WHAM is a non-profit art organization in the West Valley - Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area.  In addition to public art murals, art festivals, art walks, and community art programs, WHAM is offering a free one year art program for veterans.  The program, "Art: A Path to Healing"' features twelve four hour sessions in which participants will learn from professional artists.  Classes range from drawing, painting, and other mediums.  The goal of the program is to assist veterans of all ages to cope, through art and collaboration, with Post Traumatic Stress D

Join Americans for the Arts as we create the first directory of organizations and individuals across the countries who are actively working to promote awareness of the arts in health, healing, and healthcare for military service members, veterans, their families, and caregivers.  The National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military invites all artists or local arts organizations who work to support the military in any capacity to please participate in our National Network and Directory.

Join us as we create the first directory of organizations and individuals across the countries who are actively working to promote awareness of the arts in health, healing, and healthcare for military service members, veterans, their families, and caregivers. If you are an artist or a local arts organization who works to support the military in any capacity, please participate in our National Network and Directory now to be included in the November 2014 posting! 

On May 17th, Armed Forces Day, veterans traveled to Richmond, VA to use a hand-built ballista to launch physical symbols of their military service into a clay wall that will later be cast and become a tribute to veterans. The Veterans Impact Project made its debut at the Dominion Riverrock Festival. A collaborative project between Art on Wheels and artist James Robertson, it is the first art project of its kind to enable veterans to honor the military and to give them a platform to communicate their experiences.

The 9th Annual GI Film Festival presents both classic and premier films celebrating the heroic stories of the American Armed Forces and the worldwide struggle for freedom and liberty. This unique film festival will be held in the Washington DC area just before the Memorial Day weekend to honor the courage and selflessness of American troops.

American Legion Auxillary's kickoff event last night for their 2015 conference was a tribute to the arts, and how the arts help members of our military and veterns in re-entry and healing. Americans for the Arts' CEO and President, Robert Lynch; Director of Arts Policy, Marete Wester; and Board member, General Nolen Bivens, U.S. Army, Ret. attended and spoke at the event. 

As part of Americans for the Arts' ongoing initative to support our veterans and their families by helping them heal through the arts, we have recently partnered with We Are Veterans, a collaboration of local PBS stations, partner organizations, veteran service organizations, and communities to leverage resources to raise awareness about the well-being of veterans and their families.

On Wednesday, the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation announced the 2014 season at The Freeman Stage at Bayside in Selbyville, DE. Featuring a wonderful array of artists, the seventh season aims to expose audiences to diverse performances and instill the value of the arts in the community. The “Bruce in the USA” performance will feature veterans from Operation SEAS the Day while “Locals Under the Lights” evenings will highlight local artists.

In March 2014, the Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) published its annual State of the Nonprofit Sector. Our VP of Research, Randy Cohen, breaks down the findings for us on ARTSBlog. 

“Good ideas can come from anywhere…if you ask us, convicts are pretty interesting people” comments Ben Pfutzenreuter, one of the founders of Concepting with Convicts, a project that partners with convicted felons to create powerful ads through the prison pen pal system. The partnership consists of the felon serving as art director or writer for an ad that is completed with help from the four directors of the project.

On Feb. 23, 2014 at the age of 110, Alice Herz-Sommer, a concert pianist and thought to be oldest survivor of the Holocaust, died in a London hospital. Mrs. Herz-Sommer was known around the world for her optimism and belief in the healing power of music. She shared her experiences and wisdom through books, YouTube Appearances and a short documentary film nominated this year for an Oscar. Born and raised in Prague, Mrs. Herz-Sommer’s upbringing included being surrounded by writers and musicians, which led to her life as an accomplished concert pianist. 

In response to the Colorado shootings last December, Huffington Post blogger Kimann Schultz wrote about using art as a form of non-violent expression - a healthy way to express negative emotions like anger and frusteration. She urged that in the wake of such distasters, when mental healthcare is at the forefront of our minds, we keep the Arts as a relam to be tapped and a possible solution to an individual's issues.

Nolen V. Bivens, Brigadier General, US Army (Ret.), Americans for the Arts Board Member and Chairman of the National Leadership Advisory Council of the National Initiative for Arts and Health in the Military, was honored on Veterans Day in his hometown of Chesterfield, VA. He was presented the keys to the town, and was guest speaker for the event. He credited his mother with his success in life, saying she taught him the words he has tried to live by: ‘Stand up to speak. Speak up to be heard. And sit down to be loved.’

According to Jennifer DeChant - executive director of the Chocolate Church Arts Center in Bath, Maine - arts and culture are underrated and understated contributors to the economy in Southern Maine. She believes community arts organizations are a place to display local talent, but also offer teaching opportunities for young students.

In honor of Veterans Day on Monday, November 11, Americans for the Arts CEO and President Bob Lynch and Ret. Brigadier General Nolen Bivens, U.S. Army co-authored an article to the Huffington Post about the unique challenges our military members face today and how the arts are helping them heal.