Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – With a goal of connecting residents to art and sparking joy through art, the first Little Free Art Gallery in Bedford was celebrated Tuesday at Garden Park.
Similar to a Little Free Library that allows people to give and take books, the outdoor art galleries invite artists and anyone with an interest in creating art to give and take finished creations and art supplies.
In 2023, the city of Bedford was one of five cities awarded early action grants by the Indiana Arts Commission to enhance their communities through art.
Bedford is using the grant to place the gallery boxes around the city to expand opportunities for experiencing visual arts. The city will also offer free community art classes in stained glass and string art.
Ashlynne Bender, director of business and community development for the city, applied for the grant and coordinated the effort.
“We want to make art accessible to everyone,” she said. “We want people to take items as they please.”
Garden Park is home to the city’s community garden plots, a walking path, shelterhouse and playground. Bender filled the Little Free Art Gallery with a DIY bookmark craft.
Other Little Free Art Galleries will be placed at the Red Brick in Otis Park, at Harp Commons and Thornton Park.
Retired art teacher Elizabeth McKenzie attended the ribbon cutting Tuesday and brought a few of her illustrations to leave in the box.
“This is a really neat thing,” she said. “Can you imagine the joy for a child who puts something they’ve made inside and then comes back to see that it’s been taken.”
Bedford Mayor Sam Craig called it a “fantastic day” to see the first art gallery installed.
Upcoming free art classes
The first free stained glass art class will take place this Saturday at Glassy Studios in downtown Bedford. The class is full but a second class will be offered Sept. 21, registration is required.
A string art class will be offered Aug. 22 at StoneGate Arts & Education Center in downtown Bedford.
Shoals and Washington were awarded Creative Convergence grants by the Indiana Arts Commission earlier this summer. Shoals plans to add a mural and creative walkway at Overlook Park. Washington plans to establish an arts commission and provide local schools and the community with professional display materials to exhibit artwork.