The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
FFA gets Modern Warrior Series Grant
NEA funds to support vets, families through creative therapies
“Modern Warrior LIVE” debuted in 2017 and has since done more than 120 performances around the country.
The National Endowment for the Arts recently announced the first round of recommended awards for its fiscal year 2021 totaling $27,562,040.
The Fine Arts Association was selected as a firstround recipient receiving a grant award of $10,000 to present in-person screenings of the film “Modern Warrior LIVE,” featuring the story and sound of a combat veteran’s journey by musician Dominick Farinacci and U.S. Army veteran Jaymes Poling.
The awards serve to support projects that span 14 artistic disciplines in communities throughout the United States.
“Modern Warrior LIVE” debuted in 2017 and has since done more than 120 performances around the country.
Venues include theaters, mental health and veteran conferences, galas, high schools and trauma centers.
“Experiencing a story told directly from the person who went through it integrated with the power of a unique artistic environment provides accessibility and empathy into an otherwise hard-to-relate-to experience,” said Farinacci.
The delivery of performances will be through a series of screenings — free to the veteran community.
In addition, the film is designed for active military and their families, health professionals, high school students and others interested in the health and well-being of the veteran population.
Fine Arts will also be developing and offering artistic programs and services adapted to meet the needs of veterans and their families.
The purpose of the project serves to build bridges, encourage dialogue and broaden understanding of the challenges veterans face.
Through live performances, collaborative workshops, and highlighting stories of post-traumatic growth, “Modern Warrior LIVE” also works to de-stigmatize veterans by focusing on the shared human experience, while providing hope and a deeper understanding across communities.
“With the best of intentions, well-meaning individuals and organizations have crafted a dark narrative around veteran mental health,” Poling said. “For those experiencing it, the recognition of post-traumatic stress can often feel insurmountable. Through entertainment, ‘Modern Warrior LIVE’ provides an alternative viewpoint.
“If we agree there is an opportunity for growth in adversity, then we have an obligation to ourselves and our loved ones to do everything in our power to define a new path and find what it means to be forged in combat.”
Screenings will take place June 14–16, 2022, at The Fine Arts Association’s Corning Auditorium and will comply with any required social distancing requirements at that time.
Veteran support services and other community service agencies will be invited to host tables in the gallery during and after the screenings for ease of access to resources and support.
“Modern Warrior reminds veterans they are not victims and that they can use their experiences to grow and make significant contributions to society,” said Anthony Principi, former U.S. secretary of veterans affairs and Vietnam veteran.
The project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
The Fine Arts Association is located at 38660 Mentor Ave. in Willoughby.