BAMCIS Veteran Art Initiative
Art, connection, and purpose after service.
Did you know…
There are two ways to be part of this program:
Relaxed, beginner-friendly art sessions in the Western Massachusetts area.
In-Person classes.
No experience needed. Just show up.
All materials provided.
A chance to focus, create, and unwind.
Massachusetts is home to a vibrant creative community where nearly 78% of artists are living below a living wage.
The World Health Organization’s 2024 report which reviewed more than 3,000 studies shows that participation in the arts can positively influence mental health, physical health, and overall well-being.
BAMCIS Veteran Art Initiative is a no-pressure creative space for veterans,
alongside meaningful paid opportunities for local artists.
The program brings veterans and artists together in small-group settings
focused on creativity, connection, and well-being.
Lead small-group art sessions.
Get paid (living wage aligned).
Support veterans through creative practice.
What This Program Is
BAMCIS is the U.S. Marine Corps planning framework, designed to organize a mission and get things done.
Our goal is simple: positively impact veterans’ well-being, while paying local working artists a living wage and strengthening our community through shared creative practice.
12 sessions 1h in length are scheduled through the program in the Western Massachusetts area.
Sessions are beginner-friendly and materials are provided through external funding.
There is no pressure for participants to perform or share—participants are simply invited to focus, create, and enjoy the process.
The program creates meaningful, paid opportunities for Massachusetts artists, supporting a creative community in which many are not currently earning a living wage.
Grounded in research from the World Health Organization (2024), which shows that arts participation can positively impact mental and physical health, this program is designed to support both individual well-being and community connection.
What else should I know?
Participants have the option to complete up to three brief, voluntary surveys designed to assess program effectiveness, identify opportunities for improvement, and explore potential impacts on mental and physical well-being. These surveys are developed in collaboration with a UMass Amherst public health professor and are designed to be short, accessible, and anonymous. Results are reported only in aggregate and are used to strengthen the program, inform future iterations, and demonstrate impact to funding partners.
Artists and veteran participants are recruited in partnership with a VA Creative Arts Therapist, ensuring thoughtful alignment with community needs and a supportive, well-informed program structure.
Bios
Courtney Bennett, MA, ATR-BC, LPC
Creative Arts Therapy
Board Certified Registered Art Therapist
Licensed Professional Counselor
Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson
Professor of Epidemiology
Director, Center for Program Evaluation
UMass Amherst
Hira Paulin