A Very Special Arts Festival is Friday, April 12 at the West Jefferson School Gym. This the 17th year for VSA sponsored by the Arts Council.     

When Ashe County’s exceptional students and adults arrive for the day, they will enjoy music, entertainment and student exhibits.   Face painting, balloons, t-shirt silk screening as well as a variety of “hands on” activities such as clay sculpture, mosaics, printmaking, fabric art and jewelry making will keep participants busy. This year’s theme is “Buggy for the Arts!”.      

Lisa Baldwin, a teacher and professional musician will be entertaining the students with guitar music and songs. JEF the mime, Chaz the magician, Dale Brook the Magical Minstrel of Music and Mayhem and Chris Cary creating balloon sculptures will be on hand to provide fun and entertainment. 

VSA is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where all people with disabilities learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts. VSA provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities.  Each year millions of people participate in VSA programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in more than 60 countries around the world.  VSA is an affiliate of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.    

Funding for Very Special Arts is received in part from a Grassroots Project Pool Grant Arts Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency and the North Carolina Community Foundation. For more information call the Arts Council at 336-846-ARTS.