Welcome to the performing arts division of the National Federation of the Blind
The Mary Anne Parks Performing Arts Division Scholarship
The Performing Arts Division is proud to announce the opening of the Mary Anne Parks Performing Arts Scholarship. This scholarship will assist high school seniors through grad students in their performing arts pursuits. The deadline for application submission is March 31, 2010. The scholarship will be awarded at the convention of the National Federation of the Blind, July 3 to 8, 2010 in Dallas TX. If you have any questions about the application, contact Lisa Ostrow, the scholarship coordinator. Download the application in DOC format
10 Year Anniversary
This year the Performing Arts Division is celibrating it's 10 year anniversary. As part of the celibration, the division is putting together an album of performences from the last 3 talent shows. This album will be released at the national convention. You can download the first promo single from the album right here. The song is called My Redeemer. The celibration will continue through this year's national convention.
2010 National Convention
Join us for this year's national convention. Saturday, July 3—Thursday, July 8, 2010 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel 2201 Stemmons Freeway Dallas, Texas 75207. Reservations: Call (214) 761-7500 only.
The 2010 room rates are singles, doubles, and twins $62; and triples and quads $67 a night; plus a 15 percent sales tax. The hotel is accepting reservations now. A $60-per-room deposit is required to make a reservation. 50 percent of the deposit will be refunded if notice is given to the hotel of a reservation cancellation before June 1, 2010. The other 50 percent is not refundable.
Rooms will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations may be made before June 1, 2010, assuming that rooms are still available. After that time the hotel will not hold our block of rooms for the convention. In other words, you should get your reservation in soon. Check the PAD website for Performing Arts Division agenda items.
Sound in Sight Vol. 1
The Performing Arts Division would like to thank you for supporting our efforts to assist blind artists. The money that we raise from the album will go to our scholarship, and other programs that will help further the goals of blind artists. Take a moment to read our history. you can click here to buy our album
This album has many different genres on it, so there is something for everyone. Be sure to buy your copy today.
You can see the pictures and bios of all the artists on this album by going to the bio page.
Proclamation
In June of 2008, Governor David Paterson of New York state declared the first week in July as Blind and Visually Impaired Entertainers week, and in June of 2009, Governor Jenifer Granholm of Michigan did the same. The Performing Arts Division is proud of these proclamations and will continue our mission of serving blind entertainers across these great United States. Read the full proclamation on the New York State site. Read the Michigan proclamation.
In remembrance of one of our leaders
Mary Anne Parks. November 1, 1976 to August 25, 2007.
Mary Anne Parks was the secretary of the performing arts division. First elected in 2005, she helped oversee the division as it went through great exspanchin. AS one of the leaders in the division, she helped manage the summer conventions, kept records, and helped to put together and promote the Sound in Sight project that was released in 2007. In addission to the performing arts, she was also secretary of the NFB of Georgia. Mary Anne died on August 25, 2007 do to injuries sustained in an auto accident. She will always be remembered for the positive, upbeat, strong willed person that she was. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. In 2008, the Performing Arts Division established a scholarship in her name. At the 2008 NFB talent show, Beth Allred opened the show by singing a slitely different virsion of the song called On the other shore. The song can be found on the 2007 Sound and Sight album.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Performing Arts Division is a division of the National Federation of the Blind created in 2000 to bring together blind and visually impaired people who have a common and professional interest in the entertainment field.
The Performing Arts Division, or PAD, serves as a promotional and networking resource to help its members achieve their artistic and professional goals. The Division provides artistic outlets for our members while raising media awareness for talented blind entertainers of all genres by sponsoring live performances and projects.
The PAD hopes to foster a vital artistic community, connecting the National Federation of the Blind to people and patrons it could never have reached otherwise.
Click here to read our constitution
Click here to read the Performing Arts road map of service.
Please join our Perform-Talk discussion group.
