Few theatres provide challenging arts opportunities for adults with disabilities and fewer still encourage them to be artists as well as audience members. ArtStream's six Inclusive Theatre Companies invite actors with intellectual and developmental disabilities to collaborate with theater professionals and trained volunteer mentors to develop and present original musical theatre productions. Participants can also take theatre-based classes to boost self-confidence and strengthen communications and social skills. And the arts can heal, just as they can educate and entertain, so ArtStream brings highly-trained artists into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center: wounded service members, their families, and caregivers channel pain and trauma into creative work, while arts-based activities build resilience and morale among hospital personnel. Partnerships with schools, community organizations, and others ensure that adults and children can access the arts in a way that is meaningful, powerful, and healing. Your contribution makes it happen.

Headquarters: MD-Montgomery County

Where They Operate: MD-Montgomery County; MD-Prince George's County; VA-Arlington County; VA-Fairfax County; Operating out of Chevy Chase, MD, ArtStream provides programming for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) -including autism - in the Greater Washington DC metropolitan region. They also provide arts programs for wounded servicemembers, their families, and caregivers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) in Bethesda, MD.

Age Groups Served: Youth (5-11); Pre-teen/teen (12-17); Young adult (18-24); Adult (25-49); Seniors (50+)

Population(s) Served: Individuals with Disabilities; Veterans/Military Families

Schools They Work In: The Forbush School at Oakmont Upper School; The Frost School; The Katherine Thomas School; The Mason LIFE Program at George Mason University


  • Number of individuals with disabilities served annually:   1200
  • Number of wounded military personnel and their families served annually:   650
  • Number of nurses, medics, and technicians at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center reached each year:   1,700
  • Number of hours of volunteer work we record annually:   4494
  • Classes for people with disabilities offered annually:   759

Awards & Recognition

Down Syndrom Affiliates in Action - Best Teen/Adult Program (received in partnership with Down Syndrome Network Montgomery County)

The Ethan Saylor Memorial Film Festival - Outstanding Technical Support

The Arc Montgomery County - Community Inclusion Award

Montgomery County Executive's Awards for Excellence in the Arts & Humanities - Community Leader Award, Executive Director Patricia Woolsey

Press

Budget (FY2016)

  • $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • The current budget for ArtStream is: $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

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