St. John's News

St. John’s University will proudly host the annual Very Special Arts Festival on Tuesday, May 20 in Marillac Terrace on the University’s Queens Campus.  The exhibit is free and will be open from 9a.m.-12p.m.

Returning to St. John’s for the 17th-straight year, the exhibit celebrates the artistic achievements of students with disabilities, along with their mainstream peers and features performances, workshops in the visual and performing arts, and an exhibit of student art created around this year’s theme, “Live and Learn Through the Arts.”

“St. John’s is extremely proud and honored to once again host the annual Festival,” said Belenna Lauto, Professor of Fine Arts at St. John’s University.  “This is an exceptional event that provides hope and pride to so many children who struggle with the things that many of us take for granted on a daily basis.”

Students from schools throughout Queens will have their work on exhibit, with several of this year’s works stressing how art can be used across the curriculum to teach academics by making things easier to understand.

VSA arts of New York City provides art, educational and creative expression experiences to thousands of children, youth, and adults with disabilities who reside in the five boroughs of New York City. It provides opportunities for people with disabilities to demonstrate their accomplishments in the arts and foster increased understanding and acceptance.  VSA arts of New York City is a partner of VSA arts, an international, nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where all people with disabilities learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts.  

For media inquiries, please contact Elizabeth Reilly, Assistant Director of Media Relations at St. John’s, by calling (718) 990-5789, or by e-mail to reillye@stjohns.edu.  For additional news about St. John’s University, please visit www.stjohns.edu/news.