The Art Galleries (TAG) at Austin Community College and ACC’s Military Families Center in conjunction with Austin Veteran Arts Fest (AVAFEST) are excited to invite Texas veterans, military family members, and artists from the ACC community to submit artwork for the exhibition Art and Healing: My PTSD Experience.
AVAFEST is a non-profit initiative dedicated to supporting veterans through the healing power of the arts. Addressing the challenges veterans face, like PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, AVAFEST unites them with communities via diverse artistic mediums, from visual arts to dance and music. Beyond celebration, the festival promotes mental well-being, fostering connectivity, tolerance, and love, aiming to alleviate emotional struggles within the veteran community.
This year’s open call asks artists to reflect on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and trauma through a lens of connection and hope. Experiencing trauma and PTSD can be isolating. However, art-making can help us connect with others through our experiences and foster empathy and respect. All veterans, military families, current students, staff and faculty of Austin Community College are welcome to submit.
For this exhibition, artists should submit a work that embodies the theme as a way to process and heal trauma. Artists do not need to expand upon their experiences for this exhibition or share any information they do not feel comfortable having on public display. For questions, please email [email protected].
Artwork will be selected on a rolling basis. Artists who submit their work before September 15 will have a higher chance of being included in the exhibition.
Guest juror and Austin-based artist Brian Joseph will select the artwork for display.
This exhibition will be held in TAG’s Art Lab space in Building 4000.
Submit work at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScp3VLBkSq_FG10bELUFMwdaHoe-iuq-AivygHxALuZei36mg/viewform