Empowering Arts Programs for Military-Connected Communities Through Evaluation, Technical Assistance, and Community Building

The Creative Forces Community Engagement grant program aims to improve health, well-being, and quality of life for military-connected persons exposed to trauma through art experiences or art creation. CFCE is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA). The grant program supports arts initiatives that encourage creativity, build social connections, improve resilience, and facilitate transition to civilian life. This multi-paper session will explore the three-pronged program evaluation technical assistance (TA) model providing assistance, capacity building, and community building opportunities to CFCE grantees. The evaluation TA model incorporates evaluation tools and training, peer exchange, and individual consultations. The papers will provide an overview of the TA model, examine the evolution of the peer exchange component in depth, and look at one case example of a CFCE grantee’s experience building organizational capacity and community through engaging with the TA team. Click to fill survey.