2024 Creative Arts Festival Entry Information

National Veterans Creative Arts Program and Competition

National Veterans Creative Arts Program and Competition printable flyer

VA medical facilities incorporate creative arts into their therapy programs to further the rehabilitation 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. The competition is an annual event that provides Veterans receiving treatment at VA facilities the opportunity to participate in creative self-expression in art, creative writing, dance, drama and music as part of their therapy, and to gain recognition for these artistic accomplishments.  

All entries placing in the top three locally will advance to the national level where they will compete with entries submitted by Veterans from other VA facilities from across the country.  Selected gold-medal-winning Veterans are invited to attend the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. 

To enter the competition, contact Madge Scherer 320-252-1670 ext. 7336 or 320-469-6658. 

Competition Rules Overview

• To participate, Veterans must be eligible for VA health care and enrolled in the VA health care system PRIOR to entering the competition.  
• All work must have been created after October 1, 2023 (with the exception of Military Combat Experience entries)
• St. Cloud VAHCS reserves the right to withhold entries from public viewing if needed.
• All VISUAL ART entries must be framed and ready to hang – no glass
• Veterans can enter up to 3 categories in EACH DIVISION, but only 1 entry per category
• Must complete registration and consent forms
• All possible care will be taken in handling items submitted for judging; however, St. Cloud VAHCS cannot be responsible for any loss or damage.

2024 Submission Deadline 

Friday, September 6th, 2024

2024 Visual Art Entries:

All entries must be brought to the Auditorium, Building 8

Please note: NO ACCESS AT BUILDING 8

Wed Aug 28, 10 a.m. -  noon 

Fri Aug 30, 2 - 4 p.m. 

Wed Sept 4, 9 - 11 a.m.

Thurs Sept 5, noon – 2 p.m. 

Fri Sept 6, noon - 4 p.m. 

Art Entry Pick Up Times:

Appointments are required

2024 Entries in All Other Divisions:

Appointment required

2024 Art Show Hours Auditorium, Building 8:

Thursday, Sept 12th, noon – 6 p.m. 

Friday, Sept 13th, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Selected entries will also be featured at the 100th anniversary celebration on Saturday, September 14th, in the canteen from 9 -11a.m. 

Visual Art Categories

Click this link for Categories

Creative Writing Categories

Rhyming Poetry-Military Experience 

Rhyming Poetry-Inspirational 

Rhyming Poetry-General Topic 

Non-Rhyming Poetry-Military Experience 

Non-Rhyming Poetry-

Non-Rhyming Poetry-General Topic 

Personal Essay-Military 

Personal Essay-Inspirational 

Personal Essay-General Topic 

Humor 

Short, Short Story

Short Script 

Special Recognition 

Drama Categories 

Dramatic Prose 

Patriotic Prose 

Inspirational Prose

Comedy Prose 

Dramatic Poetry 

Patriotic Poetry 

Inspirational Poetry 

Comedy Poetry 

Interpretive Performance-Dramatic 

Interpretive Performance-Novelty 

Short Video-Military Theme 

Short Video-General Theme 

Music Categories

Vocal Solo Country/Folk/Bluegrass

Vocal Solo Pop

Vocal Solo Rock/Blues 

Vocal Group Country/Folk/Bluegrass

Vocal Group Pop

Vocal Group Rock/Blues

Vocal Rap/Hip Hop 

Vocal Classical/World/Ethnic 

Vocal Jazz 

Vocal R&B/Soul/Funk 

Vocal Broadway 

Vocal Patriotic 

Vocal Spiritual 

Original Vocal - General Topic 

Original Vocal - Military Experience 

Instrumental Solo Pop

Instrumental Solo Jazz/R&B/Soul

Instrumental Group Pop

Instrumental Group Jazz/R&B/Soul 

Instrumental Country/Folk/Bluegrass 

Instrumental Rock/Blues 

Instrumental Broadway 

Instrumental Patriotic 

Instrumental Spiritual 

Instrumental Classical 

Instrumental World/Ethnic 

Instrumental Drums/Percussion

Original Instrumental

Band/Ensemble – Country/Folk/Bluegrass/Pop

Band/Ensemble – Jazz/R&B/Soul/Rock/Blues

Special Recognition 

Dance Categories

Ballroom

Latin Ballroom

Country/Western/Folk/Ethnic/Cultural

Modern/Contemporary

Tap, Jazz or Ballet 

Line Dance 

Interpretive Movement 

Freestyle/Hip-Hop

Novelty 

Special Recognition