Working in Arts Policy: Interview with Americans for the Arts’ Marete Wester
Cara Scharf
Art2Action Inc. & Sacred Grounds Coffee House, in partnership with The Carpetbag Theatre, Inc. and Alternate ROOTS, are pleased to present this on-going creative space for Veterans, families, community supporters, caregivers and allies in the Tampa Bay Area!
The United States Air Force Orchestra accompanies a musical performance commemorating the 150th anniversary of Arlington National Cemetery and featuring the Washington, D.C., area premiere of "Arlington Sons," performed by Broadway and Metropolitan Opera star, David Pittsinger, as well as an original work by Virginia composer Stephen Melillo, titled "Courageous."
Reception: Friday, March 13 7-9pm
Exhibitions: March 13 - April 12
National Initiative for Arts and Health in the Military
National Initiative for Arts and Health in the Military
The Arts are not “only” the NEA…
“Above all, artists must not be only in art galleries or museums — they must be present in all possible activities.” — Michelangelo Pistoletto
What is art? Art is a means for social change. Art is relaxing. Art is inspiring. Art is culture. Art is pretty.
In advance of Veterans Day and the congressional district work period, Americans for the Arts in coordination with the Congressional Arts Caucus held a congressional briefing on “Veterans and the Arts”, Monday, November 2nd from 11 am – 12:00 p.m. in Rayburn House Office Building room 2103. The briefing highlighted some of the successful and promising work being done through the VA through partnerships, such as the VA Arts, Health & Well-being Pilot Project, coordinated by Americans for the Arts in partnership with Johnson & Johnson and the 
National Initiative for Arts and Health in the Military's National Initiative Directory
Randy Cohen
10 Reasons to Support the Arts in 2019
Posted by Feb 25, 2019
Randy Cohen
The arts advocacy season is upon us once again. It’s time to meet with your legislators to help them understand the value of investing in the arts. How to prepare? Start with this list of “10 Reasons to Support the Arts.” It can feel intimidating walking into a legislator’s office—even to experienced advocates. To always feel prepared, I break the advocacy process down into three simple questions: Who gets the message? What is the message? Who delivers the message? Remember the Golden Rule: No numbers without a story, and no stories without a number. The arts are all about stories—often small, always meaningful. Share yours. It’s engaging and draws your listener in—and then pair it with the research-based findings in “10 Reasons to Support the Arts.” Yours will be an advocacy visit that is not soon forgotten.
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Marete Wester
Feeling the Love in February: The National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military
Posted by Feb 08, 2019
Marete Wester
This February reflection takes me squarely into the midst of the incredible people working at the intersections of arts, health, and the military. One of the fastest growing networks at Americans for the Arts is the National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military (NIAHM) Facebook Group. I am feeling the love for everyone who shares their programs and stories regularly in the NIAHM group, whose contributors represent a dynamic mix of individuals and organizations, state and local arts agencies, VA programs, arts and veterans service organizations—representing all branches of service, and all forms of art and art-making. Each day brings new postings of happenings across the country, new programs, new milestones, new art, and new inspirations. Our member postings run the gamut of understanding the deep historical roots of the arts in the military, to examples of how today’s veteran artists are carving out the unique history of the 21st century through their art. A sampling of the postings from just the last two weeks tells a rich story of the history and diversity of the arts as part of the military culture.
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Mr. Nolen V. Bivens
Community Boots on the Ground: Building Healing Arts and Military Community Relationships
Posted by Nov 09, 2018
Mr. Nolen V. Bivens
For several years now, I’ve had the great honor to work with Americans for the Arts and its National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military to convene and advocate the value of the arts in health and healing nationwide, particularly its significance to the military community. Through this transforming experience, I’ve seen thousands of individuals—boots on the ground—who are building healing arts and military networks, which offer civilian and military community members greater opportunities to regain health and wellbeing and to build resiliency in response to the reality of increasing trauma occurring within our communities. A ubiquitous presence in the community ecosystem uniquely positions the arts to lead the movement to create healing networks and non-stigmatized environments that both afford respect and foster community-wide resilience and growth for individuals facing the invisible wounds of war.
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Ms. Phyllis Kennedy
Growing New Mexico Arts and the Military Initiative: Finding a Heart for Veterans
Posted by Nov 02, 2018
Ms. Phyllis Kennedy
In a state with two million people spread out over a landmass that’s 10 times the size of New Jersey, the challenges of bringing people together in one place are obvious. Yet we know from experience that the time invested in traveling outside the state capital to cities and rural communities is worth the effort, and is indeed the only way to build trust between neighbors for a new concept. Fortunately, we could rely on the National Endowment for the Arts’ Creative Forces and Americans for the Arts’ National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military for guidance. In the last three years we have held face-to-face meetings with 90+ new individuals at three roundtable discussions—two in Albuquerque, one in Roswell. In the last two grant cycles, we have funded five new projects with a veteran and/or military focus. These numbers are modest, and we acknowledge, even embrace, the “baby-steps” method of outreach.
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Mr. Robert Lynch
The Arts Say Thank You to Our Veterans and Active Duty Military
Posted by Nov 20, 2018
Mr. Robert Lynch
As we celebrate both Thanksgiving and National Veterans and Military Families Month this year, we honor the service and sacrifice of America’s more than 18 million veterans across the country. Arts and humanities events and programs remind us of the contributions that veterans and active duty military and their families have made and the power of joining together through the shared experience of art. We recognize the growing number of state and local-level arts and military initiatives that are creating greater access and more opportunities across the country. These programs unite us, bridging the civilian/military divide in a non-partisan way that only the arts can, in communities both large and small. And these efforts aren’t just one-time events; they represent long-term commitments from artists and arts groups to serve those who have served.
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Mr. Clayton W. Lord
Introducing the Arts + Social Impact Explorer
Posted by Oct 09, 2018
Mr. Clayton W. Lord
To improve the perceived public value of the arts, we must connect into the places where people find value. To get members of our community to stand up and say, “We want more,” we have to tell them why “more” matters. If we’re trying to create advocates for arts and culture among the members of communities, we need to increase the occasions where thinking about the arts makes sense. Because the truth is, the arts make more things possible, from better education to greater health outcomes to a more civically-engaged citizenry—it’s just that people don’t always see the connection to the arts when change happens. Knowing people prioritize core issue areas like education, job security, housing, public safety, and health and wellness, how do we show the important ways the arts intersect with their day-to-day lives? At Americans for the Arts, our answer is the Arts + Social Impact Explorer.
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Scott A. Cook
Vet Voices: A Healing Journey into Theatre Arts
Posted by Aug 10, 2018
Scott A. Cook
Early in 2017, TheatreWorks Florida was interested in a new focus group for their highly successful community outreach program, TheatreCares. Through a quick internet search of “arts,” “health,” and “military,” I fell down a rabbit hole of information that led to an incredible year and a half journey of discovery to combine theatre arts with military veteran health needs. The outcome is our outstanding arts and health in the military program called Vet Voices, which provides veterans an opportunity for positive self-awareness and self-discovery in a creative “safe space” environment and allows veterans affected by war to explore the theatre arts and ultimately find healing through creativity.
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Mrs. Shawna N.M. Barnes
Combat Medic to Ceramic Artist: Art as Therapy
Posted by Jun 08, 2018
Mrs. Shawna N.M. Barnes
I’m a disabled (differently-abled) Operation: Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Veteran who found clay after my medical retirement from the US Army in 2011, where I served as a combat medic. It has turned into a business, a passion, and my art has taken on a new purpose. I am passionate about how much my sculpting has helped me and I have an even deeper passion for sharing this amazing self-care concept/activity with as many people as I can. It is important to remember that art therapy is very different than art as therapy, which I teach and practice for self-care. I feel that the daily activities we do at home for self-care can be just as important as the work done in the therapist’s office. We must learn to be okay with taking our health into our own hands, including our mental health. It’s up to each and every one of us to advocate for what we know is in our best interest.
It is important to remember that art therapy is very different than art as therapy.
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April Sullivan
VSA Texas Distinguished Artist Veterans: A State of Arts & Military Outreach
Posted by Apr 06, 2018
April Sullivan
VSA Texas works with people with disabilities as they access the arts. This can be as a patron of the arts or as an artist. Through our Artworks: Creative Industries program, we meet artists where they are in their hobby or career and act as a resource to move them to where they want to be in that hobby or career. My challenge is to find out what the barriers are for our artists and find ways for each of them to work through those barriers to reach their personal goals. In 2009, we noticed a barrier for Veteran artists within our own services. Veterans in our community were not identifying as artists with disabilities, so they were not entering our art exhibitions or attending our workshops and events. Rather than trying to change their viewpoints, we adapted ours and started programming specifically for Veterans.
Read MoreRandy Cohen
Ten Reasons to Support the Arts in 2018
Posted by Mar 09, 2018
Randy Cohen
The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They ennoble and inspire us—fostering creativity, goodness, and beauty. The arts bring us joy, help us express our values, and build bridges between cultures. The arts are also a fundamental component of a healthy community—strengthening them socially, educationally, and economically—benefits that persist even in difficult social and economic times. The arts are all about stories—often small, always meaningful. This advocacy season, find your stories and pair them with the research-based findings in the “10 Reasons to Support the Arts.” Yours will be an advocacy visit that is not soon forgotten.
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