Creative Pathways helps artists with developmental disabilities

The Arc Macon and Artspace Macon partnership gives artists space to create, sell their work and connect with the community.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)-Artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities are getting space and freedom to create through Creative Pathways, a partnership between The Arc Macon and Artspace Macon.

The program gives artists a dedicated studio space where they can come twice a week, choose different artistic mediums and develop their skills.

“When we first started working with them, we just did art classes a few times a month. But now that we’ve started working with them regularly, we have different shows, and we’ve done markets with them, they’ve built a lot of courage and confidence for themselves as artists,” said Casie Trace with Artspace Macon.

The artists are not just creating for themselves. Their work is being displayed and sold through art shows and community markets.

Katrina Pirkle, president and CEO of The Arc Macon, says every artist participating in the program has sold at least one piece of their work.

“Every artist that we have in the program has sold something. So whether that be one of the shows that we’ve had here at Artspace, we just had a show at the Macon Arts Alliance in their gallery downtown,” Pirkle said.

For artist Anna Marie Jackson, selling her first piece was a moment she will not forget.

“I was happy. I was amazed. I was jumping up and down,” Jackson said.

Jackson says art has also become an important way for her to relax and cope when she is feeling bad or lonely.

“Art has been everything that I like. It helps me calm down when I feel bad. Even sometimes when I’m in a lonely world, it calms me,” Jackson said.

Pirkle says the goal of Creative Pathways is to continue giving people with developmental disabilities opportunities to create, sell their work and build connections within the community.