The National Veterans Art Museum (NVAM), located at 4041 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood, has held what it describes as a unique position at the intersection of art, history, and veteran advocacy since 1996. It is the only museum in the United States solely dedicated to art created by people who served in the military.
NVAM’s stated mission is to preserve, exhibit, and promote art created by U.S. military veterans, with a goal of educating communities and bridging the civilian-military divide through veteran voices.
The museum’s programs include rotating exhibitions, an Artist Fellowship program, community workshops, and partnerships with VA medical centers and public institutions such as the Harold Washington Library Center. NVAM’s permanent collection spans artwork beginning in 1981 and covers seventy years of military operations.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday and admission is free. NVAM also accepts donations to support its programs.
The NVAM Veteran Arts Database is a growing collection of interdisciplinary arts resources connecting veteran artists with programs, residencies, grants, and community networks. It is available at nvam.org/vad.
Source: nvam.org/about-nvam · nvam.org
