The Texas Creative Forces Arts and Military Conference
From left to right:
Panel discussion: Dr. Scot Engel, Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins, Lieutenant Commander Allah
Artist and conference speaker Eldrena Douma visiting with attendees
Speaker Bart Pitchford (Doctoral Candidate in Performance as Public Practice, UT Austin)
Art therapist and conference speaker Peter Boutte chatting with attendees
Arts-and Intersections:
MilitaryCollaborators:
Location:
Fort Hood, TexasRegion:
Population Density:
UrbanLarge Intended Impact Area:
StateFoundations:
Project Website:
https://www.arts.texas.gov/initiatives/creative-forces-initiative/OVERVIEW
Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) is proud to join with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to bring the Creative Forces program to Texas. Helping military personnel heal from the complex wounds of our recent wars is a national priority that arts and military leaders in Texas are embracing.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Fort Hood in Killeen has been selected to be one of the 11 clinical sites around the country to participate in the Creative Forces initiative. This program is creating a community-based military and family support network to provide increased opportunities for arts programs in and around Fort Hood.
The Texas Creative Forces Arts and Military Conference took place in Killeen on January 29 & 30, 2018. The conference was open to artists, arts providers, arts therapists, the military community, and the general public interested in serving members of the military, veterans, and their families in Texas. Together, conference participants began to develop a network of local arts organizations prepared to offer programs to military service members transitioning from a clinic setting to the community as well as to military families and veterans. Special guests included Karen Pence, Second Lady of the United States, and Cecilia Abbott, First Lady of Texas.