PUTTING CREATIVITY TO WORK for Adults

Putting Creativity to Work (PCTW) is a multi-workshop series that offers a 'nuts and bolts' look at the strategies, training, education and skills necessary to jump start and maintain a career in the arts. This course is ideal for individuals with disabilities who are interested in exploring or advancing their professional careers in the arts. The class will cover:

- Clarifying Your Direction: Taking a look at a career in the arts.
- Self-Assessment Process: What skills do I have? What do I need?
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services: An Overview.
- Jump Starting Your Career: Taking a look at your current status.
- Understanding Basic Benefit Issues for the Episodic Earner.
- The Role of Mentoring in Sustaining Your Career in the arts.

In addition, the PCTW Series will include a studio component in which professional artists will expose participants to a variety of art explorations in various art disciplines. A free copy of Putting Creativity to Work, a publication of VSA arts and the Social Security Administration will be given to each participant.

PUTTING CREATIVITY TO WORK for Teens

Putting Creativity to Work (PCTW) for Teens is an after-school program that offers high school students who are very serious about making art quality hands-on art instruction in multiple media, studio time and space, art supplies, and equipment. Students receive support in developing a portfolio of their work, and gain a clearer understanding of career possibilities in the arts.

Among the opportunities participating students will have during the course of the program will be visits to local museums, guest visits from artists with and without disabilities to talk about their experiences and their work, and a culminating exhibit of their work.

In partnership with Massachusetts College of Art, VSA has also been able to offer PCTW students the opportunity to participate in Mass Art's "Xtreme! Week", an intensive week-long experience in art making, where they can choose to concentrate on drawing or fashion.