In 2020, COVID quickly changed the landscape of arts programming. Workshops, performances, and classes took place on screen rather than in person. As we navigate a new arts engagement landscape, it’s important to reflect on what this experience taught us and how it can inform our path forward. Discover key lessons learned by arts organizations who implemented Creative Forces Community Connections Projects during COVID.
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The Creative Forces Community Engagement Grants aim to make a difference in military connected communities, through support of arts engagement activities designed to cultivate creative expression, increase social connectedness, improve resilience, and support successful adaptation to civilian life. The inaugural grantees are engaging their local and regional communities in art-making experiences that include a variety of artistic disciplines.
Partnership, Collaboration, and Outreach – taken together, these elements form critical infrastructure for community-based projects serving military-connected populations. This blog explores relationships and collaboration, both within community projects and with clinical partners, as keys to effective programs.
In March, the Creative Forces clinical team was busy hosting events and outreach efforts to communicate the value and efficacy of creative arts therapies in alignment with other national efforts—the annual March observance of Brain Injury Awareness Month, led by the Brain Injury Association of America, and Creative Arts Therapies Week during the third week in March, as designated by the National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Association.
Section 1 of Advances in Creative Forces® Clinical Research and Applications of the Creative Arts Therapies for Treating PTSD and TBI in Military-Connected Populations by Donna Betts
Image: Framework of representations of self as seen in mask imagery courtesy of Walker, Kaimal, et.al. 2017.
Section 2 of Advances in Creative Forces® Clinical Research and Applications of the Creative Arts Therapies for Treating PTSD and TBI in Military-Connected Populations by Dr. Donna Betts. Image of Creative Forces Dance Movement Conceptual Framework brainstorming (2019) courtesy of Donna Betts.
Section 4 of Advances in Creative Forces® Clinical Research and Applications of the Creative Arts Therapies for Treating PTSD and TBI in Military-Connected Populations by Dr. Donna Betts. Photo of creative arts therapists, researchers and community arts providers experiencing a ukelele workshop at George Mason University courtesy of Donna Betts.
Section VI: Conclusion of Advances in Creative Forces® Clinical Research and Applications of the Creative Arts Therapies for Treating PTSD and TBI in Military-Connected Populations by Dr. Donna Betts.
Section 3 of Advances in Creative Forces® Clinical Research and Applications of the Creative Arts Therapies for Treating PTSD and TBI in Military-Connected Populations by Dr. Donna Betts. Image courtesy of National Endowment for the Arts.
Section 5 of Advances in Creative Forces® Clinical Research and Applications of the Creative Arts Therapies for Treating PTSD and TBI in Military-Connected Populations by Dr. Donna Betts. Photo of marbled music created at the Creative Arts Therapists All-Hands (2019) courtesy of Donna Betts.
Original blog authored by Bill O'Brien Creative Forces Project Director published on the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Forces pages. Image credit:Seal Fireteam An interpretation of a fireteam of U.S. Navy SEALs escaping a storm by Rusty Noesner. Photo courtesy of the artist.
May 21, 2020 National Endowment for the Arts' Artswork Blog authored by Community Connections Manager discussing the adaptations of the Creative Forces community network in response to COVID-19 in Spring of 2020. Image credit: Glen McCarthy teaches a guitar/ukelele workshop to military-connected participants over Facebook Live for George Mason University as part of an online Creative Forces Community Connections project. Photo courtesy of Dr. Niyati S. Dhokai, Veterans' Arts Initiative, George Mason University.