Celebrating the military veteran by developing and producing their original works in the visual, fine and performing arts.

In so doing, the VCPA will not only share its creations with persons who otherwise might not have occasion to understand the military experience; but also, use their own self-created art as a means to express, educate and employ the veteran, their families and their associates. That is, the VCPA facilitates a professional learning and working environment to aid in the artistic development of the minds and abilities of veterans, family and associates.

Further, VCPA provides a positive, creative ground for the military community to express their “voices” to the civilian community without pity, apology or political agenda.

Such sharing will bring about a sort of “cultural exchange” between our nations veterans and society which aids in the understanding and empathizing with the experiences that veterans have endured at various times and places; increasing community cultural arts and strengthening our society as a whole.

Our MethodIs to bring ALL veterans, regardless of their military experience to the creative “table”. In other words, whether their service was during a time of peace or a time of conflict all service is respected and represented. Although the V.C.P.A. is not therapy, it is therapeutic. Once the veteran is at the creative “table” our method is to guide artistic expression in whatever medium “speaks” to the particular veteran. We help the military veteran discover their artistic voice and then use that voice to share their own military experience with the very society that they are working so hard to re-join; thus benefiting both veteran and civilian.

Our MaterialIs whatever each veteran chooses as a means to express his or herself. In other words there is not a requirement for “war” material. So whether it is an original work or the reexamination of an existing work from a veteran’s perspective, the only requirement is that a military veteran, family member or associate generates the work. Our material expands beyond solely providing “victim art” and extends to all areas of the fine, visual, and performing arts and beyond.

Our MentorsAre professional artists. It is not required that everyone in the organization, nor everyone in the collaborative process, be military veterans; but rather, trained professionals in the various fields within the visual, fine and performing arts. The professional artists/mentors guide the veteran through a collaborative development process towards seeing their work fully realized

The Veterans Center for the Performing Arts hopes to be a national, as well as global, full-time Veterans Arts Consortium.