Award Winning
Artist & Educator
BIO
Kevin Spencer
Kevin Spencer, Ph.D. is an award-winning performing artist and academic. Spencer and his wife, Cindy, toured the world for more than 25 years, with one of the largest and most successful theatrical illusion productions in the U.S. They left behind a trail of accolades in their wake including 2009 International Illusionists of the Year and six-time recipients of Performing Arts Entertainer of the Year. They are also the recipients of the magic industry’s most prestigious award given by The Milbourne Christopher Foundation – the 2015 International Illusionists of the Year for notable contributions to the art of magic.
At the pinnacle of their career, Kevin stepped away from the big stage and into classrooms and hospitals around the globe. He is the leading international authority on the academic and therapeutic benefits of simple magic tricks in educational and clinical settings. His work focuses on using the art of magic to impact change in the lives of people with autism, developmental disabilities, intellectual challenges, emotional disturbance, and those who have histories of trauma.
What we have
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Spencer’s program – Hocus Focus™ – is a 2022 Silver recipient for “Best Innovation” and Spencer himself is a Gold recipient for “Leader of the Year” awarded at the inaugural Anthem Awards, both in the category of Education, Art, and Culture. Spencer was also a 2022 finalist for the Zero Project Award which recognizes innovative persons, practices, and models that improve the daily lives of persons with disabilities.
He is a leading voice in the performing arts industry (recipient of the North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents – NAPAMA – Artist/Agent of the Year in 2021), a Fulbright Specialist on arts integration for special populations for the U.S. Department of State, faculty in the department of education at Carlow University in Pittsburgh, a research consultant for the School of Health Professions Department of Occupational Therapy and Institute for Arts in Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and an Approved Provider of Continuing Education for the American Occupational Therapy Association. He is considered the leading international authority on the therapeutic application of magic tricks in physical and psychosocial rehabilitation.
In 2016, he produced a short documentary – Powerful Medicine: Simply Magic – that showcases individuals of varying abilities who, through the art of magic, have overcome physical, developmental, and intellectual challenges. It has earned 18 international film festival awards and continues to inspire audiences around the world.
OUR HAPPY CLIENTS
What people are saying about Kevin Spencer
Kevin Spencer has more academic and professional experience and connections in the broad area of disabilities than anyone I have known in my 35 years in this field. He is such a humble and unassuming individual – you cannot imagine the depths of his knowledge, skill, and heart until you see him at work. Those who spend their lives struggling with their disability, no matter their capabilities, were pushing the limits of their concentration as well as their motor skills because he brought forth the motivation to do so. As our week together progressed, it was clear to me that he was not only gifted but, indeed, a gift.
It is with great enthusiasm that I share my experience in having Kevin Spencer provide riveting professional development sessions to educational researchers, administrators, teachers and parents. His interdisciplinary approach to designing arts-based curriculum values a holistic philosophy so essential to effective educational experiences that are generalizable for children with disabilities. But the real magic is how he inspires educators to move beyond their preconceptions of instruction and learning and to think creatively when designing effective educational experiences.
Kevin’s method of interacting with the children and young adults was engaging and cheerful. More important than his interactive style, he did not define the children by their ‘disability’ or ‘diagnosis.’ He saw them as individuals with potential. His workshops explored and pushed the limits of that potential. For me, observing his work was inspiring and emotional. It reminded me of why we can be so passionate about assisting people with many kinds of challenges in life. This was a gift that Kevin gave to me.
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