Wyoming Veterans needed for national festival!
Every year, Veterans from all around the country take part in the National Veterans Creative Arts Competition--in more than 100 categories in five divisions--and we want Wyoming to dominate in 2024... but we need local entries first!
How does it work?
"Meet" Wyoming Veteran Deb Zelenak, 2023 honoree
Last year we held our local competition and received entries for many categories. That included entries in the Needlework and Fabric Art Kit categories from Wyoming Veteran Deb Zelenak. She earned first place in both categories, so we then submitted her art to a national review board, along with all the other Veterans who won first place in their respective categories. Her art was selected to be shown at the National Creative Arts Festival in St. Louis, co-hosted by the American Legion Auxiliary.
What did that mean for Deb? A weeklong trip to take part in the national festival in St. Louis, which included airfare, accommodations, food and many activities... like a trip to the National Blues Museum, captured in this short video: https://www.instagram.com/p/CrB7CERJ2_U/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link .
The next national festival will be in the spring of 2024 in Denver and entries are now being accepted!
Deadline is September 1. We need to receive it by this date for our local judging, in order to be considered for the national art submissions. Entries can include any work done within the last year, so Veterans who already have a creative product that meets the requirements of a category are welcome to submit. Veterans do need to be enrolled at the VA they're entering from, so if you're enrolled with another VA reach out to them. If you're not enrolled, please give us a call at 307-672-3473 and select the "eligibility and enrollment" option.
Information on each division is available at https://department.va.gov/veteran-sports/national-veterans-creative-arts-festival/ --the local and national competition have the same requirements.
Category information is available from national site, along with category information, but Veterans who would like to take part need to email Sheridan_Creative_Arts@va.gov (NOTE: there are underscores between words) for the submission form. Performance artists should email requesting information on how they submit their entry. You may also contact Recreation Therapy Supervisor Tami Fleshman at 307-675-3312.