Statewide Forums on Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities 

Since 2002, the National Arts and Disability Center in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, VSA arts, and the Social Security Administration have assisted states in conducting forums to address the challenges and opportunities for people with disabilities pursuing employment in the arts. The Forums seek to provide artists with disabilities the opportunity to network with other artists and potential arts employers. In addition, the Forums and follow-up activities provide professional development training and opportunities for artists with disabilities along with a unique understanding of the impact of work on benefits. Check out what's happening in these states.

The following resources are to assist the individual with a disability find resources and information in support of establishing or maintaining a career in the arts. Please note, resources are listed for informational purposes only and do not denote an endorsement by the NADC.

Performing Arts Career Guide allows you to explore careers in the performing arts with links to job descriptions, which include information such as daily activities, skill requirements, salary and training required. To learn more about Performing Arts, follow the related links below the career descriptions section.

Visual Arts Career Guide allows you to explore careers in Art with links to job descriptions, which include information such as daily activities, skill requirements, salary and training required. To learn more about Art, follow the related links below the career descriptions section.

Visual, Literary and Performing Arts. Chapter 2 from the book, “Putting Creativity to Work: Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities”, offers a broad picture of careers in the visual, literary or performing arts.

Creative Industries: Business & Employment in the Arts reports offer a new, research-based approach to understanding the scope and importance of the arts based organizations and businesses to the nation's economy. Creative Industries is the first national study that encompasses both the nonprofit and for-profit arts industry and demonstrates how the arts are a formidable industry in the United States. Information from this report can be used to generate reports for individual states.

CareerOneStop is a U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored Web site that offers career resources and workforce information to job seekers, students, businesses, and workforce professionals to foster talent development in a global economy. Includes state specific information and wages on arts related professions.

Assistive Devices, Services and Products for Physical and Program Accessibility This resource directory contains services and providers for developing accessible facilities and programs in the arts. This is a listing of regional and national providers. The NADC encourages contacting manufacturers, vendors and service providers to ensure the most up-to-date information is obtained at the time of need. Please note the following resources are provided for information purposes only and do not denote an endorsement by the National Arts and Disability Center.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), is a free consulting service designed to increase the employability of people with disabilities by: 1) providing individualized worksite accommodation solutions, 2) providing technical assistance regarding the ADA and other disability related legislation, and 3) educating callers about self-employment options.

Artcareer Network, offers a complete resource for careers at museums, art galleries, educational institutions, and multi-disciplinary organizations as well as businesses related to visual arts.

ARTJOB ONLINE features a regularly updated database of national job listings in all arts disciplines in the nonprofit, commercial, academic, and public sectors. The service is a source for professional opportunities and key information in all areas of the arts.

ArtSEARCH hosted by Theatre Communications Group, (TCG) ArtSearch is a subscription service which provides access to employment at Theatres and performing arts centers; Summer festivals; Universities, colleges and schools; Dance companies; Opera companies; Symphony orchestras; Museums; Arts councils; and other arts organizations -- including full-time, part-time, seasonal, year-round and internship opportunities, from entry level to upper management.

Entertainment Careers.NET is a free site that lists Entertainment Industry jobs and internships listings at Studios, Networks, Production Companies, Record Companies, TV and Radio Stations, VFX, Animation, Broadcasting.

Museum Employment Resource Center has been listing jobs for the museum and cultural resource communities since March, 1996. They are the oldest such service on the internet and, on average, 822 employment seekers visit their website each day.

New York Foundation for the Arts offers a searchable database to find jobs and internships in the arts for artists.

Playbill Online offers job notices for performers, technicians, designers, and administrators.

Showbiz Jobs.com lists positions available in many areas of the entertainment industry. Showbizjobs.com specializes in Administrative Jobs within entertainment-related companies.

Theatrejobs is a free-based site that has an online database with hundreds of ads in all fields of theatre. Subscribers can check out the ads and post their resumes and portfolios. Employers can post ads and set up direct links to their web sites.

Writers Resource Center job blog with postings for general writing, freelance writing, copywriting, editing, literary, online/web, proofreading, sports, technical writing and journalism.

Customized Employment. This fact sheet is a Q & A about customized employment. Customized employment means individualizing the employment relationship between job seekers and employers that meets the needs of both. Customized employment may include creating an individualized job and or self employment.

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provide technical assistance to new business start-ups and expansion of existing businesses. These centers are often funded in educational institutions. The funding is from the Small Business Administration (SBA), with a local partner (e.g., chamber of commerce).

The Office of Disability Employment Policy's Small Business and Self-Employment for People with Disabilities Service goal is to identify, on a national level, appropriate resources for planning, training, technical assistance, and capital development for individuals with disabilities who wish to start or expand their own businesses.

The Abilities Fund is dedicated to entrepreneurial opportunities for people with disabilities and offers microloans for people with disabilities in 45 states.

Fractured Atlas is a non-profit organization that serves a national community of artists and arts organizations. They provide resources for affordable healthcare and other resources such as a job bank.

Access to Health Insurance / Resources for Care is a service of The Actors' Fund of America's Health Insurance Resource Center. It provides health insurance information for individuals as well as through self employment and small businesses. Getting health insurance or finding quality medical care is a constant concern for anyone who is uninsured or who isn’t covered by an employer, union or government health plan. The Center identifies alternative routes to coverage and local resources for care for performers, visual artists, stagehands, filmmakers, musicians, artisans, and other self-employed and episodic workers.

Understanding Supplemental Security Income: SSI Spotlight on Income From The Arts 2007 Edition provides resources on how artists who get SSI can earn income for their art.

Continued Medicaid Eligibility (Section 1619(B) One of the biggest concerns SSI beneficiaries have about going to work is the possibility of losing Medicaid coverage. Section 1619(b) of the Social Security Act provides some protection for these beneficiaries. This site describes the qualifications for continued coverage.

Disability Benefits 101: Working with a Disability in California This site includes a disability benefits calculator to help individuals you see how their earnings might affect benefits.

Plan to Achieve Self-Support or PASS is an SSI provision to help individuals return to work. PASS plans have been used by artists with disabilities to become self supporting artists. The Cornell University Disability and Employment Institute provides a detailed explanation for the PASS program as well as a helpful tutorial on completing the application.

Work Incentives (SSA) Special rules make it possible for people with disabilities receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to work and still receive monthly payments and Medicare or Medicaid. Social Security calls these rules "work incentives." This site provides a general overview of these incentives.

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts – Assists people with issues such as: contract negotiations, mediation services, nonprofit incorporation, copyright information and infringement lawsuits, tax information, estate planning, and lease review. VLA organizations also provides education programs, including seminars, publications, and the maintenance of art law libraries.

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