Revenue and Expenses
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Financial Statements
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Chief Executive
Mrs. Linda Olsrud
Term:
Since
May
2009
Chief Executive Profile:
The executive director is also the founder of VSA North Dakota. Ms. Olsrud had been involved as the program coordinator of the previous limited local VSA program, then became executive director of Dakota West Arts Council, which managed the program. Because it was apparent that there were far more requests for services through the VSA program than could be handled by an umbrella agency, the decision was made to launch a separate 501 c 3 organization that would be fully independent, and considered a full affiliate of VSA: The International Organization on Arts and Disability. This process was two years in the making; first, information was provided to potential partners, meetings were held in different parts of the state to determine interest, founding board members were identified, the paperwork was submitted to the Secretary of State's office, and the forms were filed with the IRS. VSA arts of North Dakota was registered in May, 2009, and received its IRS tax designation in September, 2009.
Ms. Olsrud's work experience has been centered on the arts, programs for children, and advocacy for people who have disabilities. She owned her own photographic art business for a number of years; was the Senate Education Committe clerk for the ND legislature; worked as a parish ed director; managed a children's program, Kids on the Block, through the mental health association; was a grant-writer for the Bismarck Mandan Symphony, and has been a published free-lance writer.
She has been involved with VSA since 2006 and became the first executive director of the new entity, VSA North Dakota, in 2009.
CEO/Executive Director Statement:
VSA North Dakota provides unique arts education classes and experiences to students who have disabilities or who are at risk, usually for socio-economic reasons.
Students who participate in VSA North Dakota classes consistently show improvement in fine and large motor skills development, listening skills, cultural diversity awareness, environmental responsibility, teamwork, social skills, and self-esteem.
Time and again, these classes prove to be life-changing opportunities that enable the recipient students to do better in their homes, their schools, and ultimately in their communities.
Officers for Fiscal Year
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Highest Paid Employees & Their Compensation
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Program:
Art Venture
- Budget:
-
$62,000
- Category:
-
Arts, Culture & Humanities
- Population Served:
-
Disabled, General or Disability Unspecified
Program Description:
Art Venture is the education component of VSA North Dakota.
Teaching artists are hired to create and teach unique lesson plans that are arts-centered (as opposed to crafts). The classes may supplement but do not replicate curricula used in the students' schools. Genres presently being taught include visual art, simple sculpture, pottery, writing, photography, and music. Occasionally film-making and drumming classes are offered.
Once a site has made a request for a residency, the VSA North Dakota Program Coordinator begins identifying the genre they wish to have taught; the demographics of the student recipients, including how many are on IEPs and their ages; and the preferred day and time of the classes.
With this information, the Program Coordinator refers to the list of teaching artists on the VSA ND roster, and their location, to determine a good fit for the requested classes.
Once the site, genre, days/time, and artist have been identified, the artist and the facilitator at the site begin working collaboratively to design a residency that will meet the students' needs. The lesson plans are created and reviewed for alignment with state educational standards and practices, and age appropriate content.
Supplies are provided by VSA North Dakota, with an emphasis on using "found art", which is another mechanism to encourage environmental responsibility.
Teaching artists use several evaluation methods for the residencies but the most common ones are UDL (Universal Design for Learning) and Student Stories. These are provided at the conclusion of the residency and kept on file with the VSA ND offices.
Program Long-Term Success:
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
Funding Needs
VSA North Dakota desperately needs discretionary funds and organizational support.
VSA North Dakota previously received about half of its annual total budget from the U.S. Department of Education. Because of recent cuts to Arts in Education and VSA at the national level, all VSA state affiliates are having to adapt their methods of funding and rely more heavily on foundation and corporate grants, donations, and individual support.
North Dakota is frequently underfunded because we are geographically large with a small population. But the at risk kids here are in just as much need as those anywhere else, perhaps even more so because services are so limited. VSA North Dakota is the ONLY organization doing what it does in the state.
Volunteer Needs
Volunteers are always needed to assemble art supplies for the classes; to act as docents at VSA ND art shows which showcase student art; to help with mailings; to manage inventory; and to act as aides or helpers in the classes.
Request for In-Kind Contributions
Donations of any kinds of art supplies are appreciated: Non-toxic paint (tempera, acrylic), paintbrushes, paper of any size or color, glue and glue sticks, pipecleaners, fabric, small musical instruments, drumsticks, artist canvas (any size).
In-kind assistance with legal, financial, board training, and strategic planning would be appreciated.