ForImmediateReleaseDATE:June13,2016CONTACT:CharlesJ.Washburncjwashburn@vamass.org(mobile:508-868-1267)

MoreThan$82MillionAwardedforArtsProjectsNationwideIncludes$15,000awardedtoVSAMassachusetts

Boston,MA—NationalEndowmentfortheArtsChairJaneChuhasapprovedmorethan$82milliontofundlocalartsprojectsandpartnershipsintheNEA’ssecondmajorfundingannouncementforfiscalyear2016.IncludedinthisannouncementisanArtWorksawardof$15,000toVSAMassachusetts,anaffiliateofSevenHillsFoundation,topromotetheuseofUniversalDesignprinciplesforperformingartsexperiencesthatincludeeveryoneandappreciatethecreativecontributionsofpeoplewithdisabilities.TheArtWorkscategorysupportsthecreationofworkandpresentationofbothnewandexistingwork,lifelonglearninginthearts,andpublicengagementwiththeartsthrough13artsdisciplinesorfields.ThegranttoVSAMassachusettswillsupportabluesconcertinastylecalledInclusivebyDesign℠onJune18th(7PMintheSheratonHotel)inBostoninassociationwiththeAmericansfortheArts(AFTA)attheirannualconference.(Ticketsarefreeandavailableathttp://bit.ly/1Xpr8GU)AccordingtoBoston’sChiefofArtsandCulture,JulieBurros,“ThisinnovativeworkwillprovideanexampleofhowUniversalDesigncanmaketheartsaccessibletoeveryoneandwillserveasapracticalmodelforotherorganizationslookingtocreatemoreinclusiveprogramming.”“Theartsareallaroundus,enhancingourlivesinwayssubtleandobvious,expectedandunexpected,”saidNEAChairmanJaneChu.“SupportingprojectsliketheonefromVSAMassachusettsoffersmoreopportunitiestoengageintheartseveryday.”

TheconcertwillfeaturelegendaryNewOrleansbluesman,HenryButler.Henryisafive-timeW.C.Handy“BestBluesPianoInstrumentalist”awardnominee.HenryButlerknowsnolimitations.Althoughblindedbyglaucomasincebirth,Butlerisalsoaworld-classphotographer.Playingpianosincetheageofsix,Butlerisamasterofmusicaldiversity.Arichamalgamofjazz,Caribbean,classical,pop,R&Bandbluesinfluences,hismusicisasexcitinglyeclecticasthatofhisNewOrleansbirthplace.ButlerjoinedtheInclusivebyDesign℠creativeteamin2006foraconcertattheGeneHarrisFestivalinBoiseIdaho.HehasperformedinthisformatinSantaFeeNewMexicoandinaconcerthostedandrecordedbyWGBHin2009.

NoéSochawillopenforHenry.NoéisabluesguitaristfromthesmalltownofCarpi,Italy.InfluencedbyartistslikeBobDylanandNeilYoungandbluesartistslikeMississippiJohn

Photo of Ostrovsky’s ’09 mural at WGBH taken by Julie Burros

Hurt,MuddyWaters,andLightnin’Hopkins,Noéhascreatedhisownsignaturesound.Hepairsafieryguitartechniquewithvirtuosoharmonicaplaying,channelingthesoundsoftheMississippiDeltawithahintofHendrix-esqueflavor.ArecentgraduatefromBerkleeCollegeofMusic,hehasreceivedmanyawardsincludingthe”JimiHendrixAward”forthecollege’sleadingguitaristandthe“BillboardMagazineEndowedScholarship”presentedtothecollege’stopstudent.ThiswillbeNoé’sfirstexperienceperformingintheIbDformat.AnitaWalker,ExecutiveDirectorofMassachusettsCulturalCouncil,describedthisstyleofconcertthisway,“Ifonecan’thearthemusic,itisrepresentedvisuallyasalargescalemuralunfolds.Ifonecan’tseethepaintingorthepeopleonstage,theyaredescribedforoneandallcreatingapoeticandliteraryaspect.”Ms.Walkercommentedfurther,“Ihavecometoappreciatethatwhenonemakesanefforttoaccommodatethespecificneedsofall,theexperienceisenhancedforeveryone.”AnitawillmoderateapanelattheAFTAConferenceexploringtherolethatLocalArtsAgenciescanplayindesigninginclusiveartsprograms.InadditiontothefreeconcertinthecomingyearVSAMassachusettswillpresentworkshopstotrainadditionalASLinterpretersandAudioDescriberstoworkinthearts.“Wearepleasedtohavestrongpublicandprivatesupport.TheBostonCulturalCouncil,theMassachusettsCulturalCouncilandtheNEAareallencouragingthecreationofartworkthatisdesignedtobeaccessibletoeveryone”,saidCharlesJ.Washburn,ChiefOperatingOfficerforVSAMAandtheconcert’sproducer,“Wewilluseamulti-sensory,multi-artapproachsothattherearemanydifferentwaystoexperiencetheconcert.”Painter,NancyOstrovsky,willcreatealargemuralinaperformanceartstyleduringtheconcerttoprovideavisualartexpression.AmericanSignLanguageandAudioDescriptionandcaptioningwillalsobeemployedtobroadenthescopeofparticipation.Inadditiontothegovernmentalartsagenciessupportingtheeffortthecontributor’stoVSAMassachusetts’sCreatingInclusionSociety,AmericansfortheArtsandtheMaidaAbramsFundandBerkleeCollegeofMusicareallcontributingtotheprogram.TojointheTwitterconversationaboutthisannouncement,pleaseuse#NEASpring16.FormoreinformationonprojectsincludedintheNEAgrantannouncement,gotoarts.gov