Veterans Find Healing and Connection Through the Arts, Taking the Stage to Share Their Stories

On Wednesday, October 22, Veterans took the spotlight at the Orlando VA Medical Center, sharing their own music, poetry, and performances. These pieces came out of a series of Arts & Wellness workshops—a joint effort between Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and the Orlando VA Healthcare System. They gathered to wrap up the fall session of the Veterans’ Arts & Wellness program, which Dr. Phillips Center led.

Over eight weeks, Veterans and their caregivers teamed up with teaching artists from the center, musicians, poets, theater pros from right here in the community. They dug into creative expression and what it means to belong.

What started as a handful of workshops quickly turned into something bigger. The group felt such a spark that the Veterans themselves pushed for a live performance at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona. They wanted to lift up their community and encourage other Veterans to jump in.

Kathy Ramsberger, president and CEO of Dr. Phillips Center, put it simply: “Watching these veterans find joy through the program reminds us that the arts are about healing, connection and courage. This is exactly why we created this Arts & Wellness initiative. As we look ahead, our goal is to reach 20 communities where wellness is the priority and art is the catalyst.”

The Arts & Wellness initiative launched in 2024. Dr. Phillips Center teamed up with the Orlando VA Healthcare System and kicked things off with a drum circle—a supportive space for Veterans and caregivers to explore creativity, connection, and healing. Now, the program offers even more: choir, spoken word, improv theater. Sessions are free and open at both Dr. Phillips Center and the Orlando VA Medical Center, giving Veterans a place to connect through the arts in a warm, welcoming environment.

Timothy J. Cooke, Director and CEO of the Orlando VA Healthcare System, said it best: “Our partnership with Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts has opened powerful new avenues for healing and self-expression among the Veterans and caregivers we serve. Through these creative arts classes, participants are finding new ways to connect, build confidence and strengthen their overall well-being. This collaboration truly embodies our commitment to whole health—honoring the physical, emotional and creative spirit of Veterans.”

Generous support for the program is provided by Hatalom Corporation, Pabst Steinmetz Foundation, VyStar Foundation and Winifred Johnson Clive Foundation.

Additional sessions will continue in the spring, to learn more about Arts & Wellness programming, please email artsandwellness@drphillipscenter.org