Aside from our updates below, you can also sign up for our newsletter or get caught up in our newsletter archive.

For access to our most recent newsletter, click HERE.

Current News, Meetings & Events

• Arts Access and First In Families of North Carolina present an Inclusive Art Show “Continuing the Dream”: An art exhibit showcasing the Work of George Mitchell and other artists with disabilities

 The show will feature art by George Mitchell and other adult NC artists with disabilities.  George is a professional artist with a BA in art from NC Central and a MFA in sculpture from UNC-Chapel  Hill.  George exhibited his work and taught  at the   college level for 12 years.  In 2001, George was the victim of gun violence that left him paralyzed.  This show is an effort to share George’s work with the community, highlight other artists with disabilities and bring awareness about the challenges and barriers related to artists with disabilities.

            Date of Show: May 3^rd to June 14^th  Location: Mercury Studio - Downtown Durham, 407-A North Mangum Street, Durham, NC27701

• Audio Describer Training has been rescheduled for Friday, August 2nd, 6:00 - 9:00 pm and Saturday, August 3rd, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm at 505 Oberlin Road, Raleigh at Cameron Village.  (Same building as the Post Office) Lunch will be provided on Saturday.
  Audio Description is a highly valued service available to help art patrons with low vision experience exhibits and performances. By offering open training to any interested parties, we are able to help this service expand to more regions and venues in North Carolina. Resources and more thorough discussion of AD programs can be found on the Arts Access AD page of our website. Receiving training does not ensure that participants will automatically become audio describers for hire.  There is a $200 fee for the training; however there are opportunities to get some of that money back. Space is limited. Please contact Debbie Hippler to discuss attendance before registering. To register, please CLICK HERE.
• The Gregg Museum of Art & Design at NC State University are planning numerous accessibility benefits to their new venue as they plan to move to the old Chancellor's Home on campus. Included in their upgrades will be more accessible parking and an all-new "touch" exhibit featuring 30 works by John Lechey, which were donated to the museum for this exciting show. Stay tuned for more news about the museum's developments! In the meantime, check out their FACEBOOK PAGE for up-to-date news.
  
• VSA has opened its Call for Scripts for their 2013 Playwright Discovery Competiton. Students in 6th-12th grade are invited to participate in this national competiton, which focuses on featuring works that explore disabilities and the lives of those who are affected. The deadline for submissions is June 1, 2013. For more information, please visit the EVENT WEBSITE HERE.
  
• Additionally, the VSA has opened its Call for Entries for the 2013 International Young Soloists Program. Since 1984, the VSA International Young Soloists Program has identified talented musicians who have a disability. The VSA International Young Soloists Award is gi ven annually to outstanding musicians from the United States and the international arena. The award provides an opportunity for these emerging musicians to each earn a $5,000 award and a performance in Washington, D.C. For information about this event and how to get involved, visit the EVENT WEBPAGE HERE.
• VSA also has opened their Call for Entries for their Emerging Artists Program.Sponsored by Volkswagen Group of America, In/finite Earth aims to showcase artwork that illuminates innovative viewpoints at the intersection of environmentalism, creativity, and disability. This call for art asks artists to engage in the physical, emotional, and creative ties we share across our planet, and present their artistic perspectives regarding the natural world, sustainability, and our collective future. Fifteen artists will be selected for an exhibition in Fall 2013 in Washington, DC and will share $60,000 in cash awards. The deadline for entries is June 9 at midnight. Visit THE SITE HERE for more information.
• The North Hills Cinema is among the first in North Carolina to offer Audio Description on any date, in any theatre, for any film that has the Audio Description encoded into the film. This innovative new technology is part of The Audio Description Project through the American Council for the Blind. To learn if the film you're interested in seeing has Audio Description, please contact the Regal North Hills Cinema at 919-786-4494. To learn about Audio Description in films anywhere else in North Carolina, please visit the Audio Description Project website HERE. 
•  Arts Access, Inc. proudly hosted the "Celebrating Abilities" art show at Marbles Kids Museum, featuring work from North Carolina-based children with disabilities through August and September. 

On August 3, we welcomed the public to a reception at the museum to view the art, engage with artists, and enjoy an evening in Downtown Raleigh.            

                 

• PlayMakers Repertory Company is pleased to bring back Open Captioning for selected performances on Saturday matinees throughout the Mainstage Season. For more information on this audience service and dates, please visit the event site. 

• Voices Together opens two new Pre-Teen Community Groups in the Triangle. Innovative new pre-teen groups in Cary and Durham/ Chapel Hill For information: contact Voices Together at 919-942-2714, email info@voicestogether.net, or visit  VoicesTogether.net.

• Art on a Shoestring: Be sure to see our Art on a Shoestring in the right sidebar on this page. This section will feature low-cost or NO-cost arts and cultural events open to the public. If you have an idea or submission for this section, please send it to info@artsaccessinc.org.

• Arts Access needs your financial support!  Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Arts Access.  Click here to donate via PayPal.  You may also send a check to our mailing address at PO Box 10574  Raleigh, NC 27605.  Thank you for helping make the arts accessible to all people!

• Don't miss Arts Access on UNC-TV! Arts Access was featured on WUNC-TV's North Carolina Now! WUNC-TV visited Raleigh Ensemble Players for the accessible performance of DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD by Burt V. Royal to film our audio description services.  You can read more about this interview via REP's newsletter or at http://video.unctv.org/video/2053564791.