Nationwide, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities use the creative arts as one form of rehabilitative treatment to help Veterans recover from and cope with physical and emotional disabilities. Across the country each year, Veterans enrolled at VA health care facilities compete in a local creative arts competition. The competition includes categories in the visual arts division that range from oil painting to leatherwork to paint-by-number kits. In addition, there are categories in writing as well as the performing arts of dance, drama and music. Local creative arts competition first place winning entries advance to a national judging process and first, second and third place entries in each category are determined.

The Competition

Most VA facility local competitions are held in January or February. Be sure to check with your VA facility as early as December in order to meet their deadline date for submission of entries into the local competition. For information regarding entering the 2019 competition, please reach out to the recreation/creative arts therapy staff at the VA facility in which you are enrolled. If you need assistance in identifying a VA staff person from your facility, please contact Amy Kimbler.

Selected invitees will be invited to attend the 2019 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival hosted by the Battle Creek VA Medical Center and held in Kalamazoo, Michigan October 28 – November 3, 2019.

The Festival

Co-presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Legion Auxiliary, the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival (NVCAF) is 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.

Veterans exhibit their artwork and original writings or perform musical, dance or dramatic selections in a live stage show performance. All Veterans invited to participate are selected winners of year-long, national fine arts talent competitions in which thousands of Veterans enter, from VA medical facilities across the nation.

VA medical facilities incorporate creative arts into their therapy programs to further the rehabilitation goals for both inpatients and outpatients. This annual competition recognizes the progress and recovery made through that therapy, and raises the visibility of the creative achievements of our Nation’s Veterans.

Events open to the public for the 2019 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival will be posted soon.

Most VA facility local competitions are held in January or February. Be sure to check with your VA facility as early as December in order to meet their deadline date for submission of entries into the local competition. For information regarding entering the 2019 competition, please reach out to the recreation/creative arts therapy staff at the VA facility in which you are enrolled. If you need assistance in identifying a VA staff person from your facility, please contact Amy Kimbler.

2019 Competition Rules and Categories

Downloads:

• Competition & Festival Rules
• Art Division Rules & Categories
• Creative Writing Division Rules & Categories
• Dance Division Rules & Categories
• Drama Division Rules & Categories
• Music Division Rules & Categories

Note: Entry, consent and other competition forms are not included on this website, as Veterans must work with a staff person from the VA facility where they are enrolled to submit entries into the competition.

This competition is open to Veterans who are enrolled at a VA Medical Center or Outpatient Clinic BEFORE entering the local competition. An eligible Veteran can enter local competition at only one VA facility per year. He/she can submit an entry in creative writing, dance, drama or music categories with a Veteran or group from another VA facility, but still represents and must work through his/her originating VA facility to enter the competition. This facility should be the site where he/she receives their primary treatment.

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