The Alameda County Arts Commission, a division of the County of Alameda, coordinates the Alameda County Veterans Art Partnership program. There is an exhibition on view celebrating the program at the Hayward Public Library in the 2nd floor Galleries from November 2, 2023 through January 6, 2024. An exhibition reception is on Monday, November 6, from 2-4 pm. The event is free and open to the public. Speakers include Alameda County Supervisor Elisa Márquez and Melissa Wilk, Alameda County Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder. The exhibition showcases 55 artworks by Veterans created through the program coordinated by the Alameda County Arts Commission in partnership with the Oakland Vet Center, which serves veterans throughout the County.
The Veterans Art Partnership brings creative expression workshops to the Vet Center to support Alameda County Veterans and their families. The program goals are to provide Alameda County Veterans and their families with opportunities to express themselves in a supportive environment, explore visual art making techniques to support healing, and engage in community building. The purpose of presenting artwork in the exhibition is to share the Veterans’ vision and voice with the broader community to deepen public understanding of the Veteran experience.
This innovative program began in 2015 as part of a statewide initiative for Veterans and active military. This program is funded in part by the California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Exhibition partners are the Alameda County Arts Commission, Oakland Vet Center, Hayward Arts Council, and Hayward Public Library. The Arts Commission is a division of the Alameda County Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder Agency under the direction of Melissa Wilk.
For more information about the Hayward Public Library’s location and hours visit the Library’s website. Exhibition reception details can be found on the Library’s calendar.