Freeman Arts Pavilion, a program of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, recently announced Randee Exler as the featured artist for the 2026 Creative Nourishment Art Kit program.

The kits are thoughtfully designed to provide a complete art project for children ages 6-16 across the region, including all supplies for the project and instructions in both English and Spanish. Exler, a multidisciplinary artist connected through the Developing Artist Collaboration in Rehoboth Beach, brings a fresh and engaging approach to this year’s kits, designed to inspire creativity. 

It features a collage project centered around a koi fish and includes pre-ripped paper, crayons, a glue stick, and pre-cut words in both English and Spanish to add a poetic flair to the work. Each kit invites participants to explore artistic expression as they are guided step-by-step through the activity that encourages imagination, confidence and self-discovery. 

Kits will be distributed through a variety of local partners, including area laundromats and community events, ensuring they reach children and families throughout the region.

Exler will also lead a series of in-person workshops throughout the summer. Sessions will take place at the Children’s Beach House in Lewes and the Boys & Girls Club in Rehoboth Beach as part of its summer camp programming, offering young participants the opportunity to engage directly with the artist and deepen their creative experience. 

“The Creative Nourishment Art Kit program is about more than just art supplies; it’s about connection, opportunity and empowerment,” said Lindsay Richard, director of community engagement. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Randee, whose work gives a fresh take to the kits."

“I believe that collage is an art form for everyone,” Exler said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re 6, 16 or 60. If you look at the world in pieces, you can put it together and you can make something beautiful. The challenge of this particular kit was to simplify, simplify, simplify, and get it down to its essence, so it could be done in a short period of time, the children could do it themselves, and they could have that success factor.” 

More than 40 dedicated Freeman Arts volunteers contributed their time and energy to assemble this year’s kits,