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Bay Pines VA's 2022 Local Veterans Creative Arts Competition

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Local and National Veterans Creative Arts Festival is co-presented by the VA and the American Legion Auxiliary.
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Medical facilities across the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) use the creative arts as a form of rehabilitative treatment to help our Veterans recover from, and cope with, physical and emotional disabilities.


Each year, thousands of Veterans from across the country submit original works to their local VA facility. Gold medalists are then selected and the fruit of their efforts are displayed during the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, which recognizes the progress and recovery made through therapy while raising the visibility of the creative achievements of our Nation’s Veterans.
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This is a collage that includes a colorful painting of a cat with a butterfly on its nose, an American Flag made entirely out of the tin tops on beer bottles, a painted portrait of an elderly man, a painting of a house on a cliff set against the backdrop of a sunset, and a monochromatic drawing of a mosquito perched on an iguana.

Bay Pines VA Healthcare System is proud to present our 2022 Local Veterans Creative Arts Competition! Out of an abundance of caution, this year's competition is being facilitated virtually.

Despite the challenges of the past year, and the transition to a virtual format, our Veterans proudly submitted more than 110 entries into this competition, demonstrating to us their resilience and determination to use art as a form of recovery.  More than 90 Veterans submitted their entries through emails, text messages, special socially distanced recording sessions, and drive-thru artwork photography events.

The results of these creative efforts are displayed in our virtual gallery. Please click on the links below to view the talents of our Veterans.

Acrylic Paintings (PDF)
Group Art, Craft Kits Categories, Diorama, and Special Recognition (PDF)
Monochromatic Drawing, Colored Drawing, Pastels, Color Photography (PDF)
Music, Dance, and Drama Divisions (PDF)
Oil Paintings, Watercolor Paintings, and Mixed Media (PDF)
Poetry, Personal Essay, Humor and Special Recognition (PDF)
Sculpture, Pottery, Digital Art, Stained or Painted Ceramics, Carving, Collage, Assemblage, Original Design in Needlework, Glasswork, and Beadwork (PDF)
Short, Short Story (PDF)

This year, due to changes to the National Creative Arts Festival's rules, we are able to submit the top three pieces from every category. This provides an opportunity for more of our local Veterans to compete at the national level. As you view the virtual presentations, you'll notice that instead of first, second and third place selections, finalists were chosen for each category.

All entries marked with "Finalist" will automatically be submitted to the national competition. Results from the national competition will be released in early to mid-January.

Thank you to everyone who entered their work for this year's competition! We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue working to safe-guard the wellbeing of our Veterans and staff in the face of this global pandemic. To find out which of our Veterans were recognized at the national level, you can call or email Erin Todd anytime after January 15, 2023. 

Erin Todd, MT-BC
727-222-2686
727-398-6661, ext. 15884
Erin.Todd@va.gov

More About the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival

Veterans who showcase their achievements in the festival are selected gold medal winners of national art, music, dance, drama, and writing competitions. The festival is presented by VA and the American Legion Auxiliary and culminates with a stage performance, writing exhibition, and gallery-style showcase of artwork.

Learn more about the National Creative Arts Festival

National Veterans Creative Arts Festival Facebook page