Wncvahcs creative arts festival | va asheville health care | veterans affairs

The Charles George Veteran Affairs (VA) Medical Center hosted its 21st Annual Local Creative Arts Festival as part of a rehabilitative treatment program to aid patients in recovering from

physical and emotional challenges. A total of 80 Veterans, under the care of the Western North Carolina VA Health Care System, showcased their talents in a wide range of visual arts

categories. These included painting, graphics, metalwork, poetry and more, demonstrating the diverse creative abilities of the participants. The top three finalists will be entered in the

National Creative Arts Competition later this fall. “When people are creative, they become strong,” says Michael Mullert,  a Vietnam Veteran in the audience. Rebekah Wiggins, an art

therapist at the medical center, underscores the importance of the arts in recovery. She explains, “Arts offer a non-threatening way to communicate and gain insight as well as motivation and

meaning in recovery. The Creative Arts Festival provides an opportunity for Veterans to display their talents and demonstrate the powerful impact of the arts in recovery, while also

fostering connections with the broader community.” The Western North Carolina VA Health Care System offers a wide range of services, including mental health, primary and specialty care and

social programs to improve the well-being of its patients. The Chief Nurse Executive, David Przestrzelski, says: “I have watched the National Creative Arts Festival grow over the past 20

years and, while the art quality is phenomenal, the heartfelt stories told in each piece never cease to inspire.” ###