VSA arts of Missouri, an organization dedicated to providing access to the arts for adults and children with disabilities has announced two opportunities for self-expression.

The anthology Vision, Strength, Access will be published in spring 2009 to showcase some of the best creative work by Missouri artists and writers, ages 18 and older, who have disabilities. The 50-page work will include poetry, short fiction and non-fiction, and art. Selected contributors will receive a small honorarium and two copies of the publication.

For complete guidelines for the submission of work for the Missouri publication send an e-mail here. The deadline is December 15, 2008.

Submissions for the theme, At a Second Glance, are being solicited by the online national VSA arts literary journal Infinite Difference from students with disabilities and from students who have connections to people with disabilities who are ages 11-18. The deadline is November 21, 2008. Entry guidelines may be found here.

VSA arts of Missouri, with support from the Missouri Arts Council, the Regional Cultural & Performing Arts Development Commission (RAC), and the VSA arts national office, is working towards becoming an affiliate of VSA arts.

VSA arts is 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. It is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For information specific to a location go here.

VSA arts of Missouri is located at 6128 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis. The phone number is (314) 920-9701.