Selected Artists from Arts Work

The Arts Work Program at Autism Services, Inc. (ASI) was created by Executive Director Veronica Federiconi in the fall of 2002. The Arts Work mission is to give children and adults with autism the opportunity to become involved in the visual and performing arts. Arts Work has become ASI’s signature program, emblematic of its mission.

ASI celebrates autism as a culture, and Arts Work is a platform for its visual and performing artists to express themselves to their communities. Communication is one of the main challenges people with autism face; visual art provides an alternative means of expression. The Arts Work Program has given artists with autism a voice. ASI artists are given many choices and encouraged to try new things, but the main objective is for them to find materials they feel comfortable with and create art-making processes of their own.

Since the program began, there have been over 50 Arts Work exhibitions held in museums, galleries, and other venues throughout Western New York. Arts Work artists have reached personal and professional milestones such as solo exhibitions, community recognition and awards.