About

The purpose of the OSLP Arts & Culture Program is to break down barriers to participation in the arts for people of all abilities and build bridges to a more diverse and inclusive community for all.  Our vision is achieved by providing a safe and welcoming environment for creativity, offering  classes and workshops in many expressive mediums, curating on and off-site exhibitions, facilitating mentorships between participants and professional artists, and partnering to provide unique community collaborations. 
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Our classes are for individuals of all abilities that are 18 years old and over.

History

Oregon Supported Living Program (OSLP) was originally founded in 1978 under the auspices of the University of Oregon to serve adults with mild developmental disabilities who lived independently. However, with the closures of the Fairview Training Center in Salem and the Siuslaw Care Center in Florence, many adults with more significant disabilities who had lived for most of their lives in institutions needed care. OSLP expanded to offer around-the-clock care in residential programs, while continuing to support adults with developmental disabilities who lived on their own.

In 1988, we became our own nonprofit. With time, we also added vocational and community inclusion programs, in order to help the people we support access meaningful work and volunteer opportunities in Eugene and Springfield. In 2012, in response to the limited and segregated artistic opportunities available to people with disabilities, OSLP formed our newest program, the OSLP Arts & Culture Program.

With over ten different art classes taught by professional artists on a quarterly basis, the program serves OSLP clients, adults with disabilities from other programs, and the general public. The program is truly inclusive and open to individuals with and without disabilities, making it one of only a few programs of its kind in the US.