VAE provides mentoring and community service opportunities for youth and adults, as well as opportunities to work with talented local artists in classes, workshops, and camps. VAE's popular Basement Music Series brings jazz, folk, bluegrass, rock, and alt-music artists from NYC, Boston, etc. to VAE's intimate, cabaret-like venue. Omar Sosa, Morley, the Howard Fishman Quartet, Brazztree, the Jamie Baum Septet, Syd Straw and Plankton, Luminescent Orchestrii, and others have played sold-out shows.