Second Annual Veterans Light Up The Arts To Highlight Local Veteran Artists

More than a dozen military veteran performers and artists will showcase their artwork and talent at Veterans Light Up the Arts on Friday, March 9th at Radio Milwaukee from 5:30-8pm. The all-veteran art showcase is presented by area community organizations serving veterans and will feature performances as well as a showcase of visual pieces from veteran artists. US Army veteran Tarik Moody of 88Nine Radio Milwaukee will be the MC for the evening's program, which will feature US Army veteran Jesse Frewerd, US Navy Veteran Hector Parada, and a performance from the nonprofit organization Feast of Crispian, among others.

"We are thrilled to join with other community organizations and provide veteran artists with a platform to showcase their talent," said Saul Newton, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce. "Many are not aware of the contributions military veterans make to our community's arts and cultural landscape. Veterans Light Up the Arts will highlight those contributions."

The first event was held last year and featured 25 performers and 30 visual artists. Over 170 people attended the inaugural event, and hundreds of dollars were raised for five veteran-serving organizations.

"We are so proud to be co-organizing Veterans Light Up the Arts for the second year in a row," said Nabra Nelson, Community Engagement Associate at Milwaukee Repertory Theater. "This event highlights incredible artists in our community who deserve to be recognized for more than just their military service. This is an evening to enjoy some great multimedia art while supporting veteran-serving organizations that are doing amazing work to strengthen our community as a whole."

Veterans Light Up the Arts will be held at 88Nine Radio Milwaukee, 220 E. Pittsburgh Ave. on Friday, March 9th from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm. Tickets are $10 each, or free for military service members and veterans. The event is sponsored by the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Feast of Crispian, Al Hurvis/ADAMM Education Foundation, and Dick Blick Art Materials.

Non-perishable food donations will be collected at the event to benefit the Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative.

The Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce is a membership based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting military veterans, veteran-owned and veteran-friendly businesses. The group advocates for Wisconsin's veteran business community, and promotes economic opportunity for military veterans, military families and veteran-friendly businesses.

Milwaukee Rep is the largest performing arts organization in Wisconsin in terms of audiences served and one of the largest professional theaters in the country. Each year, The Rep welcomes up to 275,000 people at nearly 700 performances of 15 productions ranging from compelling dramas, powerful classics, new plays and full-scale musicals in its three unique performance venues - the Quadracci Powerhouse, Stiemke Studio and Stackner Cabaret. Over the course of six decades, The Rep has gained a national reputation as an incubator of new work, an agent of community change and a forward-thinking provider of vital arts education programs. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Managing Director Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social, and economic vitality of its community by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke, and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee's rich diversity.

Feast of Crispian: Shakespeare with Veterans is a nonprofit organization bringing together professional actors and the texts of Shakespeare with military veterans in order to teach and strengthen emotional resources that veterans may need to overcome traumatic and reintegration issues.

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