The National Endowment for the Arts, partners, rally to support military, Veterans, families and caregivers

The National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the Mid-America Arts Alliance, is launching a new, national community arts grant program to expand support for military service members, Veterans, and their families and caregivers who have been exposed to trauma.

“Not Alone” and “United” were created by Veteran artist and photographer Alex Gutierrez and were exhibited at the Creative Forces Open Studio hosted by the Jacksonville-Onslow Council for the Arts in Jacksonville, North Carolina

New Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant program

The Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant aims to improve the health, well-being and quality of life for military-connected populations by empowering creative expression, building social connections and improving resiliency. The program will provide matching grants of $10,000 to $50,000 for emerging and advanced arts engagement projects across the nation.

Apply now before the December deadline

This funding is available to eligible organizations and partnerships among arts organizations, and Veteran and military service organizations are highly encouraged to apply. The grant deadline is December 15th, 2021, for projects beginning on or after July 1, 2022. Learn more and apply starting September 15, 2021 at maaa.org/creativeforces.

Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. The initiative places creative arts therapies at the core of patient-centered care at clinical sites throughout the country, including telehealth services, and increases access to community arts activities to promote health, well-being and quality of life for military service members, Veterans, and their families and caregivers. Creative Forces is managed in partnership with Americans for the Arts, the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. You can watch a short documentary video on the initiative.

We are here for you

This national rally and new grant program from the National Endowment for the Arts and Mid-America Art Alliance serves as a collective message from artists and community organizations across the country to our military brothers and sisters: “You’ve been there for us. We’ll be here for you. Thank you for your service. It’s our turn now.”