The VCPA unites the military veteran and the civilian community by professionally developing and producing the veterans’ original works in the visual, fine and performing arts.

In so doing, the VCPA will share its creations with persons who otherwise might not have occasion to understand the military experience; also, the VCPA will use these works as a means to express, educate and employ the veteran, their families and their communities.

Further, the VCPA provides a positive, creative ground for the military community to express their “voices” to the civilian community without pity, apology or political agenda.

Such sharing will bring about a sort of cultural exchange between our nations veterans and the civilian society which aids in the understanding of and empathizing with the experiences that veterans have endured at various times and places; increasing community cultural arts and strengthening our society as a whole.

FROM THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR:
Through personal experience I know that one of the most difficult tasks for the military veteran is the transition from “service” into civilian. For many of us, it is a life-long process. This process requires both an outlet for the veteran and an effort from the civilian community. It is in this spirit that the Veterans Center for the Performing Arts (VCPA) was born. Please join me in celebrating our veterans by attending our upcoming events at the VCPA.

Thank you for your support,


Stephan Wolfert, Founding Director

What makes the Veterans Center for the Performing Arts different from other groups is Our Method, Our Material and Our Mentors.

Our Method—Is to bring ALL veterans, regardless of their military experience to the creative “table”. In other words, whether their service was during a time of peace or a time of conflict all service is respected and represented. Although the V.C.P.A. is not therapy, it is therapeutic. Once the veteran is at the creative “table” our method is to guide artistic expression in whatever medium “speaks” to the particular veteran. We help the military veteran discover their artistic voice and then use that voice to share their own military experience with the very society that they are working so hard to re-join; thus benefiting both veteran and civilian.

Our Material—Is whatever each veteran chooses as a means to express his or herself. In other words there is not a requirement for “war” material. So whether it is an original work or the reexamination of an existing work from a veteran’s perspective, the only requirement is that a military veteran, family member or associate generates the work. Our material expands beyond solely providing “victim art” and extends to all areas of the fine, visual, and performing arts and beyond.

Our Mentors—Are professional artists. It is not required that everyone in the organization, nor everyone in the collaborative process, be military veterans; but rather, trained professionals in the various fields within the visual, fine and performing arts. The professional artists/mentors guide the veteran through a collaborative development process towards seeing their work fully realized

The Veterans Center for the Performing Arts hopes to be a national, as well as global, full-time Veterans Arts Consortium.