Creative Arts Celebration
Tomah VAMC incorporates the 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. This is the former local Creative Arts Festival.
NATIONAL VETERANS CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL (NVCAF). Important Program Changes- Please review carefully
The NVCAF program is changing how Veterans enter the national competition. Please read the updates below
NEW ENTRY PROCESS
Veterans are no longer required to submit their entries through their local VA facility before entering the national competition.
The national submission window for the 2027 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival will be open February 1–March 15, 2027.
Veterans will be able to submit their own entries and applications online directly through the NVCAF website during that window.
Staff may still assist Veterans who need support, as long as resources are available.
The 2027 National Festival will take place in November 2027.
There will be no competition deadline in 2026, as the program is transitioning into the new 2027 structure.
These changes are intended to make participation more accessible and remove the previous requirement of competing locally before entering the national event.
Veterans may submit up to three total entries in any combination of creative arts areas. There are no longer specific categories or rules pertaining to categories.
Examples of entries that could be submitted:
Three acrylic paintings
- Wood working, poem, vocal solo
- Metal art, wood art, Instrumental duet
- Photography, photography, quilt
- Quilt, quilt embroidery, Poem essay quilt
LOCAL UPDATES (2026)
Since the national competition is paused in 2026, our local site will replace the competition with a Celebration of the Arts.
This celebration will include:
A Visual Arts Gallery (located in 401 conference room, room 1120)
• Veterans may display up to 3 pieces of visual artwork (no sets).
An Open Mic Experience(located in building 455 Veterans Hall)
• Veterans may share up to 3 entries combined in music, creative writing, or dance.
The open mic and gallery showcase will be held in August of 2026.
HOW TO APPLY IN 2027 to National Veterans Creative Arts Festival
Veterans will submit:
• An online application
• Up to three creative arts entries
Entries will be judged in two steps:
Theme alignment – 2027 Theme: GROWTH
Quality of the creative arts entry
Veterans will also complete a short “Wellness Through the Arts” section about how the arts support their health and recovery.
ENTRY RULES
• Veterans may submit up to three total entries in any combination of creative arts areas. There are no longer any categories or rules pertaining to categories.
• Group entries count toward the three entry limit.
• Veterans may not submit extra entries using different names.
• All work must be created only by the Veteran.
• Entries created with artificial intelligence (including ChatGPT) will not be accepted.
ELIGIBILITY
• Veterans must be enrolled in VA health care before submitting entries.
• Veterans with a dishonorable discharge or humanitarian status cannot participate.
How eligibility will be confirmed:
• Veterans submitting independently must upload a photo of their VA Health ID Card.
• Staff helping with submissions may verify eligibility and confirm it on the application.
For questions regarding the most recent updates please contact:
Sign up for the Art Gallery
Brittany Kelly, CTRS-SG, CDP
Tomah VA Medical Center
500 E. Veterans Street
1-
Deadline: July 24, 2026
Sign up Music, Creative Writing, Drama and Dance content for the open mic:
Bethany Riedel, MT-BC
Tomah VA Medical Center
500 E. Veterans Street
Deadline: July 24, 2026