Australian National Veterans Arts Museum

23/08/2026

The last two months have been two of the most creative & connecting times for arts engagement as the opportunities continue to grow across the Veteran Arts Community & ecosystem

We welcomed many visitors including DVSC Commissioner Penny McKay, a solo 📷 exhibition WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT FIGHTER JETS? by Nell Bradbury to ANVAM HQ. We farewelled works 🎨 from FOVA26, partnered with Bendigo Military Museum (BMM) to showcase PERSONA: CONTEMPORARY VETERAN ARTISTS, contributed to & loaned embroidered 🧵 works by Veteran Artists Anna Taylor, Sacha de Wit, Lou Stod, Erica Mainprize & Dot Thomas’ to the SPARKS IN THE DARK exhibition at the Shrine of Remembrance. An exhibition created by Mursal Azizi, Veteran Artist Kat Rae & 45 women living in Afghanistan 🪡 Each exhibition worthy of taking time to visit & view for their depth, generosity & honesty!

Together, alongside ANVAM volunteers, we acknowledged & commemorated Vietnam Veterans Day 📖

The programs teams continued to roll out interstate Meet Ups, the Regional Arts Program (RAP) & Women Veterans Arts & Agency Program (WVAAP) across regional & metro Victoria, including piloting online/digital resources thanks to Veteran Artist & Arts Mentor Jen McFarlane 🌅 & the Wodonga & Bandiana teams!

Thanks to all who have supported ANVAM to grow & sustain the community through the VPAT Host Training - welcoming new volunteer hosts from across the community, to share their insights on how the Veteran Arts Community has contributed to our Cultural Landscape 🏛️

Some of the ANVAM team headed to Canberra this week to meet with Defence, Veteran, Veteran Family & Cultural entities to share & discuss how ANVAM can continue to best support & celebrate a thriving Veteran Arts Community into the future 💫

📸: courtesy ANVAM & community members, 2026

21/08/2026

Join us for the August Meet Up - ‘Digital Music Making with Mansell Laidler‘

🗓️ 2- 4pm Saturday 22 August
📍 ANVAM Gallery, 312 St Kilda Road, Southbank VIC

Veteran musician Mansell Laidler brings his hands-on workshop, Building Creative Expression: Digital Music Making for Veterans, to the ANVAM Gallery. No experience needed, just curiosity. Come along & discover how easy & joyful making music can be.

RSVP: https://events.humanitix.com/veteran-artist-meet-ups-melbourne

Mansell Bass

15/08/2026

Persona: Contemporary Veteran Artists
NOW Showing at BMM - visit Bendigo

Image shared with courtesy
Bendigo Military Museum

https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/bendigotimes/news/defence-veterans-artistic-lives-uncovered/

Phil Johns 🎨
Jarryd Goundrey 🎤
Kathryn Rae ✂️
Cass Bee 🐝
Glenn Bee-May 🎶
Robert Milton ✍🏽

12/08/2026

A creative collaboration underway!

Veteran Artists Jarryd Goundrey & Dot - true champions of the Veterans Arts Community 👊🏽🧶🧷✂️🌺🪖🙏🏽⭐️

11/08/2026

"Are the kids alright,

and what are we doing to help them?"

It was one of the very first questions that families of veterans asked me when I became Veteran Family Commissioner.

Almost a year later, and it's still one of the most important questions I find myself asking on a daily basis.

Maybe that's because I spend a lot of time thinking about children, both as Commissioner and as Primrose's mum.

Here's a photo of her having a great time during one of my speeches at Australian National Veterans Arts Museum earlier this year (maybe mum should do just a little less talking!).

In my latest Vetaffairs article, I share some of the work that's underway to better support children and young people from families of veterans.

Our children have been asking to be heard for a long time.

We're listening.

Full article here: https://www.dva.gov.au/newsroom/vetaffairs-vol-42-no2-august-2026/are-the-kids-alright

06/08/2026

🚀 TONIGHT!

You are warmly invited to the launch of
Bendigo Military Museum’s PERSONA:
CONTEMPORARY VETERAN ARTISTS

📅: Friday 7 August @ 6pm
📍: Bendigo Military Museum
🏛️: 37-39 Pall Mall, Bendigo

8 August 2026 to 31 January 2027

06/08/2026

If you’ve wanted to explore getting creative and artistic 🎨, we’ve got a great opportunity for our current serving, veterans and families.

Come and join in with ANVAM staff on-site to get creative, make connections and hold conversations, there is no need to have any experience. Check out the link below ⬇️

📅 Tuesday 11 Aug
🕕 1:30pm
📍 Wodonga RSL
🔗 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1996919127867?aff=oddtdtcreator

Proudly supported by the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (ANVAM).

01/08/2026

Congratulations to all recipients of the Wellbeing Grant for your continued connection to, & care of community.

ANVAM looks forward to deepening connections across the community & strengthening relationships & creativity through the Open Studio Program.

Thank you Senator Raff Ciccone & Matt Keogh. We welcome you to visit & experience the program at ANVAM HQ soon. 🎭🏛️🎶

More than 60 community-based programs across Australia will share in $3.5 million through the Albanese Government's Veteran Wellbeing Grants Program.

One of the Victorian recipients is the Hawthorn RSL Sub Branch, which will receive $50,000 to upgrade its kitchen, giving veterans, families and carers a proper space to gather and share a meal together.

The Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (ANVAM) will also receive $50,000 to expand its Veteran Arts Open Studio program, using creativity and the arts to help veterans connect with the community.

I've had the opportunity to visit these organisations and support the important work they do to strengthen the veteran community.

See the full list of recipients via the link in the comments. 👇