The 2006 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival is being held in Rapid City, South Dakota beginning October 16 and will culminate in a live stage show of music, dance and drama Sunday, October 22.
Under the terms of the partnership, VA will work with South Dakota Public Broadcasting to condense the stage show into a 60-minute television presentation which will then be closed captioned and distributed through the National Educational Telecommunications Association to Public Broadcasting System stations nationwide. The target date for the broadcast on local PBS affiliates is the week of Veterans Day 2006. “I cannot think of a more fitting Veterans Day tribute than the broadcast of this fine demonstration of talent by America’s veterans,” said Nicholson. “We are extremely grateful for the help and cooperation of South Dakota Public Broadcasting and the National Educational Telecommunications Association for making this dream a reality.” Approximately 130 veterans will exhibit their artwork or perform musical, dance, dramatic or original writing selections in a gala variety show. A professional orchestra will accompany the performance. All veterans invited to participate are selected winners of year-long, national fine arts talent competitions at VA medical facilities across the nation. VA medical facilities incorporate creative arts into their recreation therapy programs. This annual competition recognizes the progress and recovery made through that therapy, and raises the visibility of the creative achievements of our nation’s veterans after disease, disability or life crisis. | 
