The VSA Emerging Young Artists Program, a Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program, for artists with disabilities, helps shape the future of the arts. The VSA Emerging Young Artists Program, a Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program, amplifies the voices of emerging artists with career development and professional empowerment.
Scholarship Details
- Administered through the Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program at the Kennedy Center
- National juried exhibition for emerging visual artists with disabilities
- Open to U.S. residents ages 16–25
- Fifteen artists are selected each year
- Each recipient receives a $3,000 financial stipend
- Selected artwork will be featured in a touring exhibition across the United States
- Includes participation in professional development activities at the Kennedy Center
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a visual artist with a disability
- Must be between the ages of 16 and 25 at the time of application
- Must reside in the United States
- Artwork submitted must demonstrate artistic excellence and unique perspective
- Applicants should be emerging artists seeking to advance their professional development in the arts
Application Process
- Prepare a selection of original artwork for submission to the juried competition
- Complete the online application form through the Kennedy Center’s Access/VSA Emerging Young Artists Program portal
- Submit high-quality digital images of your artwork along with artist statements and descriptions
- Provide documentation confirming eligibility, including proof of age and disability status
- Await notification from the Kennedy Center regarding selection results
- Selected artists will participate in professional development programming and have their work included in the national touring exhibition
When founded in 1974, the organization was named the National Committee - Arts for the Handicapped. In 1985 the name changed to Very Special Arts and in 2010 it became VSA. In 2011, VSA merged with the Kennedy Center's Office on Accessibility to become the Office of Access and VSA at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
