It’s hard to believe, but the Artist Preservation Group is celebrating our 20th year! Our first donation was a modest $3,000 to the Palmetto Conservation Foundation to benefit the Camden, South Carolina battlefield. Twenty years and over $300,000 in donations later, we came back.
One of the APG’s largest donations, $20,000, was given to the American Veterans Archaeological Recovery (AVAR) who have conducted a dig on an unexplored section of the Camden Revolutionary War battlefield. The land also happens to be on American Battlefield Trust (ABT) protected land who are also providing sponsorship to AVAR.
So, who is AVAR anyway and why such a big donation you may ask? They are a group of professional archaeologists who support veterans who are experiencing mental or physical disabilities by using rehabilitation archaeology. The excavation is primarily a research project but it is also a field school for veterans to learn technical skills. AVAR strongly believes that veterans have the inherent traits to excel in archaeology. The discipline, versatility and work ethic that they experienced in the service fit naturally into AVAR’s mission.
AVAR also provides mental health support with a professional clinician on staff. Veterans take great pride in uncovering artifacts which offer tangible results and help interpret battlefields in a new way. Learn more about what the do here.
The Artist Preservation Group is extremely proud to support AVAR. Their dual mission of achraeology and veteran support represent everything that we believe in.
