"I’ve always felt that art has been a way for me to survive and thrive and I just felt like it was my artistic responsibility to help people with something that meant something to me." – Steve Dilley
You may not think that military personnel and the arts would go together but they do! There is a national initiative between the Depart of Defense and the National Endowment of the Arts to bring the arts to veterans. The Veterans Affair’s own website says that the creative arts “helps injured and recuperating veterans improve fine motor skills, cogitative functioning, manage stress and substance abuse, cope with symptoms of PTSD, while also improving their sense of self-esteem and overall physical and mental health.”
Steve Dilley M.F.A. is the director of the Veterans Art Project. He was moved after 9/11 to help Veterans, active duty, and spouses through art making. Steve believes it is urgent to help our contemporary military population to share all the benefits that a life of art making gives. In addition to running the day-to-day with VETART, Steve is an Associate Professor of Art/Sculpture at Grossmont College in El Cajon, CA.
Listen to hear what Steve thinks art is doing to make the connections happen in people’s brains. He also shares some great ways you can get creative at home if you don’t have access to the VA.