photo by Althea Haropulos

VSA arts of New Hampshire is primarily a resouce and referal organization which offers consulting and support for the following:

• Arts in Learning training and consulting rervices provide schools with the tools and resources they need to implement the use of the arts into core curriculum, as tools for successful inclusion of students with disabilities and learning differences into classrooms, and as a means of maximizing the potential of all students in unique or in inclusive educational settings.
• Artist Residencies offer people with and without disabilities direct contact with professional teaching artists in schools and community settings.
• Professional Development Training for staff of cultural, educational, and community organizations, including disability awareness workshops and strategies for incorporating the arts into existing programs and educational curriculum.
• Advocacy for Access assures that people with disabilities participate in a full spectrum of quality arts opportunities.
• Community and School Special Events publicly celebrate the creative accomplishments of program participants.

photo by Althea Haropulos

Creating strong community.

One of the things that we have discovered over the years is that the arts provide children and adults with so much more than an artistic or cultural experience. For individuals with disabilities, VSA arts of NH sees that these programs provide a new sense of community participation, personal accomplishment, and a feeling of having a "voice" and being heard - sometimes for the very first time.

When appreciated in this way, these programs are ultimately about building community at a very elemental level. They help create personal, social, and community connections.

Art, whatever the medium, is always about finding one's voice and it is all of our voices that make the chorus of community strong.

Emile Birch guides students in a sculpture activity photo by Althea Haropulos

The Arts in Learning

VSA arts of NH wants educators and administrators in every NH school to become advocates for arts learning in their schools and to integrate arts activities into their classrooms. We can help schools in this process by consultations, trainings or by connecting them with appropriate resources.

The Arts in Early Learning

VSA arts has undertaking a three year intensive project to provide training, support and resouces for early childhood educators, care providers and private and public pre-schools so that the arts become part of the day-to-day core experience of young children in these settings.

Working with the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire with an emphasis on the Lakes Region and North Country,  we are providing workshops, in-school visits, family and child arts events, consultations and links to resources.  To learn more about our partner in this project go to The Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire

Students work with Robert Rossel photo by Althea Haropulos

"Teachers were not only involved in the [VSA arts of NH integration training] process but are already talking about what projects they would like to work on for next school year. Throughout the time students spent with the classroom teachers, it was so apparent that we had reached our goal of acceptance and tolerance. We witnessed teams of students working together that we could not have predicted being successful. Students were helping one another and accepting feedback from other students, faculty, and the artists."
- Santina Thibedeau, Principal, Brentwood School, Merrimack

TJ Wheeler at Easter Seals in Lancaster

For further information on these program, and if you would like to be notified of upcoming trainings, contact our office at 603-764-9948 or contact us via email

Start with the Arts (SWTA) is a unique early childhood education tool that uses arts-based learning strategies to help educators and families prepare children for learning success.

Developed by VSA arts over the past 11 years, the second edition of SWTA includes 54 theme-based lessons with music, visual arts, theater and creative movement activities that creatively promote school readiness and literacy, as well as inclusion.

Start with the Arts is designed to encourage young learners with and without disabilities to learn, work, and play together.

The need for quality early childhood education programming, and its importance to a child's future academic success, is well documented. A growing body of research also indicates that children who experience the arts as a part of their early education reap many academic and social/developmental benefits over time.

photo by
Althea Haropulos

Start with the Arts Features

1. Skill Development - Developmentally-appropriate, standards-based activities from the visual arts, drama, dance and movement, and music promote cognitive and social skills development
2. Inclusivity - Adaptations described for each lesson ensure that every child can participate fully, regardless of disabilities or learning styles.
3. Celebrates Diversity - Book lists reflect people with all types of disabilities as well as a broad representation of ethnic and cultural groups. SWTA is available in English and Spanish.
4. Includes Family - "Family Letters" - an important part of the Start with the Arts strategy-bridge a child's school and home life by emphasizing activities that the child can do with family members.

VSA arts of NH can provide SWTA workshops for your organizations. The SWTA Curriculum guidebook is available for $65.00 plus shipping.

For further information on this program contact our office at 603-228-4330 or contact us via email

Workshops are designed to focus on Adaptive Strategies for Alternative Learners in the classroom and in the community. The workshop will show participants how traditional art supplies can be easily and inexpensively adapted for various levels of manual dexterity. It will address alternative learning styles, differentiation of approaches and lessons to meet these styles, adaptive strategies and methods for enhancing projects for individuals with different learning need. Specific focus will be given to how to adapt curriculum creatively while building upon student strengths through Universal Design for Learning.

For further information on this program contact our office at 603-764-9159 or contact us via email