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Omaha Veterans Creative Arts Competition

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.

2024 deadline is July 31 at 4:00 pm.

Creative arts competition and exhibition

Veterans enrolled in VA health care are invited to participate in the Nebraska VA Veterans Creative Arts Competition. This is an opportunity to gain recognition for your creative accomplishments.

All entries will be shown in a special exhibition. Local creative arts competition first place winning entries advance to a national judging process. Selected gold-medal-winning Veterans are invited to attend the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival.

Our Nebraska VA Veterans Creative Arts Competition will be held in June and our local exhibition in August. The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival will occur during the spring of the following year.

To participate, Veterans must be enrolled in the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System. VA Creative Arts Competition submissions will be received as follows:

Visual arts

The visual arts division includes fine art, applied art, and craft kits. All art must have been created since April 1 of the previous year, except for Military Combat Experience. Submissions are accepted during the month of June. For more information, please contact Jamie Kunz, Recreation Therapist, at 402-573-3499  Jamie.kunz2@va.gov

Creative writing

The creative writing division includes poetry, essays, personal experience, short stories and monologue/duologue. please contact Jamie Kunz, Recreation Therapist, at 402-573-3499  Jamie.kunz2@va.gov in early May for submission guidelines and to submit your writing.

Performing arts

Performing arts includes the divisions of dance, drama, and music. Entries must be three (3) minutes or less in length and will be filmed by the VA staff over the internet. Please contact Jamie Kunz, Recreation Therapist, at 402-573-3499  Jamie.kunz2@va.gov