Salvation Army, Millsboro Art League partner for special show Sat., Aug. 14
The Salvation Army Developmental Disabilities Program will be featured in a monthlong gallery showing at the Millsboro Art League. The artists of the program have been working hard preparing to have their creations showcased for the month of August.
There will be a free reception from 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 14, at the Millsboro Art League Gallery, 203 Main St., Millsboro.
The Salvation Army Developmental Disabilities Program (DDP) is a community program whose goal is to help people with developmental disabilities become an integral part of their communities. The participants of the program hold jobs within the community, volunteer with other nonprofit agencies and participate in many community activities with the support of DDP staff.
The art program was started about three years ago. Barbara Buford, a longtime DDP staffer, saw potential in one of the participants and sought to find a program that would help this person keep her interest and grow her talent. The art program now has 10 people who participate in one to three classes weekly. They work with watercolors, acrylic, pen and ink, and other media.
“Art has definitely become a passion for many of the individuals of the program. And we are very happy and proud to support that passion,” said Christy Cugno, Salvation Army director. “It has been so rewarding to watch a passing interest grow into such drive and creativity. People with developmental disabilities do not have much access to the arts, and we have found a way to foster the interest and welcome the community to enjoy their artwork.”
For the past several months local artists from the Millsboro Art League have taught classes to the participants of the DDP. The art league offered its gallery so the community can be inspired by the artwork that has been created. The art show was also made possible, in part, by grants from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.
The show will be on display any Friday, Saturday or Sunday in the month of August. For more information, call Christy at 934-3730, Ext. 111 or visit salvationarmyphiladelphia.org and click on services. For more information on the Millsboro Art League, call 302-934-6440 or visit millsboroartleague.com.
