FREE Partners with Setauket Gallery

Artists with disabilities have a new venue to find inspiration for their work, thanks to a new collaboration.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises (FREE) – a Long Island nonprofit supporting more than 3,500 individuals with intellectual disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injuries – is now partnering with Gallery North of Setauket.

The gallery has showcased the works of fine artists and craftspeople in the region since 1965. ArtAbilities Workshop @ Gallery North, as the collaboration is called, debuted on March 27. It aims to create a community-focused fine arts program that is open to artists with all disabilities.  FREE individuals who participate in the program will have the opportunity to visit Gallery North and draw inspiration for their own work. 

“FREE’s collaboration with Gallery North will be highly beneficial to the individuals we support as well as artists with disabilities in the Setauket area,” said Robert S. Budd, Chief Executive Officer for FREE.  

“The artists will view the fine works on display and then apply what they’ve seen to their own creative explorations,” he added. 

“I’m pleased to be collaborating with FREE and reaching out to new audiences because art is for everyone,” said Judith Levy, director of Gallery North. “Artists will be inspired to create their own work by being exposed to the diverse exhibitions presented at our gallery.” 

The pilot program is for artists who receive services from FREE as well as individuals who live in the surrounding community and have an interest in fine art.

Starting in spring 2014, artists will visit the gallery and participate in classes to enhance their skills. Classes will be held weekly with instruction from seasoned artists who have a passion for teaching others.