarcerated. Students develop artistic talents, literacy skills and self esteem through the creation of original work. Educators, parents, artists and organizations are offered resources to support arts programs that are dynamic and inclusive. The goal of ON’s VSA arts of Alaska program is equal opportunity of expression for all Alaskans.

Visual Art
Gallery exhibitions and other visual art presentations are offered at Out North. Recently featured artists include Roman Rubio, Asia Freeman, Ted Herlinger, Ed Mighell, Indra Arriaga, Mariano Gonzales, Jose Torres Tama, Buzz Schwall, Antonio Huaiquivil, Amy Caron, Jonathan Lang, Jamie Lang, Brian Adams, John Wilcox, Ted Kincaid, Ruby Kennel, Jessie Brown, and David Shanon Gallant.

Live Art
Out North featured both local and national performers in its regular season of live art programming. Please visit our WHAT'S PLAYING/BUY TICKETS page for information on current and upcoming performances.

Media Art
Presentations at Out North are comprised of touring compilations such as Oscar-Nominated Shorts, LUNAFEST, Manhattan Short Film Festival and The Brits & Their Telly.” Special screenings have featured new work by Alaska, US and overseas media makers including Mary Katzke, Kimby Caplan, Peter Sheffer, Jocelyn Taylor, Kelly Wilbur, Rivka Sadarangani, Egle Rakauskaite, Levi Taylor, Eirin Strickland and Marek Wasilewski. As of December 2007 ON is now an Anchorage International Film Festival venue.

Music
VSA arts of Alaska has dabbled in international music presenting such groups as Samarabalouf of France, ZUM of England & Soul Beat Project of Korea..

Special Projects
Out North received funding from Harper Arts Touring Fund, National Performance Network, and NEA for our performance trilogy on migration and displacement. We kicked off part one of the trilogy with Jose Torres Tama’s “The Cone of Uncertainty: New Orleans after Katrina.” Part two is May Lee Yang’s “Sia(b),” coming in August. Part three is Emily Johnson’s dance performance “The Thank-you Bar,” coming in October.

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People
Out North serves our communities through the work of a professional Staff in partnership with a volunteer Board.

Volunteers provide Out North with time and talent to keep the organization going and growing. For volunteer opportunities see the VOLUNTEER page.

Employees work in public and behind-the-scenes functions in a variety of areas. For current employment openings see JOBS.

Artists are central to the existence of ON. Artists interested in having their work featured at Out North should visit OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS.

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Funders
In addition to the generous contributions of our patrons, grant support has recently been provided by: Rasmuson Foundation, VSA arts, Municipality of Anchorage , Warhol Foundation, Alaska State Council on the Arts, National Performance Network, Western States Arts Federation, National Endowment for the Arts, Network of Cultural Centers of Color, Avis, Classic Woman & Portfolio, Alaska Community Share, Alaska Community Foundation, Anchorage Democrats and Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.

Tax-deductible contributions are always welcome. For details see our DONATE page.

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©2009 VSA Arts of Alaska. All Right Reserved.