Created by local veteran Glenn Towery, AVA Fest will kick off next month with an Opening Day Ceremony on October 12 and includes events such as art exhibits, musical performances, theater productions, comedy shows, a writer’s conference, a health and wellness conference, and more at various venues across the city such as the AISD Performing Arts Center, George Washington Carver Museum, the VORTEX theatre, and Austin Central Library through November 16.

As a victim of PTSD, Towery experienced firsthand the challenges that can result when a soldier returns home from service and turned to the arts to heal. Today, thanks to the support of partners such as the City of Austin and others he’s hoping this first of its kind event will help begin addressing the blight that now claims more than 20 American veterans a day.

One of the art exhibits happening during the festival will be the I Am Not Invisible exhibit featuring 30 portraits of Texas Women Veterans in the first-floor gallery of the Bass Concert Hall at the University of Texas at Austin. In partnership with the Texas Veterans Commission, this exhibit will run from September 23 – December 20.