Johnson Celebrates Dallas Art Therapy’s National Endowment for the Arts Grant
Creative Forces program backs partnership with Dallas VA to expand healing arts for military-connected communities in North Texas
DALLAS, TX — Today, Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32) celebrated the award of a new federal grant to Dallas Art Therapy and the Dallas VA Medical Center through the National Endowment for the Arts’ Creative Forces Program. The funding will support community-based art therapy projects focused on veterans, active-duty service members, and military families in North Texas.
“As the daughter of two music teachers and someone shaped by a STEAM education, I’ve seen firsthand the power of the arts to heal, connect, and transform lives,” said Johnson. “Creative Forces is more than a grant — it’s an investment in the mental health of the veterans and families who’ve given everything for our country. This partnership between Dallas Art Therapy and the VA will bring dignity, purpose, and healing through artistic expression, and I’m incredibly proud it’s happening here in TX-32.”
Dallas Art Therapy is one of just 48 organizations nationwide to receive funding through the Creative Forces Community Engagement program. The initiative, now in its fourth year, is a partnership between the NEA, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. It supports non-clinical arts programs that foster resilience, enhance well-being, and facilitate the transition to civilian life for military-connected individuals.
As a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, Johnson has long championed federal investments in the arts, particularly where they intersect with education, public health, and veteran care.
“North Texas is home to thousands of veterans, and every one of them deserves access to tools that help them heal and thrive,” Johnson added. “We’re seeing that when you pair the arts with compassion and community, incredible things can happen.”
For more information on Creative Forces and a complete list of grantees, click here.
Congresswoman Julie Johnson represents Texas’s 32nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving on the Homeland Security Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Administration Committee. Her district includes parts of Collin, Dallas, and Denton Counties.
###