The United States Veterans’ Artists Alliance (USVAA) is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary non-profit arts organization, founded in 2004 by military veterans and artists. USVAA provides opportunities for veterans in the arts by highlighting the work of veterans in the arts, humanities and entertainment industry along with the contributions veterans have made to the rich cultural history of our nation since the Revolutionary War.
Additionally, USVAA networks with veterans, artists, supportive individuals and organizations within the arts and veterans’ communities to find funding and support for individual artistic projects in theater, film, television, the visual/fine arts and a wide variety of crafts.
Where possible, USVAA strives – as spokespersons in the veteran’s community and in our endeavors as artists – to address issues of concern to veterans and their families via artistic endeavors and platforms. These issues include the transition from military to civilian life, education, employment, the effects of wartime and military service injuries such as PTSD, TBI and Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and homelessness among veterans.
For more information about our work please visit our ABOUT PAGE.
In Honor of Veterans Day 2020
USVAA Welcomes our new Advisory Board Members
Our Next Writers Workshops
The next USVAA Writers Workshops will take place, again via Zoom, at the following dates and times:
Monday, Nov. 9th, 6 – 9 pm PST
Monday, Dec. 7th , 6-9 pm PST
Monday, Jan. 11th, 6 – 9 pm PST
Monday, Feb. 1st 6- 9 pm PST
Please contact Keith at keith.jeffreys@usvaa.org for more details and the meeting link and codes.
Our free monthly Writers Workshops are part of our ongoing Veteran Writers Workshop program, mentored by professional, produced WGA members.
As always, they are free for veterans.
ONWARD PRESS PUBLISHES
“WELCOME TO BLACKWATER”
by Morgan Lerette
USVAA’s publishing imprint, Onward Press, is proud to present our latest book, Welcome to Blackwater by Morgan Lerette. Welcome to Blackwater is a tell-all memoir of Blackwater and its people in Iraq. It covers eighteen months in 2004-2005. To learn more about the book and the author please visit the Onward Press website.
THE NAVY GAVE A GAY MAN A HOME—AND A ‘BAD PAPER’ DISCHARGE THAT HAUNTED HIM FOR DECADES
A Vietnam War Veteran Reflects on 50 Years of Fighting for People Like Himself and The Group He Loved
Please read this essay by USVAA Colleague and Onward Press Author Dave Lara by CLICKING HERE.
Congratulations to USVAA Colleague Cathy Torres on her first national published article!
CLICK HERE to read it.
2020 UNIVERSAL WRITERS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ANNOUNCED
Congratulations to USVAA Colleague Sati Kaur, U.S. Army veteran, writer, film director, and now a participant in the highly competitive 2020 Universal Writers Program. Sati is one of the four selectees chosen from 1500 applicants. You can read more about this exciting news HERE.
USVAA New Works 2018 with Katie Robinson, Kadyn Michaels, Tim Robbins, Izzy Izagui, Sati Kaur, Rick McGovern, Melissa Ritz and Christopher Sweeney.
LA Film Festival NewFilmmakers Los Angeles – October 17th, 2020
USVAA Colleague Robert Morgalo’s film The Dispensable is an official entry for October in NewFilmmakers Los Angeles’ Monthly Film Festival.
CLICK HERE to learn more and see schedule details.
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) hosts its October line-up of screenings and Q&As powered by Seed&Spark, with two programs dedicated to showcasing veteran filmmakers for InFocus: Veteran Cinema, including a shorts program and feature film She’s The Eldest by director Cate Jones, and wraps up with haunting shorts Program Dark Recesses
The day begins with InFocus: Veteran Cinema Shorts, a varied line-up of short films directed by filmmakers who have served in the military, this program covers diverse stories and filmmaking styles and genres that span across thriller, sci-fi, comedy, drama and romance and includes five world premieres.
The afternoon continues with InFocus: Veteran Cinema’s feature film, She’s the Eldest, an offbeat black and white horror comedy about three adult siblings reconnecting to solve a family mystery directed by Air Force veteran Cate Jones.
The evening ends with Dark Recesses, a collection of shorts that capture and examine what is hiding in dark corners of our rooms, our culture and our own minds. The unseen, both real and unreal, horrors and revelations.
All filmmakers are welcome and encouraged to submit their projects which will be considered for all upcoming NFMLA Festivals, regardless of the InFocus programming, which celebrates diversity, inclusion and region. NFMLA showcases films by filmmakers of all backgrounds throughout the year.