DC-Area Veterans Display Artworks Presented in the 2024 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, August 26, 2024
The Washington DC VA Medical Center and other VA facilities use creative arts as one form of rehabilitative treatment to help Veterans recover from and cope with physical and emotional disabilities.
DC-Area Veterans Display Artworks Presented in the 2024 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, August 26, 2024
The Washington DC VA Medical Center and other VA facilities use creative arts as one form of rehabilitative treatment to help Veterans recover from and cope with physical and emotional disabilities.
More than 40 Veterans who are enrolled for care at the DC VA Medical Center competed in various categories of the local creative arts competition held August 26, 2024. Filling the medical center’s Recreation Therapy Room with 48 original artwork entries, Veterans were on-hand for the competition and to discuss their creative entries with VA staff, Veterans and visitors. The artworks range from paintings, to sculptures, to leather, metal and wood works. In addition, the creative arts competition includes a writing category as well as performing arts such as dance, drama and music.
The DC VA Medical Center Recreation Therapy Team is honored to host the local competition and proud to see a number of winning ribbons affixed to artwork. Nicolette Rubin, Music Therapist, says, “This is an opportunity for Veterans to really showcase their skills in all forms of art. Creative arts is a way to elevate their meaning and purpose, sharing with the world what’s inside of them.”
The annual competition recognizes the progress and recovery made through art therapy and raises visibility of the creative achievements of Veterans. Recreation Therapist Karen Wheaton explains, Veterans are drawn to the creative arts competition, because they are proud of their creation. Participating offers Veterans an opportunity to share how the creative process has helped them in their recovery. It is a creative outlet which allows expression, relaxation and self-awareness.
The top winning entries will advance to a national judging competition where Veteran artists are given an opportunity to be invited to attend the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival which will be held at the VA facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 11-18, 2025, and will bring together Veterans from 160 VA medical centers across the nation.