The Barnes Foundation’s Create & Connect program blends art, wellness, and design, offering workshops for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners.

The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia is best known for its legendary collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and early Modern works. But the museum has always been more than a home for masterpieces—it’s a space for exploring how art can shape daily life. Their latest project, Barnes Create & Connect, is a workshop series designed for people living with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners, using art as a tool for connection, resilience, and joy.

Art as a Path to Well-Being

In collaboration with the Parkinson Council, the program is free and intentionally welcoming. It begins in the galleries, where participants are guided through “slow-looking” sessions. Rather than breezing past familiar canvases, the group lingers—observing, reflecting, and letting details emerge. The experience is meditative, grounding, and ultimately restorative, showing that time with art can be as therapeutic as it is aesthetic.

The journey continues in hands-on workshops led by teaching artists. Here, technique takes a back seat to expression. Color, texture, and mark-making become playful tools for storytelling, conversation, and connection. The emphasis isn’t on “getting it right,” but on exploring what feels true.

Design for Inclusivity

What’s striking about Create & Connect is its design. Every aspect, from pacing gallery visits to shaping the studio environment, has been carefully considered to meet participants where they are. It’s a reminder that good design isn’t only about form; it’s about creating conditions for people to feel safe, seen, and supported.

Community and Collaboration

“We believe meaningful experiences with art should be available for everyone,” says James Claiborne, Fleischner Family Deputy Director for Community Engagement at the Barnes. The program echoes that belief, offering people a way to step beyond daily challenges and reconnect through creativity.

For Wendy Lewis, CEO of the Parkinson Council, the collaboration underscores an even bigger idea: programs like this expand access, making the museum a space of belonging.

Why It Matters

At its heart, Barnes Create & Connect demonstrates how creativity can be a bridge between art and life. It’s about more than the paintings on the walls, it’s about the human connections sparked in front of them, and the shared creative moments that follow.

For those of us who live and breathe design, it’s a powerful reminder: creativity isn’t ornamental. It’s essential. Whether it’s expressed through a typeface, a line of code, or a brushstroke, the act of making holds the potential to heal, connect, and transform.

Workshop Details

Workshops take place on select Saturdays in fall 2025 and spring 2026 at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. Participation is free, but space is limited and registration is required.

More information and registration links are available through the Barnes Foundation website.