Arts for All, a non-profit corporation, began in 1979 by Steven L. Sles.
In August of 1985, Third St. Kids was founded by Marcia Berger, an innovative
pediatric physical therapist, to provide an after-school program in the performing
arts for children with and without disabilities. In 1986, the non-profit
corporation was turned over to Marcia Berger by its founder; and thus, Arts
for All and Third St. Kids became one. The students, ages three through adulthood,
come from throughout the greater Tucson, Arizona area. All aspects of the
program exemplify integration for children with and without disabilities.
Arts for All currently provides special considerations during the planning
and programming for persons with physical disabilities, visual limitations,
hearing impairments, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, emotional
disturbances, mental illness, behavior problems, autism, and seizure disorders.
All programs attempt to provide a quality art focus for children and youth
with and without disabilities.
Arts for All currently has 10 projects which merge human services and the
Arts: Arts for All Presents, preschool, daily after-school classes, Summer/Winter
Arts Camps, Third St. Ensemble Company, support services, day program for
adults with disabilities, community-wide public performances, inclusion
aides training, and AmeriCorps.
In 1988, Arts for All received the Meyer Marmis Humanitarian Award from
the Southern Arizona Jewish Foundation. In 1989, Arts for All was chosen to represent
Arizona at the first International Very Special Arts Festival in
Washington, D.C. Eight students presented a workshop on integrated programming
through theatre games. The student delegates received copper letters from Tucson's
Mayor Volgy. Another honor in 1989 was presenting a performance at the joint
national conference of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education/Association
for Theatre and Disability in New York City. Again in 1994, this
Conference invited Arts for All to perform "Reckless Grace" in
Tempe, Arizona.
In 1991, sponsored by Very Special Arts Arizona, three members
of the Ensemble Company presented a multi-disciplinary performance in Hong
Kong for the Third International Abilympics. In Sept.
1995, nine members of the company went to Perth, Australia where
they performed a multi-disciplinary performance at the Fourth International
Abilympics. In August 2000, the Ensemble Company performed a multi-disciplinary
performance at the Fifth International Abilympics in Prague,
Czech Republic. The Ensemble Company has performed and directed workshops throughout
this country and in Hermosillo, Navajoa, and Ciudad Obregon, Mexico since
1994.
In 2003, Arts for All received the Producing Theatre Company award from the Arizona
Theatre Alliance. Third St. Ensemble Company received the VSAarts/Metlife
Foundation Award for Arts Access at the Kennedy Center in Washington,
D.C. Two other exciting events in 2003 were the announcement by Angel Charity
for Children, Inc. of Arts for All being their beneficiary and Arts for All being
chosen as an AmeriCorps site. In 2006, Arts for All received the Tucson Pima
Arts award for Arts Education Organization. Marcia Berger has received the Spirit
of Arizona Award (1988) from the Arizona State Senate, District
Service to Mankind Award (1989) from Sertoma International, the Jefferson
Award from the American Institute for Public Service (1990), recognition
from the Mayor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (1991),
the JC Penny Golden Rule Award (1992), the Diane Lynne
Anderson Award (1998), recognition from Az. Center for Disability
Law (2000), and YWCA’s Women on the Move Award (2000).
Francisco Hernandez, Assistant Director, is President of Children’s
Music Network and appointed by Governor Napolitano to the Board of Arizona
State Schools for the Deaf and Blind. Francisco also has received a President’s
Citation for Volunteerism (1997), served on the President’s
Committee on Employment for People with Disabilities (1998), and was
program chair for the National Council on Disabilities’ Youth
Leadership Program (1999). He also was chosen by the U.S. Department of
Health to present in Mexico City at a conference in 2002.
About Arts for All