At a local veteran center, Nicholas dipped his paintbrush into the blue paint. For months, he had struggled to get up in the morning and face the day. But as his brush spread color across the canvas, he said, “This painting project gives me a reason to get out of bed.”
Nicholas is one of hundreds of veterans and family members in Grand Rapids, Michigan who have experienced hope and connection through Healing in Arts’ veteran art program since 2021. These creative spaces blend art and relationships, offering veterans and their families an opportunity to express themselves through art and articulate their experiences without words. Across years of programming, participants report feeling reduced anxiety and depression, a sense of belonging, and a renewed purpose through creativity.
From workshops to exhibits displaying veteran-created art, the goal is simple: give veterans a platform to tell their stories, reconnect with one another, and find renewal through creativity.
At Healing in Arts, we’ve seen how art can build bridges of resilience and hope. Here are some tips for starting a veteran program in your community, with the lessons we’ve learned along the way.
Start with Relationships, Not Projects
For veterans and their families, Healing in Arts focuses on relationships, not projects. Before the class begins, we simply ask each person, “How are you doing today?” Then we listen. Shared moments—with stories about service, sports teams, and family—build trust.
Our main goal is to create safe spaces for creativity, friendship, and healing. We look for opportunities to connect, again and again, without worrying about the participation numbers. Building relationships takes time. Before we create art together, people need to know that we care about them.
We partner with organizations like Kent County Veteran Services, American Legion posts, VA centers, and Hero’s Corner, a local alcohol-free space, to reach former military members where they already gather. Over time, these connections have grown into a creative community—one workshop, one exhibit, one shared experience at a time.
Trust First, Art Second
Our core values include safety, respect, and compassion. A welcoming environment and active listening show veterans that you care. When people feel valued and heard, the healing flows naturally.
Create Calm, Friendly Environments
Many veterans struggle with PTSD, chronic stress, or physical disabilities. Healing in Arts designs each workshop session to be fun. Soft music sets the tone, and the materials are arranged to create a calm and ordered environment. We use name tags to greet each participant personally. When we welcome veterans and help them to feel appreciated, they want to come back.
Workshops offer simple art projects that give everyone—artists and non-artists—an opportunity to succeed. For one project, veterans and family members painted individual stars to represent service and sacrifice. The final art piece, made up of 160 stars, honored those who served and those who stood beside them.
One veteran shared, “I haven’t painted since third grade. This project helped me connect with something I didn’t know I missed.”
Design for Safety
Keep environments peaceful and predictable.
Give people the choice to participate.
Avoid “triggering” conversations.
Welcome Families, Build Bonds
Healing often occurs in a community. Many veterans attend workshops with their families—spouses, significant others, children, or even parents. We offer them an opportunity to do something enjoyable with the people they love.
Veterans can feel disconnected from their families as they navigate the lasting impact of military service and the transition back to civilian life. One mother of a veteran said, “My daughter was able to lower her depression medication after attending your art classes.” These creative moments offered her a new sense of peace.
Intergenerational art projects strengthen relationships. When veterans paint beside their children, they talk, laugh, and even share the same water cup to clean their brushes. They look forward to the next class because it offers them a shared experience. When families make art together, they heal.
Art Heals Families
Family art projects offer joyful opportunities for veterans and loved ones to rebuild relationships and find hope together.
Stay Flexible and Present
Workshop attendance can fluctuate. People come and go depending on health, mood, or work schedules. Healing in Arts keeps things flexible; each class stands on its own, so participants can join or rejoin at any time.
Our team focuses on relationships, not the end product. If a veteran wants to watch from the sidelines, they are still welcome to come. As with life in the military, people are always arriving or leaving. We simply extend an open invitation.
The goal is to connect with others in an enjoyable environment. A consistent program builds a sense of belonging. Veterans develop relationships with us and with each other over time.
Be Patient
Healing happens organically.
Start simple, stay present, and the rest will unfold.
Share the Story, Provide a Platform
Every fall, Healing in Arts facilitates a collaborative veteran art exhibit during the ArtPrize event in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Veterans’ paintings, sculptures, and photography fill Veterans Memorial Park with color and design. As part of the experience, the veterans work together to hang their artwork for display.
Mark, who served in the special forces, said, “Being part of the exhibit gave me purpose again.” He had battled homelessness and addiction. But making and sharing his art gave him the reset he needed.
The annual exhibit honors the veterans, gives them a platform to tell their stories, and educates the public. The participants feel a sense of accomplishment. Visitors walk through the park, talking to the veterans or scanning QR codes that link to their stories. This opportunity invites empathy and connection between the military and civilian worlds.
Exhibit as Empowerment
Our exhibit invites veterans and the public to see one another in a new light.
This opportunity gives veterans a chance to build pride and purpose, and the public a chance to grow in understanding.
The Art of Transformation
Art can transform trauma. When veterans paint, sculpt, or draw, they discover healing, hope, and a new sense of home. One veteran said, “The art gave me a safe place to fight my demons.” Our projects highlight how the military protects the community, and how the community can support the military in return.
Healing in Arts builds its programs through partnerships and community generosity—grant support, local sponsors, and donated art supplies. Each contribution becomes part of the healing story. It’s not just about teaching art, but about building a network of care. Through the artistic process, veterans can begin to imagine, develop, and step into a brighter future.
If you’re part of an arts organization or community group, or if you believe in the healing power of art, consider reaching out to local veterans, like Nicholas, who struggled to face each day. Many veterans have found new purpose through an intentional space, a paintbrush, and a listening ear. Art heals.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Learn more about Healing in Arts and explore how you can bring creative wellness programs to your community at healinginarts.org.