Another “Freedom Rock” was unveiled in Wapello County, Iowa, painted by muralist Ray "Bubba" Sorenson II in a partnership between the Ottumwa Area Arts Council and local Vietnam Veterans groups. The 11.5 ton boulder has been transformed into a Vietnam Veterans Memorial for the town of Ottumwa and will lead the way for a planned Freedom Trail, linking the town's veteran tributes to one another.

Arthur Bloom, founder of MusiCorps, and has been chosen as one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2014. He will be honored at “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” airing December 7 on the global networks of CNN.

The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival (NVCAF) is the celebration and grand finale stage and art show, which are the culmination of talent competitions in art, creative writing, dance, drama and music for Veterans treated in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national health care system.

The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival (NVCAF) is the celebration and grand finale stage and art show, which are the culmination of talent competitions in art, creative writing, dance, drama and music for Veterans treated in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national health care system.

BASETRACK LIVE is a multidisciplinary work including theater, music, news media, journalism, and technology.  While embedded with the First Battalion, Eighth Marines in Southern Afghanistan, a group of photojournalists led by Teru Kuwayama started the online project that became the authentic dialogue of the performance.  Connecting Battalion members with their families and others around the world, the online project became a platform for documenting the range of perspectives and the emotional tolls of deployment and beyond.

As part of Americans for the Arts' work to help advance the goals of The National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military, Marete Wester, Senior Director of Arts Policy, has organized a session for the upcoming Grantmakers in the Arts 2014 Conference in Houston, Texas, October 12-15, that focuses on the challenges both military and arts funders face in supporting arts projects by and for service members, veterans, and their families.  "Charti

Canyon Ranch Institute, announced the October 1, 2014 application deadline for the Canyon Ranch Institute (CRI) Healthy World Scholarships. Twenty-five CRI Healthy World Scholarships, each of which includes a five-day, four-night stay at Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Tucson, Arizona, will be awarded to people who work or volunteer in low-income and medically underserved communities, helping to enhance the health and well-being of their local populations.

Arlington Sons, a moving musical performance accompanied by select ensemble members of the USAF Band, is currently touring the DC area, with performances at Arlington, VA on September 21 and the Bowie Theater in MD on September 25, 2014.

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.