Creative Forces Expands Arts Engagement Opportunities for Military Nationwide

Washington, DC-The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA), is pleased to announce the 2026 Creative Forces® Community Engagement grant recipients. In total, 48 organizations will receive grants ranging from $4,669 to $25,000, totaling $888,413. These community-based projects address the distinct experiences, challenges, and strengths of military-connected individuals and expand arts engagement opportunities for military-connected people in communities across the country. See the directory for a complete list of recipients and projects.

"The National Endowment for the Arts is honored to support these Creative Forces Community Engagement grant projects, which use the arts to strengthen connections and enhance the lives of military service members, veterans, their families, and caregivers," said Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. "Through these efforts, organizations across the country are creating welcoming spaces where military-connected individuals can connect, express themselves, and share their stories through the arts, while recognizing and honoring the dedication and sacrifices of those who have served our nation."

"Creative Forces recognizes that the arts can play a powerful role in health and well-being-not only by fostering creative expression, but by strengthening the relationships and sense of belonging that help people and communities thrive," said Todd Stein, president and CEO of Mid-America Arts Alliance. "These community-based partnerships offer military service members, veterans, families, and caregivers opportunities to build resilience, navigate transitions, and forge lasting connections through the arts. We're proud to partner with the National Endowment for the Arts to expand this work in communities across the country."

Creative Forces Community Engagement projects support non-clinical arts programming in a variety of settings for military-connected individuals. Each grant project includes at least two organizations or artists working together to carry out project goals. Matching grants support activities that will take place over the course of the next year.

Examples of this year's programming include:

• Breaking Wave Theatre Company in Barrigada, Guam, in partnership with the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, will engage veterans, active-duty service members, and military family members to create Unspoken: Military & Veterans Voices Edition, a theater and storytelling project based on the company's long-running Unspoken series. Through writing, storytelling, and performance exercises, participants will transform lived experiences into original artistic works, fostering dialogue, connection, and creative expression within Guam's military-connected community.
• Gateway Regional Arts Center in Mount Sterling, Kentucky, will partner with American Legion Post 22 for Creative Freedom: Mobile Arts Access in Eastern Kentucky, a yearlong initiative bringing accessible arts workshops directly to disabled veterans and military-connected families in rural communities across eastern Kentucky. Through mobile and virtual creative experiences in partnership with local veteran organizations, the project will reduce barriers to participation while fostering creative expression, social connection, and a stronger sense of community.
• Lander Community Foundation in Lander, Wyoming, in partnership with Crossing the Threshold LLC, will launch a statewide tour of Crossing the Threshold, a documentary exploring the experiences of veterans in rural Wyoming. In celebration of America250, screenings and facilitated community discussions will bring together veterans, families, and residents to reflect on service, strengthen community connections, and share Wyoming's stories.
• Maine Academy of Modern Music (MAMM) in Portland, Maine, will partner with the Maine Veterans Administration to provide scholarships for veterans to participate in music lessons and MAMM's Adult Bands program through Veterans Rock!. By reducing financial barriers to music lessons and ensemble participation, the project will help veterans develop new artistic skills, express themselves creatively, and build connections through shared musical experiences.
  

About Creative Forces
Creative Forces®: NEA Military Healing Arts Network is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the U.S. Department of War and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that 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. The initiative places creative arts therapies at the core of patient-centered care at clinical sites throughout the country, including telehealth services, and increases access to community arts activities. The initiative is managed in partnership with the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine and Mid-America Arts Alliance. More information can be found at arts.gov/CreativeForces.

Including the 2026 grants, Creative Forces has awarded nearly 200 grants totaling more than $4 million since 2022. First-person accounts and related videos about the work of Creative Forces in clinical and community settings are available through the National Endowment for the Arts' Creative Forces stories page and Creative Forces YouTube playlist.

About the National Endowment for the Arts
Established by Congress, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. To learn more, visit arts.gov.

About Mid-America Arts Alliance
Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) partners with and supports artists, organizations, and communities to grow access to the arts, culture, and creativity throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond. To learn more about M-AAA grants, programs, exhibitions, and fellowships, visit www.maaa.org and follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, Threads, and LinkedIn.