Armed Services Arts Partnership

ASAP programs include:(1) Classes: We offer seven-week, deep-dive classes in stand-up comedy, storytelling, improv, creative writing, theater acting, and visual arts. These classes provide participants an outlet for creative expression, skill-development, and camaraderie in a supportive environment. With two instructors and 12 veterans typically in each class, participants receive direct, personal attention and establish meaningful relationships with their peers. Classes culminate with graduation shows, which offer veterans a platform to share their talents with a public audience.(2) Workshops: We host introductory workshops ranging from three hours to two days across a broad variety of artistic disciplines taught by our corps of veteran instructors, local arts organizations, and members of our Artist Council. The frequency and diversity of these workshops provide veterans with accessible and continuous opportunities to grow, create, and connect with fellow veterans. (3) Performances: We collaborate with local partners to host community performances almost every week that offer veterans the opportunity to tell their stories and showcase their talents with supportive audiences. The consistency and intimacy of these performances build our performers' confidence while bridging the military-civilian divide with our audience. (4) Partnerships: Continuity of artistic engagement with our participants is critical for sustained outcomes around well-being. Therefore, we weave our offerings into the tapestry of local arts ecosystems by delivering the majority of our programs in collaboration with our partners - and we encourage our alumni to participate in partners' programming. If participants cannot afford our partners' advanced offerings, they may apply for support through our Scholarship Fund. This ensures any veteran who wants to grow through the arts can do so with ASAP.(5) Leadership Development Program: Graduates of ASAP classes who demonstrate commitment and express interest in mentoring or teaching future ASAP participants have the opportunity to enroll in our Leadership Development Program, which equips veterans to serve as an Alumni Mentor to a future class cohort or ultimately become a paid instructor for programs. In addition to providing alumni an opportunity to grow as leaders and serve fellow veterans, this provides ASAP a sustainable funnel of instructors who understand our culture and mission. (6) Teaching Artist Training: Arts organizations face significant barriers to supporting veterans and ASAP equips them to do so. Challenges for arts organizations include accessing the veteran population, offering trauma-aware programming, and demonstrating the impact of arts programs. We reduce these barriers and enhance capacity by offering an annual Teaching Artist Training (TAT) delivered by behavioral health specialists and ASAP staff. The training equips arts organizations and teaching artists with: (a) an understanding of military culture and how it manifests in the classroom, (b) the foundational elements of trauma awareness, and (c) grounding, mindfulness, and communication techniques to respond to crisis scenarios in the classroom. (7) Research, Monitoring & Evaluation: ASAP conducts research to monitor, evaluate, and improve our programming and to share best practices on community arts initiatives serving veterans. We publicly share the findings of our research so other organizations may learn from our best practices and better serve the military community.