VSA and CVS Caremark All Kids Can Announce National Call for Children's Art

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Calling all young artists! VSA, the international organization on arts and disability, and CVS Caremark All Kids Can are furthering their commitment to fostering inclusion by kicking off the 2011 All Kids Can CREATE Call for Art, inviting children ages 5-15 to explore and share their artistic talents.  This year's theme, "Imagination Across America," encourages young people with and without disabilities to depict their favorite daydreams in art, whether they are of adventure, exotic locations, fantasy, superpowers, or reminiscence.  Artwork submitted before February 4, 2011 at www.artsonia.com will be featured in an online gallery and considered for display in a national touring exhibition debuting in Washington, D.C., in June 2011.  This inclusive exhibition will feature two pieces or artwork from every state and the District of Columbia.

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"CVS Caremark is proud to work with VSA to present All Kids Can CREATE, which is designed to offer children of all abilities a wonderful opportunity for personal expression," said Eileen Howard Dunn, Senior Vice President of Community Relations for CVS Caremark. "As we kick off this year's Call for Art, we look forward to seeing all the wonderful artwork submitted and to celebrating the positive impact this inclusive program has on each and every child who participates."

"The arts provide powerful opportunities for students to learn and exercise their creativity," said Soula Antoniou, president of VSA.  "With partners like CVS Caremark, we have been able to touch thousands of students of all abilities, who learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts."

The Call for Art is part of VSA and CVS Caremark's yearlong All Kids Can CREATE campaign to encourage learning and community engagement through artistic expression.  The program includes the Call for Art and artist-in-residence programs in schools that will expand access and document learning through the arts for students with disabilities.  CVS Caremark employees also participate in the program through volunteer activities that engage their communities and/or schools in building inclusive environments.

There are no limits to what a child can create.  Children are invited to use traditional art materials as well as non-traditional ones, such as hair rollers, wrapping paper, newspaper, or aluminum foil.  One hundred and two pieces of art―two from each state and the District of Columbia―will be part of an exhibition debuting in Washington, D.C., in June 2011, prior to a nationwide tour of schools and museums. In addition, teachers who submit their students' artwork are eligible to receive one of five $1,500 cash awards for use in their classroom. Last year's All Kids Can CREATE Call for artwork resulted in 5,500 submissions from across the country, and this year VSA and CVS Caremark want to see even more students represented.

All Kids Can CREATE is a part of CVS Caremark's diverse programs and opportunities for children with and without disabilities.  This joint initiative from VSA and CVS Caremark encourages learning and community engagement through the arts.  In addition to the Call and resulting exhibition, teaching artists will work with students with disabilities in the classroom.  

CVS Caremark All Kids Can

All Kids Can, a program of the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust and CVS Caremark, is a five-year, $25 million commitment to support children with disabilities. The goals of All Kids Can are to support children with disabilities by raising awareness in schools and in local communities about the importance of inclusion, creating greater opportunities for physical activity and play, and providing access to medical rehabilitation and related services. CVS Caremark and its more than 211,000 employees help children with disabilities learn, play and succeed through partnerships with leading local and national nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit http://www.cvsallkidscan.com.

VSA

VSA, the international organization on arts and disability, was founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to provide arts and education opportunities for people with disabilities and increase access to the arts for all. With 52 international affiliates and a network of nationwide affiliates, VSA is changing perceptions about people with disabilities around the world. Each year, 7 million people of all ages and abilities participate in VSA programs, which cover all artistic genres. VSA is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, visit www.vsarts.org. 

SOURCE CVS Caremark