Program Overview

The Veteran Arts & Wellness Collaborative (VAWC) is designed to be a creative, trusted space for veterans and their families (or caregivers) to engage with literary, visual, and performing arts as a conduit for healing the mind and body, as well as building community.

For veterans transitioning out of the military and reintegrating back into civilian life, it is a “situated and dynamic life event which affects one’s mobility to cross boundaries from military to civilian life” and demands a “socially mediated effort” to aid in the reconstruction of a veteran’s personal identity and sense of belonging¹. This transition is further compounded by the residuals of living through a global pandemic, especially for veterans with PTSD or other health issues.

Studies have also shown that engaging with the arts is positively associated with psychological wellbeing and is critical to the process of integrating an individual into the society to which they belong².

This Veteran Arts & Wellness Collaborative promises to have a positive impact on the socio-emotional components of veteran wellness, to include: interpersonal relationships and building trust; stress reduction; developing a mindfulness practice to improve self-awareness, empathy, and intuition; effectively managing emotions; sense of belonging and community; feelings of joy and happiness; boosting self-confidence; and discovering a sense of purpose, value, and meaning in life.