Mimbres Region Arts Council
Arts & Military Initiative
Presentation of Colors at Silver City Blues Festival
The Mimbres Region Arts Council views the arts as a unique and powerful community organizing tool for change. Change might be internal; relating to physical or mental health. Change could be external to include social issues, and both the built and natural environment. Our efforts are not intended to produce art for art’s sake but also to employ the arts as a vehicle for empowerment.
Military veterans face a difficult transition to civilian life and suffer from combat-related disorders such as post traumatic stress, depression, and substance abuse. As a result, there are rising rates of veteran homelessness and suicides. The Mimbres Region Arts Council will play a leading role in the exploration of how the arts can serve veterans and their families who have served our county.
Tuesday, October 21, 2019
About the Arts & Military Roundtable - UPDATE
Lt. Governor Howie Morales addresses the New Mexico Arts & the Military Roundtable at Fort Bayard National Historic Landmark.
The Mimbres Region Arts Council would like to thank all who participated or attended the October 8th - Arts & Military Roundtable. According to New Mexico Arts, attendance at the roundtable was one of the largest throughout the state.
What's Next?
A summary report will be produced by New Mexico Arts and shared as a record of the presentations, ideas, and feedback of the attendees. Following the release of the Roundtable report, a general interest survey for the community will be developed by the Mimbres Region Arts Council to determine potential programming and partners.
Seeds have been planted
There were many conversations and connections made at the Roundtable that may grow into meaningful opportunities. We encourage everyone to follow the progression of these discussions and take action whenever the time is right. The needs of our community's veterans are both wide and deep. Help when and where you can.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact:
Kevin Lenkner, Executive Director
575 538-2505 or kevin@mimbresarts.org
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
About the Arts & Military Roundtable
About the Interactive Roundtable
Purpose of the Roundtable
The purpose of organizing a roundtable about the arts and the military is to build awareness about the role the arts can play in service to veterans and military families. Topics at the interactive roundtable include:
How the arts can address health and reintegration challenges
How creative expression can relieve trauma
Strengthening bonds between military and artistic communities in New Mexico
Sharing experiences where the two are already intersecting
Discussing ways to improve the connections between the arts and the military
All sessions are FREE and open to the general public
Convener
New Mexico Arts is the state arts agency and a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. The 15-member governor-appointed New Mexico Arts Commission serves as their advisory body. Their primary function is to provide financial support for arts services and programs to non-profit organizations statewide and to administer the 1% public art program for the state of New Mexico. The NM Arts and the Military initiative explores the intersection of the arts, arts organizations, local & state agencies, and health and reintegration for veterans and military families.
Special Guests:
Lieutenant Governor: Howie Morales
Department of Cultural Affairs Secretary: Debra Garcia y Griego
NM Department of Veterans Services: Larry J. Campos, MSW
Mayor of Santa Clara: Richard Bauch
New Mexico Arts: Phyllis Kennedy
Mimbres Region Arts Council: Kevin Lenkner
FACILITATOR:
Cathryn McGill
In the African tradition of griot, Cathryn McGill is a storyteller, sharing stories in word and song, while building, growing, energizing and engaging communities, creating positive change wherever she goes. A member of a class of traveling poets musicians, and storytellers who maintain a tradition of oral history in parts of West Africa.
Since arriving in New Mexico in 1984, Cathy has not only used her voice in a musical setting to give people pleasure and entertainment, but also has a voice for social causes and civic dialogue on important social subjects. She is also the Founder/Director of New Mexico Black History Month Celebration.
Presenters:
Advances in Neuroscience in the Treatment of PTSD
Davin K. Quinn, M.D.
Associate Professor, UNM Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Chief, Division of Behavioral Health Consultation & Integration
Director, UNM Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Service
Director, UNM/NMVAHCS Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship
Chief of Staff, UNM Hospitals & Clinics
*** Check back for updates on added presenters ***
About the Veterans History Project Training
The Veterans History Project (VHP) of the American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.
New Mexico Arts is partnering with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project (VHP) to offer this FREE workshop for volunteers interested in learning how to conduct interviews with veterans for submission to the Veterans History Project. The training workshop will cover specifics of the VHP and techniques and best practices for both amateur and experienced oral historians.
Participants: minimum 10; maximum 30.
For more information about the Veterans History project Click HERE.
About the Storytelling Workshop & Performance
New Mexico Arts and the Military and Mimbres Region Arts Council present
NM Music Awards Producer Jose Antonio Ponce
"Telling Your Story and Getting it Heard"
JOSE ANTONIO PONCE is a writer, actor and musician living in New Mexico. His new book of short stories, work@home, is available now on Amazon.com.
His music crosses all lines with acoustic arrangements of original songs and some of America’s greatest music. Many of the country’s best musicians join Jose as special guests during his live shows.
Jose is a member of the touring band, The Windsor Creek Trio, producer of the New Mexico Music Awards, a past president of the New Mexico Jazz Workshop and serves on the New Mexico Music Commission.
His first three books Lunch Hour, 53-coming of age in the 70s and From Father To Son are available on Amazon.com
Find out more about Jose and his music at newmexicomusicawards.com or listennm.com.
Upcoming Events
New Mexico Arts
New Mexico Arts & Military
Community Engagement
NEW MEXICO ARTS AND THE MILITARY·FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019·
IN 2015, New Mexico Arts began to explore the relationships between veterans, military families, government agencies, and non-profit arts organizations that believe in the healing power of art and creativity. Using guidelines provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and Americans for the Arts, we hosted a round-table in Albuquerque in September of 2016. The meeting was facilitated by Milton Bluehouse, Jr., former US Marine, owner of Tribal Consultation Resources LLC, and citizen of the Navajo Nation (back row, center). A follow-up round-table was held in Albuquerque in January of 2017. In January of 2018, New Mexico Arts convened a Roswell gathering hosted by New Mexico Military Institute and co-facilitated by Toni Martorelli, Senior Analyst - Army OneSource, and Debra Roane, Military One Source New Mexico Consultant.
Our keynote speakers in Roswell were New Mexico Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez and Department of Veterans Services Secretary Jack R. Fox. Lieutenant Governor Sanchez updated the group on the The National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) and Americans for the Arts’ collaboration “to increase visibility, understanding, and support for the care of persons across the military continuum (active duty and reserve service members, veterans, their families, and caregivers) and the role the arts can play in their health and wellness. The goal of the Lieutenant Governors initiative is to make arts, in its various forms, available to the military continuum as a tool to improve health and wellness. The Initiative aims to advance the policy, practice, and quality use of arts and creativity as tools for health in the military and for veterans.”
Since 2015, New Mexico Arts has awarded several new arts services contracts for projects specifically created for veterans and military families in our Arts in Social Service funding category. Our network has grown to 200+ state and regional members. Recently, we were engaged in a collaborative project with artist Shirley Klinghoffer (Love Armor Project 2008), Santa Fe’s Center for Contemporary Arts, the New Mexico Art Therapy Association, UNM Brain and Behavioral Health Institute, the Española Valley Fiber Arts Center, American Veterans for Equal Rights, the Museum of the American Military Family, and the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. The opening reception for the Love Armor Project 10th Anniversary Community Outreach Program at the Center for Contemporary Arts, host of the original Love Armor Project in 2008, took place Friday, September 28, 2018. The exhibit ran from September 28 through October 7, 2018, with panel discussions taking place Saturday and Sunday, September 29 - 30.
Click image below for the full report
Americans for the Arts
THE NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR ARTS & HEALTH IN THE MILITARY
Strengthening the Health and Well Being of Service Members, Veterans, their Families and Caregivers Through the Arts
The National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military advances the arts in healthcare, healing, and well-being for military service members, veterans, their families and caregivers.
Working across military, government, private and non-profit sectors, the goals of the National Initiative are to:
Raise visibility, understanding, and support of arts and health in the military;
Advance the policy, practice, and quality use of arts and creativity as tools for health in the military; and
Make the arts as tools for health available to all Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, and staff, Veterans, military families, and caregivers.