The Haym Salomon Division
of the Arts
The arts have a unique capacity to inspire, enrich, and enhance people’s lives. The art experience and its life-changing effects can influence individuals of all ages with a broad range of abilities and personal challenges.
Through the arts — drama, dance, painting, poetry, photography, and other artistic mediums — participants in F·E·G·S programs gain self-awareness, learn to cope more effectively with the world around them, and develop a greater sense of independence and dignity. The new Haym Salomon Division of the Arts was created to coordinate, unify, and expand these efforts at F·E·G·S.
Our Mission - A Palette for Artful Expression
The mission of the new Haym Salomon Division of the Arts is to utilize the arts as a medium for enhancing the quality, purpose, and beauty of life for all individuals. Our goals include:
The Division’s programs currently include:
Dignity Through Art
The Dignity Through Art program seeks to break down preconceived notions about the artistic capabilities of people with disabilities. It provides a unique venue for education, training, and creative expression, and for the exhibition and sale of art from which F·E·G·S has designed unique art posters, also available for purchase. Dignity Through Art, which began as a way for F·E·G·S to display client art in its own facilities, has grown into a wonderful venue that brings these exciting works to a wider audience.
Artist Residencies
Artist residencies bring outstanding artists to work creatively with consumers throughout the F·E·G·S community. Arts professionals teach and mentor program participants in all artistic mediums: acting, writing, photography, dancing and music. Residencies culminate in completed art works that are presented to the public in galleries, theaters, and other settings. The artist residency benefits the contributing artist, consumers, F·E·G·S staff, and the general public. For the artist, the residency can be an inspiring opportunity to work in an entirely new community and to share their vision and skills. Consumers are often inspired to go beyond their familiar limits.
Roots&Branches Theater
The Roots&Branches Theatre began more than a decade ago as an independent, intergenerational, community-based theater group. Founded by Arthur Strimling, actor and author, Roots&Branches creates original theater pieces performed by older adults, some into their 90s, and young actors, many from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and other colleges. Its goal is to build community at several levels: for the company itself; for the elderly and those in the many professions that serve them; for young people; and for the general public. Theater pieces performed for audiences at community centers, residential facilities, and for the public, strengthen bonds from generation to generation through the voice of the theater.
F·E·G·S Haym Salomon Arts Awards Competition
The Competition was created as a way to celebrate the outstanding achievements of individual artists and to acknowledge creative arts programs run by nonprofit organizations in the New York metropolitan area. Cash awards go to the winning artists, who also receive a specially cast Haym Salomon medallion and are named Haym Salomon Fellows. The agencies sponsoring the award winners also receive a cash award. In creating this Competition, F·E·G·S proudly recognizes the importance of the arts in our work, and celebrates the unique talents of individuals. It also acknowledges the commitment of organizations that provide vital creative arts programs to those who face life challenges, ranging from mental illness, to aging, to developmental and other disabilities.
& Contact Information