The Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP) is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Virginia that helps veterans, service members, military spouses, caregivers, and family members thrive through the arts.

Founded in 2015, ASAP provides free classes and workshops in disciplines such as comedy, storytelling, acting, writing, improv, music, and visual arts. Its mission is to spark creativity and connection while helping military-connected individuals build confidence, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose through artistic expression.

ASAP was created in response to the challenges many veterans face when transitioning from military to civilian life.

“We know that many people in the military connected community face real challenges with social isolation, questions of identity after service, and their mental health,” said Ava Knox, Development Director for ASAP. “Our free programs use the arts as a tool for connection, community building, personal expression, and growth.”

The organization’s programs are backed by peer-reviewed research showing improvements in participants’ resilience, confidence, social connection, and overall well-being. Thousands of veterans and military-connected individuals across the country have participated in the classes offered by ASAP, both online and in person. Alumni often describe the experience as transformative, helping them rediscover their voices, process life experiences, and reconnect with their communities through creativity and performance.

Beyond the classroom, ASAP partners with local arts organizations, colleges, and performance venues to provide continued opportunities for participants to showcase their work and remain engaged in creative communities. By combining arts education with community support, ASAP has become one of the leading military arts organizations in the United States, demonstrating how creativity can serve as a powerful tool for healing, connection, and reintegration.

In order to maintain their free programming, ASAP relies on fundraising and grant opportunities, like the Suicide Prevention and Opioid Addiction Services (SOS) program grant funding offered through the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS).

“The funds from DVS are going directly to support the multiweek classes and introductory workshops, as well as open mic nights and performance opportunities for our stand-up comedy class,” said Knox. “We’ve also developed a nationally recognized teaching artist training to prepare arts instructors to serve the military community by providing them with trauma informed teaching methods and military cultural competency which is really important to us.”

To learn more about ASAP, visit their website at asapasap.org.