Veteran and former Arts Council Board Member, Neal Joiner, established a partnership with the Cape VA’s Whole Health Program in 2023. He wanted to teach an oil painting class to fellow veterans, so the VA committed to filling the class and providing the supplies and we offered to host it in our gallery space. It took very little time to realize just how special this program was.

Before the first session had even ended, more painting classes were scheduled. Another VA member learned about the art classes and requested to teach beginner guitar lessons, so that was added to the calendar as well. Not long after, our Director began offering yoga classes, and that’s when this partnership with the VA bloomed into interdisciplinary arts programming.

The Arts Council is honored to be able to provide a space for veterans to heal, learn, and have fun. We believe in the power of community, and Creative Forces is a prime example of how coming together in the name of art can truly change lives.

During guitar class, individuals learn the basics of guitar, such as proper posture, chord progressions, and strumming patterns. Once they are comfortable with the basics, they work together to learn songs and encourage each other to establish practice habits.

Veteran and former Arts Council Board Member, Neal Joiner, established a partnership with the Cape VA’s Whole Health Program in 2023. He wanted to teach an oil painting class to fellow veterans, so the VA committed to filling the class and providing the supplies and we offered to host it in our gallery space. It took very little time to realize just how special this program was.

Before the first session had even ended, more painting classes were scheduled. Another VA member learned about the art classes and requested to teach beginner guitar lessons, so that was added to the calendar as well. Not long after, our Director began offering yoga classes, and that’s when this partnership with the VA bloomed into interdisciplinary arts programming.

The Arts Council is honored to be able to provide a space for veterans to heal, learn, and have fun. We believe in the power of community, and Creative Forces is a prime example of how coming together in the name of art can truly change lives.

During guitar class, individuals learn the basics of guitar, such as proper posture, chord progressions, and strumming patterns. Once they are comfortable with the basics, they work together to learn songs and encourage each other to establish practice habits.

Veteran and former Arts Council Board Member, Neal Joiner, established a partnership with the Cape VA’s Whole Health Program in 2023. He wanted to teach an oil painting class to fellow veterans, so the VA committed to filling the class and providing the supplies and we offered to host it in our gallery space. It took very little time to realize just how special this program was.

Before the first session had even ended, more painting classes were scheduled. Another VA member learned about the art classes and requested to teach beginner guitar lessons, so that was added to the calendar as well. Not long after, our Director began offering yoga classes, and that’s when this partnership with the VA bloomed into interdisciplinary arts programming.

The Arts Council is honored to be able to provide a space for veterans to heal, learn, and have fun. We believe in the power of community, and Creative Forces is a prime example of how coming together in the name of art can truly change lives.

During guitar class, individuals learn the basics of guitar, such as proper posture, chord progressions, and strumming patterns. Once they are comfortable with the basics, they work together to learn songs and encourage each other to establish practice habits.

Veteran and former Arts Council Board Member, Neal Joiner, established a partnership with the Cape VA’s Whole Health Program in 2023. He wanted to teach an oil painting class to fellow veterans, so the VA committed to filling the class and providing the supplies and we offered to host it in our gallery space. It took very little time to realize just how special this program was.

Before the first session had even ended, more painting classes were scheduled. Another VA member learned about the art classes and requested to teach beginner guitar lessons, so that was added to the calendar as well. Not long after, our Director began offering yoga classes, and that’s when this partnership with the VA bloomed into interdisciplinary arts programming.

The Arts Council is honored to be able to provide a space for veterans to heal, learn, and have fun. We believe in the power of community, and Creative Forces is a prime example of how coming together in the name of art can truly change lives.

During painting class, individuals learn the basics of painting with oil. Once they have learned the practice, they are encouraged to use their creative freedom to manipulate their image as they explore color mixing, application, and the healing nature of painting.

Veteran and former Arts Council Board Member, Neal Joiner, established a partnership with the Cape VA’s Whole Health Program in 2023. He wanted to teach an oil painting class to fellow veterans, so the VA committed to filling the class and providing the supplies and we offered to host it in our gallery space. It took very little time to realize just how special this program was.

Before the first session had even ended, more painting classes were scheduled. Another VA member learned about the art classes and requested to teach beginner guitar lessons, so that was added to the calendar as well. Not long after, our Director began offering yoga classes, and that’s when this partnership with the VA bloomed into interdisciplinary arts programming.

The Arts Council is honored to be able to provide a space for veterans to heal, learn, and have fun. We believe in the power of community, and Creative Forces is a prime example of how coming together in the name of art can truly change lives.

During guitar class, individuals learn the basics of guitar, such as proper posture, chord progressions, and strumming patterns. Once they are comfortable with the basics, they work together to learn songs and encourage each other to establish practice habits.

Join us for First Friday with the Arts!

Our gallery will feature all new artwork by our wonderful Visual Arts Cooperative artists. Come enjoy free wine and refreshments as you peruse the gallery for a new piece of artwork for your home!

Click here for more info about which Friends of First Friday will be celebrating with us.

Through partnership with local organizations, such as Blue Sky Community Services and Morning Star Behavioral Associates, the Arts Council is able to host Artism, an in-gallery art program for adults with disabilities.

We believe that when offering classes to underserved students, it is important for the teacher to be part of their community. Our Director, Kelly Downes, is a certified art educator so she worked closely with our dear friend and Arts Council member, Taylor Crowe, to build and teach the program in 2023.

Taylor is a painter, comic artist, and animator with autism. His artistic achievements include receiving a degree in animation from the California Institute of Technology, working as a comic artist for the Southeast Missourian, illustrating a children’s book titled Maybe That’s Autism, and showing monthly artwork as a Visual Arts Cooperative artist in our gallery. After the first sessions of Artism, we are thrilled that Taylor was able to add teacher to his already impressive resume!

What Do Students Learn?
Since our students have different ability levels, we make sure to provide classwork that can be enriching to everyone. So far, students have learned color mixing, painting with acrylic, collage making, etching and carving ceramic tiles, and more! While learning new artistic practices, students are also able to work on their motor skills. Cutting images with scissors and painting within the lines of a design are just two examples of fine motor skill enrichment that can take place during an art class.

Students also learn that their disability does not define them as a creative. Having positive role models, such as Taylor, as their instructors helps students see that they are able to achieve their dreams with hard work and dedication. We wholeheartedly believe in the power of art and creative problem-solving and know that these students have the potential to do great things in our community.

Veteran and former Arts Council Board Member, Neal Joiner, established a partnership with the Cape VA’s Whole Health Program in 2023. He wanted to teach an oil painting class to fellow veterans, so the VA committed to filling the class and providing the supplies and we offered to host it in our gallery space. It took very little time to realize just how special this program was.

Before the first session had even ended, more painting classes were scheduled. Another VA member learned about the art classes and requested to teach beginner guitar lessons, so that was added to the calendar as well. Not long after, our Director began offering yoga classes, and that’s when this partnership with the VA bloomed into interdisciplinary arts programming.

The Arts Council is honored to be able to provide a space for veterans to heal, learn, and have fun. We believe in the power of community, and Creative Forces is a prime example of how coming together in the name of art can truly change lives.

During guitar class, individuals learn the basics of guitar, such as proper posture, chord progressions, and strumming patterns. Once they are comfortable with the basics, they work together to learn songs and encourage each other to establish practice habits.

Veteran and former Arts Council Board Member, Neal Joiner, established a partnership with the Cape VA’s Whole Health Program in 2023. He wanted to teach an oil painting class to fellow veterans, so the VA committed to filling the class and providing the supplies and we offered to host it in our gallery space. It took very little time to realize just how special this program was.

Before the first session had even ended, more painting classes were scheduled. Another VA member learned about the art classes and requested to teach beginner guitar lessons, so that was added to the calendar as well. Not long after, our Director began offering yoga classes, and that’s when this partnership with the VA bloomed into interdisciplinary arts programming.

The Arts Council is honored to be able to provide a space for veterans to heal, learn, and have fun. We believe in the power of community, and Creative Forces is a prime example of how coming together in the name of art can truly change lives.

During painting class, individuals learn the basics of painting with oil. Once they have learned the practice, they are encouraged to use their creative freedom to manipulate their image as they explore color mixing, application, and the healing nature of painting.

Veteran and former Arts Council Board Member, Neal Joiner, established a partnership with the Cape VA’s Whole Health Program in 2023. He wanted to teach an oil painting class to fellow veterans, so the VA committed to filling the class and providing the supplies and we offered to host it in our gallery space. It took very little time to realize just how special this program was.

Before the first session had even ended, more painting classes were scheduled. Another VA member learned about the art classes and requested to teach beginner guitar lessons, so that was added to the calendar as well. Not long after, our Director began offering yoga classes, and that’s when this partnership with the VA bloomed into interdisciplinary arts programming.

The Arts Council is honored to be able to provide a space for veterans to heal, learn, and have fun. We believe in the power of community, and Creative Forces is a prime example of how coming together in the name of art can truly change lives.

During painting class, individuals learn the basics of painting with oil. Once they have learned the practice, they are encouraged to use their creative freedom to manipulate their image as they explore color mixing, application, and the healing nature of painting.

Join us for First Friday with the Arts!

Our gallery will feature all new artwork by our wonderful Visual Arts Cooperative artists. Come enjoy free wine and refreshments as you peruse the gallery for a new piece of artwork for your home!

Click here for more info about which Friends of First Friday will be celebrating with us.

Veteran and former Arts Council Board Member, Neal Joiner, established a partnership with the Cape VA’s Whole Health Program in 2023. He wanted to teach an oil painting class to fellow veterans, so the VA committed to filling the class and providing the supplies and we offered to host it in our gallery space. It took very little time to realize just how special this program was.

Before the first session had even ended, more painting classes were scheduled. Another VA member learned about the art classes and requested to teach beginner guitar lessons, so that was added to the calendar as well. Not long after, our Director began offering yoga classes, and that’s when this partnership with the VA bloomed into interdisciplinary arts programming.

The Arts Council is honored to be able to provide a space for veterans to heal, learn, and have fun. We believe in the power of community, and Creative Forces is a prime example of how coming together in the name of art can truly change lives.

During painting class, individuals learn the basics of painting with oil. Once they have learned the practice, they are encouraged to use their creative freedom to manipulate their image as they explore color mixing, application, and the healing nature of painting.

Veteran and former Arts Council Board Member, Neal Joiner, established a partnership with the Cape VA’s Whole Health Program in 2023. He wanted to teach an oil painting class to fellow veterans, so the VA committed to filling the class and providing the supplies and we offered to host it in our gallery space. It took very little time to realize just how special this program was.

Before the first session had even ended, more painting classes were scheduled. Another VA member learned about the art classes and requested to teach beginner guitar lessons, so that was added to the calendar as well. Not long after, our Director began offering yoga classes, and that’s when this partnership with the VA bloomed into interdisciplinary arts programming.

The Arts Council is honored to be able to provide a space for veterans to heal, learn, and have fun. We believe in the power of community, and Creative Forces is a prime example of how coming together in the name of art can truly change lives.

During painting class, individuals learn the basics of painting with oil. Once they have learned the practice, they are encouraged to use their creative freedom to manipulate their image as they explore color mixing, application, and the healing nature of painting.

Join us for First Friday with the Arts!

Our gallery will feature all new artwork by our wonderful Visual Arts Cooperative artists. Come enjoy free wine and refreshments as you peruse the gallery for a new piece of artwork for your home!

Click here for more info about which Friends of First Friday will be celebrating with us.

Veteran and former Arts Council Board Member, Neal Joiner, established a partnership with the Cape VA’s Whole Health Program in 2023. He wanted to teach an oil painting class to fellow veterans, so the VA committed to filling the class and providing the supplies and we offered to host it in our gallery space. It took very little time to realize just how special this program was.

Before the first session had even ended, more painting classes were scheduled. Another VA member learned about the art classes and requested to teach beginner guitar lessons, so that was added to the calendar as well. Not long after, our Director began offering yoga classes, and that’s when this partnership with the VA bloomed into interdisciplinary arts programming.

The Arts Council is honored to be able to provide a space for veterans to heal, learn, and have fun. We believe in the power of community, and Creative Forces is a prime example of how coming together in the name of art can truly change lives.

During painting class, individuals learn the basics of painting with oil. Once they have learned the practice, they are encouraged to use their creative freedom to manipulate their image as they explore color mixing, application, and the healing nature of painting.

Join us for First Friday with the Arts!

Our gallery will feature all new artwork by our wonderful Visual Arts Cooperative artists. Come enjoy free wine and refreshments as you peruse the gallery for a new piece of artwork for your home!

Click here for more info about which Friends of First Friday will be celebrating with us.

Veteran and former Arts Council Board Member, Neal Joiner, established a partnership with the Cape VA’s Whole Health Program in 2023. He wanted to teach an oil painting class to fellow veterans, so the VA committed to filling the class and providing the supplies and we offered to host it in our gallery space. It took very little time to realize just how special this program was.

Before the first session had even ended, more painting classes were scheduled. Another VA member learned about the art classes and requested to teach beginner guitar lessons, so that was added to the calendar as well. Not long after, our Director began offering yoga classes, and that’s when this partnership with the VA bloomed into interdisciplinary arts programming.

The Arts Council is honored to be able to provide a space for veterans to heal, learn, and have fun. We believe in the power of community, and Creative Forces is a prime example of how coming together in the name of art can truly change lives.

During painting class, individuals learn the basics of painting with oil. Once they have learned the practice, they are encouraged to use their creative freedom to manipulate their image as they explore color mixing, application, and the healing nature of painting.