Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center

Call for Entries for 2013 VA Creative Arts Competition

WILKES-BARRE - All talented Veterans receiving care at VA medical facilities, VA outpatient clinics or who reside in a state Veterans home are encouraged to participate in the 5th Annual Local Creative Arts Competition, March 7, 2013, at the VA Medical Center, 1111 East End Boulevard in Wilkes-Barre.   Completed applications and visual art entries are due Friday, February 22, 2013 by 4pm.  

Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities nationwide use the creative arts as one form of rehabilitative treatment to help Veterans recover from and cope with physical and emotional disabilities.  Each year, Veterans treated at VA medical centers compete in a local creative arts contest.  The local competition includes 50 art categories that range from oil painting to paint-by-number kits.  There are also 120 categories pertaining to all aspects of music, dance, drama and creative writing.  The competition recognizes the progress and recovery made through arts therapy, and raises the visibility of the creative achievements of our nation’s Veterans.

The Visual and Performing Arts components of Wilkes-Barre's 2013 Local Creative Arts Competition will be held on Thursday, March 7, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Liberty Hall at the VA Medical Center.  All first place category winners will have their creative art submissions photographed or videotaped; then will be entered into the National Veterans Creative Arts Competition where their submissions will be judged against Veterans from all over the nation.  Some national winners will be invited to attend the National Creative Arts Festival which will be held October 21-27, 2013 in Reno, Nevada.

The festival is open to all Veterans receiving care at VA medical facilities, VA outpatient clinics or who reside in a state Veterans home.   Applications may be picked up at the Recreation Therapy office, Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm.  To request an application by mail, please contact Amie Dorney at (570) 824-3521, ext: 7429.  Completed applications and visual art entries must be delivered to a Recreation Therapy staff member on Friday, February 22, 2013 by 4:00 pm.

http://www.creativeartsfestival.va.gov/