Council Member of District 10 Alison Alter wrote a letter in honoring the support of the first Annual Austin Veterans Art Fest

1. Feb. 12, 2018
Dear Austinites,
I am honored to support the creation of the first annual Austin Veteran Arts Festival. AVA
Fest will bring communities closer to our veterans by offering civilians a new way to relate
to the experiences of those in the armed forces. Exposure to veteran-created art
strengthens our empathy for the unique perspective of service men and women and builds
a shared understanding of the world.
Providing an artistic outlet for expression also serves to improve the lives of our veterans,
who have so often experienced events that are unimaginable to the general population. Art
therapy is known to increase veterans’ quality of life, helping ease the everyday challenges
resulting from conditions like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain
Injuries (TBI), physical disabilities, or depression. Whereas many veterans may be
uncomfortable in traditional therapy, art therapy enables them to share their thoughts and
feelings without necessarily having to verbalize difficult memories.
AVA Fest will also celebrate the artistic talents of our veterans, which without these
programs and showcases may otherwise go untapped. The festival spans a wide range of
disciplines, including visual art, photography, sculpture, theatre, poetry, dance, music,
culinary, and automotive exhibits.
AVA Fest is scheduled to run from Oct. 18, 2019, until Nov. 17, 2019, in museums and
cultural centers throughout the city. I encourage support for and engagement with efforts
dedicated to this event. This is an incredible opportunity for the community and I am
excited to for this festival to become an annual tradition in Austin.
Kind regards,
Alison Alter
Council Member, District 10