Opera San José Awarded California Arts Council 'Veterans In The Arts' Grant

The California Arts Council announced its plans to award $3,000 to Opera San José as part of its Veterans in the Arts program.

The Veterans in the Arts program is rooted in the California Arts Council's desire to address the needs and improve the lives of California's veterans through the arts. The program seeks to increase equity, access, and opportunities for veterans to participate in quality arts programming that is sensitive and responsive to their unique experiences. Grants support projects by nonprofit arts organizations, local arts agencies, and veteran's assistance agencies to reach veterans, active military, and their families.

Opera San José formed its Military Veterans Chorus in October 2016 to present a fundraising concert for homeless veterans in our area. We found the rehearsals and the performance so enriching that the group decided not to disband after the concert. Over the two years of our existence, we have performed at retirement homes where veterans live, at Wreaths Across America in military cemeteries, at Honor on the Row for Veterans Day, on the USS Hornet aircraft carrier, and at the Veterans hospital in Menlo Park. We continue to rehearse year round and welcome newcomers. The group is open to active military personnel, military veterans, spouses and adult children of military veterans, and those who support veterans services.

Opera San José is one of 34 grantees chosen for the Veterans in the Arts program. The award was featured as part of a larger announcement from the California Arts Council.

"Veterans come home as changed people. Often the impact of their service is not readily visible, or easily understood, by those they've come home to," said Nashormeh Lindo, California Arts Council Chair. "The duty is ours to respond to the needs of our veterans and ensure they are not lost. The work of Opera San José honors its veteran community by providing a venue for creative expression, camaraderie, and compassion."

To view a complete listing of all Veterans in the Arts grantees, visit http://arts.ca.gov/programs/files/FY1718_ProjectDescriptions_VIA.pdf.

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