About Veterans Services
Art Spark Texas provides services for current and prior military members and family. The arts are important to veterans because, for many military personnel, the arts are a way to express what they saw, heard, and experienced during service. Additionally, our programs offer veterans a chance to interact with other veterans and expand their support networks.
Women Veterans
Did you know that Texas has the highest number of female veterans in the United States? As such, we feel it is important to focus some of our efforts particularly on female identifying veterans. In 2021 we conducted our first full-day Women Veterans "Moving Forward Through the Creative Arts" conference. As it was a virtual event, we opened registration to the entire US and we have over 70 attendees from various states. Due to that success and demonstrated need, we intend this conference to be an annual event. We also have other workshops scheduled throughout the year, concentrating on female veterans.
KWTX News featured our Women Veteran Art and Nature Workshop! Watch it here.
Texas Veterans Strong Creative Network
Join us for a monthly networking meeting on the Second Thursday of each month from 10:30-11:30 AM Central Time. Open to Veteran Service Organizations, Arts Organizations Serving Veterans, and Creative Veterans. Meeting is held virtually on Zoom. Register here.
Classes
We offer in-person and virtual classes in creative programs such as music, visual art, writing, theater, and dance. When you click the link, you can view all classes by hitting "List" view.
Our monthly Women Veterans Strong is a virtual meeting on the second Thursday of the month from 7-8 PM Central Time on Zoom. Network with other women veterans and participate in a craft or other creative activity. Register here.
Annual Distinguished Artist Veterans Exhibition
We host an annual exhibition of veterans’ artwork and provide opportunities year-round for artists to get involved with our Artworks program.
The 14th Annual Distinguished Artist Veterans exhibition will be at Bihl Haus Arts in San Antonio, TX from November 18 to December 16, 2023. The call for art is now open for all Texas based current and prior military and veterans to apply. Deadline August 31, 2023.
Download the entry form here. Or request the form in an alternative format.
View our 2020 virtual exhibit in partnership with Texas Folklife and hear audio stories from the artists.
Trainings for Arts Organizations
Based on our research in partnership with the Texas Commission on the Arts, we have found a growing need for arts-related services for Texas veterans and military personnel in our communities. Toward that goal, we work with arts organizations nationwide to forge partnerships with vet organizations in an effort to provide art programs for military, veterans, and their families.
We know that not all civilians feel they understand military personnel and their unique challenges; maybe they don't feel they are even speaking the same language as military/veterans. If you want to offer art services but feel you'd like some training or familiarization with working with military personnel and veterans first, please contact us at (512) 454-9912 or [email protected]. We have developed presentations to familiarize veterans with the benefits of art and "making," business owners with the language and challenges military personnel face and the benefits of art in healing, and arts organizations with the special needs of military personnel. We look forward to helping you serve those who have served.
THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS!
Our Veterans program is made possible through generous support from the Texas Commission on the Arts, The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, and Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network.
Creative Forces®: NEA Military Healing Arts Network is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and the state and local arts agencies. This initiative serves the special needs of military patients and veterans with traumatic brain injury and psychological health conditions, as well as their families and caregivers. Administrative support for this initiative is provided by Americans for the Arts.
