Veterans Creative Arts Competition at VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System

· Acrylic Painting

· Oil Painting 

· Watercolor      

· Monochromatic Drawing

· Colored Drawing

· Pastel

· Sculpture

· Pottery

· Slip-Cast Ceramics

· Stained or Painted Figurines

· Figurine Painting Kit

· Pyrography

· Transfer/ Engraving Art Kit

· Printmaking

· Black/ White Photography

· Color Photography

· Digital Art

· Carving

· Woodworking

· Wood Building Kit

· Collage

· Assemblage

· Mosaic

· Mosaic Kit

· Crocheting/ Knitting/ Knotting

· Original Design in Needlework

· Needlework Pattern

· Needlework Kit

· Original Design in Fiber Arts

· Fiber Arts Pattern

· Fiber Arts Kit

· Weaving Kit

· Beadwork

· Jewelry (not beads)

· Leather Carving/ Tooling/ Sampling

· Leather Kit

· Metalwork

· Glasswork

· Scroll Saw/ Fretworks

· Mixed Media

· Model Building Kit

· Diorama 

· Craft Coloring Kit

· Color by Number Kit

· Suncatcher or Sand Art Kit

· Combined Kits

Creative Writing

· Rhyming Poetry– Military experience, Inspirational, General topic

· Non-Rhyming Poetry

· Personal Essay

· Humor

· Short, Short Story

· Short Script

Dance Categories

· Ballroom

· Latin Ballroom

· Country/ Western/ Folk/ Ethnic/ Cultural

· Modern/ Contemporary

· Tap/ Jazz/ Ballet

· Line Dance

· Interpretive Movement

· Freestyle/ Hip Hop

· Novelty

Drama Categories

· Dramatic Prose

· Patriotic Prose

· Inspirational Prose

· Comedy Prose

· Dramatic Poetry

· Patriotic Poetry

· Inspirational Poetry

· Comedy Poetry

· Interpretive Performance: Dramatic/ Novelty

· Short Video– Military/  General

· Mixed Arts

· Special Recognition

Music Categories     

Vocal Solo:

· Country/ Folk/ Bluegrass

· Pop

· Rock/ Blues

Vocal Group:

· Country/ Folk/ Bluegrass

· Pop

· Rock/ Blues

Vocal Solo or Group:

· Rap/ Hip Hop

· Classical/ World/ Ethnic

· Jazz

· R&B/ Soul/ Funk

· Broadway

· Patriotic

· Spiritual

Original Vocal:

· General Topic/ Military Experience

Instrumental Music/ Band/ Ensemble:

· Solo/ Group Pop

· Solo/ Group Jazz/ R&B/ Soul

· Country/ Folk/ Bluegrass

· Rock/ Blues

· Broadway

· Patriotic

· Spiritual

· Classical

· World/ Ethnic

· Drums/ Percussion

Original Instrumental

Art Division Special Recognition 

• Physical Health Recovery- Entries that recognize individuals who exhibit creative expression through the visual arts while possessing significant physical challenges.

• Mental Health Recovery - Entries that recognize individuals who exhibit creative expression through the visual arts while possessing significant emotional or mental health challenges.

• Combat Experience - The Veteran must have experienced combat duty during World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf War, Grenada, Panama, Kosovo, Somalia, and other recognized combats or current combat operations. The artwork and narrative must relate to the Veteran’s personal experience in that war or conflict but does not need to be a graphic representation of that combat experience. 

Creative Writing Special Recognition

Individual or group entries by Veterans who exhibit creative expression through creative writing while possessing significant physical or psychological limitations. The category intends to reinforce the concept of the arts as therapy, where individuals use artistic expression to facilitate successful treatment outcomes. Poetry entries should be no longer than 48 lines, and prose entries must not exceed 1,000 words.

Music/Drama/Dance Special Recognition

Entries that recognize individuals who exhibit creative expression through dance/ drama/ music while possessing significant physical or psychological limitations. The category intends to reinforce the concept of the arts as therapy, where an individual uses artistic expression. 

Art: Olivia Wolsfeld ; Olivia.wolsfeld@va.gov

Drama/ Creative Writing: John Ortiz ; John.ortiz3@va.gov

Music/ Dance: Jordan Breece ; Jordan.breece@va.gov