National Endowment for the Arts Chair Maria Jackson recently visited The Straz, learning about Straz Salutes, The Straz’s multifaceted military outreach program.
As one of 11 charter Creative Forces® community network organizations, the Straz Salutes program has served Tampa Bay’s military community since 2017. Funding for the program initially was supported by grants from the Creative Forces®: NEA Military Arts Healing Network, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
Creative Forces® seeks to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for military and veteran populations exposed to trauma, as well as their families and caregivers.
Straz Salutes includes VetArtSpan, a dedicated website featuring a military competency curriculum, how-to videos, podcasts, virtual art-making and gallery, and other resources for active duty and veteran military exploring the use of creative arts as a mode for healing. With a growing network of military-community partners, the Straz hosts the annual Veterans Creative Arts Showcase, a free event spotlighting the talents of Tampa Bay-area veterans who wish to advance to the national Veterans Creative Arts competition.
During her Straz visit, Jackson took a tour the building, observing Patel classes and visiting the backstage area. She was accompanied by a group that included Straz CEO Greg Holland, Vice President of Education and Community Engagement Alice Santana and Community Engagement Specialist Fred Johnson.
Jackson’s other Tampa stops included the Tampa Bay History Center, where she and Blue Star Families (families with a member who are active duty), celebrated Blue Star Museums, which during the summer months waives admission costs of participating museums for active-duty military and their families.
She also visited James A. Haley VA Hospital in North Tampa, which the Straz partners with along with Bay Pines VA Hospital in Pinellas County. Jackson met with therapists and leadership to discuss creative therapies, including art, dance and music, which promote rehabilitation and recovery. The Straz Center provides an array of non-clinical arts engagement programming to help veterans exposed to trauma navigate the transition to community life, including our Veteran-Civilian Arts Ensemble, Your VetChat art-based conversations, a resource fair, Military Family Nights and free arts education for children living at MacDill Air Force Base.
