Testimonials about ANVAM

  • Art saved my life, but ANVAM gave me my life back.

    - Veteran M 2025

  • It's March, and that means FOVA at ANVAM! Last year this debut festival was a major highlight of my year, and I hope that even more veterans and family members of veterans can be a part of this incredible community building arts program. Check it out and get involved :)

    - Katheryn 2025

  • ANVAM, the pioneers in the ongoing support for Veteran Arts

    - Kelly 2025

  • ANVAM have been utterly awesome on my author journey. I would not have kept going without them.

    - Roger 2025

  • Of the whole ESO community, you guys have really worked it out, you've nailed it.

    - Abby 2025

  • The space at ANVAM is nothing short of phenomenal. It’s a haven for creativity and connection, and I feel so lucky to be a part of this vibrant community. The support and enthusiasm I received today were overwhelming, and I can’t express how grateful I am for the opportunity to connect with fellow artists.

    - Chris 2025

  • I just love coming to ANVAM. This place is so welcoming and accepting of everyone wherever they are at.

    - Kirrily 2025

  • ANVAM is one of the only veteran support agencies that really brings it when it comes to community building for the veteran community. Not only that, it actively celebrates veterans and veteran families with a focus on their strength and capacity.

    - Ruth 2025

  • I look forward to our continued collaborations with you and ANVAM to provide a platform for our members to express themselves and to highlight the importance of creativity and artistic endeavour within the wider veteran community.

    - LTGEN Natasha Fox AO CSC 2024

  • What is ANVAM? It’s a haven for veterans to explore their creative talents and build a community of shared experiences. Here, you’re encouraged to share your thoughts and feelings, a space where you can be vulnerable and creative among peers. It’s about feeling supported and valued within this community.

    - Chris 2024

  • What you have done here, and what you continue to do with ANVAM, does not receive enough thanks. All your work, all your frustrations and all the energy and passion you give - it's all worth it and means so very much to a growing community of people.

    - Anneke 2024

  • “Love the work of ANVAM and appreciate the support on instagram for my work :).”

    — Hilton Mesic, Timber Tamer 2024

  • “It was such a great experience to participate. It has now opened a whole new field of experiences connections etc. Something that I would not have even considered 2.5yrs ago!.”

    — @kangaroojackphoto 2024

  • “Thank you @anvam310 for all you do for the veteran community. It is a vital part of being to know acceptance and to have others appreciate your work.”

    — @dads357 2024

  • What you have done here, what you continue to do with ANVAM, does not receive enough thanks. It is all worth it and means so very much to a growing community of people. Thank you doesn't seem like enough.

    - Anne 2024

  • You get to meet and talk to other vets and artists. Renew interest in another form of art…

    - James F 2024

  • Q: How did your connection change to the veteran arts community? A: Better understanding of the long history of veteran art.

    -Aleisha 2024

  • Fantastic experience led by Mark. Thank you :)

    -Aleisha attending the Arts Trail 2024

  • Distracts and calms down your mind. Feel good after it, lovely people.

    - Rose after attending FOVA24

  • Favourite part of FOVA was “Learning new skills and being around other creative people”

    - Rose 2024

  • Due to the inclusive environment ANVAM creates when talking about the arts and through the carefully curated guest speakers.

    - Sasha on how FOVA24 celebrated the veteran community 2024

  • The creative side of my brain never turns off :) And FOVA added fuel to this.

    - Sacha 2024

  • I plan to attend FOVA25 for as long as possible and attend as many workshops as possible.

    - Sacha 2024

  • FOVA was such a wonderful event. Thank you Mark, Tanja and every person involved in this venture, for creating such a welcoming space for the whole Veteran Community. Creativity has always provided me with a place to process my own big feelings, and it was clear that this is true for everyone who participated in the summit. Authors, singers, visual artists, dancers and comedians. Veterans, Partners, siblings, children and friends. ANVAM celebrates the whole Veteran Community with their own creative pursuits. I look forward to seeing this event be even bigger next year. Well done, and thank you ANVAM.

    - Ashley 2024

  • A massive thank you Tanja Johnston and her incredible team at ANVAM for creating the amazing Brothers and Books library during their March to Art exhibition! This team supported my Guinness World Record attempt and have created the most aesthetically pleasing community library I've seen in quite some time! A brilliant organisation helping Australian veterans flourish through the arts.

    - Dillon 2024

  • I attended the creative summit & variety evening on 23rd March. The arts trail and the concert on 24th March. They were all brilliant.

    - Sacha 2024

  • The need to focus on learning this creative skill, and the sense of peace (mindfulness) I experienced during the creative process/activity stayed with me for many days afterwards. I feel inspired to explore this creative practice further, as a good outlet for grounding myself into a 'flow' state. Great for mental health!

    - Michael after attending FOVA24

  • As an art historian I found the wealth of information and possibilities for further research and writing unlimited.

    - Bronwyn after attending FOVA24

  • Thanks for your support on the occasional tweet I put out there regarding the creative arts. We have am incredibly talented group of people at the Regiment and I am lucky to have just asked the right questions at the right time and our creative young people have stepped forward to contribute to our vision and advance the Regiment through their art.

    - Jame 2022

  • Terrific initiative that will grow as it becomes more widely known and widely promoted.

    - Bronwyn after attending FOVA24

  • I appreciate the work of ANVAM in seeking to improve and maintain the mental health and wellbeing of current and former Australian Defence Force monbers, who can benefit from participation in veterans' arts progftrms.

    - Hon Melissa Price MP, Minister for Defence Industry 2019