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Minneapolis , MN — Nearly 100 Veterans are taking part in the 2024 Minneapolis Veterans Creative Arts Competition presented by the Minneapolis VA Health Care System’s Recreation and Creative

Arts Therapies Department. An Exhibition & Showcase celebrating the creativity of our Veteran community will run Sept. 9-12 at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.  Categories of the

exhibition include visual art, creative writing and performance arts, with most submissions competing in a juried competition. First, second and third place winners in each category will

advance to the National Veterans Creative Arts Competition to compete with thousands of Veterans enrolled in VA Health Care Systems across the nation next spring. “We aim to elevate the

Veteran voice as well as showcase the vital role the arts play to enrich the lives of our Veterans while transforming the healthcare experience,” said Ali DeCamillis, art therapist at the

Minneapolis VA. “The arts remind us to keep humanity at the core of healthcare.”  The Minneapolis VA incorporates creative arts therapy into their programs to further the rehabilitation

goals for both inpatients and outpatients. 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.  “We want to honor our Veterans unique personal and military contributions by offering them accessible creative arts opportunities that promote self-expression and

community connection,” said Lara Hermanson, music therapist at the Minneapolis VA The Exhibition & Showcase will be open to the public Sept. 9th at noon. Exhibition hours will be daily

thorough Sept. 12 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Flag Atrium Auditorium at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, 1 Veterans Dr, Minneapolis. For more information visit Veterans Creative Arts

Competition at Minneapolis VA online.