As we celebrate 15 years of bringing together community around the media arts, the Jacob Burns Film Center presents a special evening in partnership with SongwritingWith:Soldiers (SW:S) featuring conversation, film clips, and live music inspired by the work of this groundbreaking organization to celebrate the transformative power of story and music. Singer/songwriter Darden Smith, who is founder and creative director of SW:S, along with Executive Director Mary Judd, have been dedicated to improving the lives of soldiers since 2012 by pairing veterans, active-duty service members, and military families with professional songwriters in retreat settings to craft songs about military experiences and the transition home. Along with Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Mary Gauthier, filmmaker Jon Siskel, and SW:S veterans, they will share the stories, images, film clips, and collaborative songwriting which defines SongwritingWith:Soldiers as a home for creativity, connections, and strength.

Exhibition: Visit the Jane Peck Gallery to view a slide presentation of veterans portraits by Michael O’Brien.

This is a free community event. Please RSVP to ssoliman@burnsfilmcenter.org with the subject line “SW:S at JBFC,” your first and last name, and the number oftickets needed. Limit is 4 tickets per person. Tickets are subject to availability.