The Create & Connect program of the Barnes Foundation combines art, wellness and design and offers workshops for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners.
The Barnes Foundation In Philadelphia it is best known for its legendary collection of impressionistic, post-impressionist and early modern works. But the museum has always been more than a home for masterpieces – it is a space to investigate how art can form daily life. Their newest project, Barnes Create & Connectis a workshop series designed for people who live with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners, who use art as a tool for connection, resilience and joy.
Art as a road to well -being
In collaboration with the Parkinson’s Council, The program is free and deliberately hospitable. It starts in the galleries, where participants are led by “slow -looking” sessions. Instead of breaking well -known canvases, the group lingers – observing, reflecting and making details arise. The experience is meditative, earthing and ultimately recovering, which shows that time with art can be just as therapeutic as aesthetic.
The journey continues in practical workshops led by teaching in artists. Here the technology takes a rear seat to expression. Color, texture and making marking become playful tools for telling stories, conversation and connection. The emphasis is not on “doing good”, but on exploring what feels true.
Design for inclusiveness
What is striking about Create & Connect is the design. Every aspect, from Pacing Gallery -visits to shaping the studio environment, has been carefully considered to meet participants where they are. It is a memory that good design is not only about form; It is about creating conditions for people to feel safe, seen and supported.
Community and cooperation
“We believe that meaningful experiences with art should be available to everyone,” says James Claiborne, deputy director of Fleischner Family for community involvement at the Barnes. The program reflects that faith and offers people a way to go beyond daily challenges and to reconnect through creativity.
For Wendy Lewis, CEO of the Parkinson Council, the collaboration underlines an even bigger idea: programs like this expand the access, making the museum a space of connectedness.
Why it matters
In the core, Barnes Create & Connect shows how creativity can be a bridge between art and life. It is about more than the paintings on the walls, it is about the human connections that have been fueled for them, and the shared creative moments that follow.
For those of us who live and breathe, it is a powerful memory: creativity is not graceful. It is essential. Whether it is expressed via a font, a line of code or a brush stroke, making making it means the potential to heal, connect and transform.
Workshop details
Workshops take place on selected Saturday in the fall of 2025 and spring 2026 in the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. Participation is free, but the space is limited and registration is required.
More information and registration links are available via the Barnes Foundation -website.
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