Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network

Community Network

Two men in a metalworking workshop working together to shape a hot piece of metal

Photo by Jeremy Todd/NEA

Around the Creative Forces clinical sites, the National Endowment for the Arts is creating a community-based military and veteran family support network to provide increased arts opportunities. These networks will extend support for current and former creative arts therapies patients and their families as they transition from treatment in a clinical setting to arts programming in their community. Community networks include:

  • State and Local Arts Agencies
  • Community Arts Programs
  • Veterans Networks
  • Military Family Support Networks
  • Individual Artists

Want to be connected with the community network near one of the clinical locations? Contact info@neacreativeforces.org.

CREATIVE FORCES SUMMITS

As part of their participation in Creative Forces, in 2017-2018 state arts agencies worked with local partners to host summits to bring together the military and arts communities in the areas near Creative Forces clinical sites. Summits took place in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, National Capital Region, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington state.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS PROJECTS

The next phase of Creative Forces’ community work following the summits is the development of Community Connections projects. Taking place around Creative Forces sites across the country, these community-based arts programs respond to the lessons learned, relationships forged, and needs identified at the summit. As such, each Community Connections project will be distinct. Projects include activities such as pop-up musical performances by service members, veterans, and local musicians; creative writing workshops; and training that increases understanding between the arts and military communities, among other activities.

Each project receives up to $50,000 and will document lessons learned throughout the collaboration. Materials generated from the projects will be placed in a future, online National Resource Center that will be accessible to others interested in developing their own arts and military programming.

The 10 Community Connections projects are taking place at 11 Creative Forces sites.