On Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 10 am to 4 pm, local Veteran artists will display their work and present demonstrations and performances to the public in the Upper Parking Lot of the Veterans Memorial Building in Placerville. This free arts event—which takes place on Armed Forces Day and during Mental Health Awareness Month—will raise awareness about issues relating to Veterans’ mental health, and will include resources for Veterans and their caregivers.

Arts HQ is part of a series of “pop-up community creative arts cafés” that are being presented on an ongoing basis throughout California. These pop-up cafés are the result of a partnership between MHSOAC (California’s Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission) and VETART, a San Diego-based arts non-profit. MHSOAC and VETART are partnering with Arts and Culture El Dorado to produce Arts HQ, the El Dorado County pop-up café.

Arts HQ will take place in the Upper Parking Lot of the Veterans’ Memorial Building while VFW 10165’s Veterans’ Coming Home event takes place in the Lower Parking Lot. Both events are free and open to the public. At Arts HQ, County representatives from Veteran Services and Behavioral Health will be in attendance to support Veterans and the public with mental health resources. The event will feature several interactive discussions and demonstrations, including a drum circle and a listening session, as well as opportunities to meet and have conversations with local Veteran artists.