CREATIVE ARTS WORKSHOP

2025 Dwyer Program Highlights 

Veterans and their families came together at VRL headquarters in Astoria – Queens, to pick up paintbrushes, many for the first time, others reconnecting with a lost passion, at this year’s Creative Arts Workshop, made possible by the Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project.

Held in a calm and welcoming space, and equipped with professional grade art materials, the workshop provided veterans and their loved ones with a supportive environment to express themselves creatively. It’s not just an outlet, it’s an opportunity connect and create. The twelve session workshop was a resounding success, with online registration exceeding capacity, requiring VRL staff to secure an additional venue space to accommodate everyone who attended.

Adding to the program’s value, participating in creative projects such as painting offers substantial therapeutic benefits. Research shows significant reduction in PTSD symptoms resulting from participation in Art Therapy. For many veterans, the Creative Workshop is a way to visually communicate abstract emotions and help to process them in a productive manner.

The National Library of Medicine identifies the Arts as a means of unlocking emotional insight when communication fails, making it an effective method for those coping with trauma. The Dept. of Veterans Affairs recognizes Art Therapy as an effective method to reduce stress and support social development, noting its role in enhancing both mental and emotional well-being.

Veterans expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the opportunity to participate in the creative experience. Artist and veteran: Trace Ray of Brooklyn, attended all twelve sessions of the workshop, and shared: “The opportunity to exercise my gift and learn more was really incredible. I didn’t realize how hungry I was, until I was fed. Thank you.”