About the Freeport Art Museum

MISSION: The Freeport Art Museum creates experiences that spark imagination and engagement in the arts for all people by presenting exhibitions and cultural events, advancing arts education and excelling in collection stewardship.

HISTORY: Established in 1975, the Freeport Art Museum (FAM) is housed in a converted brick school built in 1911. The building is owned by the City of Freeport and is leased to FAM. The Museum exhibits art from its large collection as well as regional contemporary artists, and brings traveling exhibitions to the community. FAM supports performing arts and develops art education programming for all ages.

The Freeport Art Museum is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that receives no direct tax support. Operating expenses are procured through fundraising events and individual donations. Proceeds generated from the fundraising events contribute to FAM's mission and ensure the future of the arts and art education in the community.

Staff

Jessica Modica
Executive Director

Jessica Modica began her tenure at the Freeport Art Museum in 2004 as a Collections Manager, providing for the care and interpretation of the museum’s extensive 4,000-piece collection. She became the executive director in 2012, leading the museum to build numerous partnerships in the community and establishing the Arts Plaza project, which marks the beginning of an exciting plan for an Arts and Cultural Campus located in the heart of the City’s downtown district.

Jessica’s background is in Art History and Museum Studies. She received an B.A. in Art History from Texas State University and completed graduate studies in Art History from Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois. She also holds a graduate certificate in Museum Studies from NIU.

jmodica@freeportartmuseum.org

Barry Treu
Director of Education and Exhibitions

Barry joined the staff of the Freeport Art Museum in 2012 as Education Coordinator. He grew up in northern Wisconsin and received his M.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Barry has taught at the university and community college level, given private lessons, and led paint parties.

Barry is also an artist and has exhibited his work regionally and nationally and has artwork in the collections of a few museums. His work has spanned representational drawing and painting, computer-controlled robotic sculpture, and abstract acrylic painting.

He thoroughly enjoys the museum setting for art education because of the diversity of audiences in age and background. “To have art education programs in a museum is important because students can see the real thing in front of them rather than a picture in a book. They see the textures and subtleties of color and material. Barry thoroughly enjoys the outreach programs to schools and other organizations in Freeport. He finds it so important to bring arts enrichment programs to students who may not have access to it otherwise. Barry has recently added exhibitions to his responsibilities and loves bringing stimulating art to the museum for all of the community to enjoy.

btreu@freeportartmuseum.org

Stacy kutz deline
Assistant Director

Stacy Kutz-Deline joined the FAM team in May of 2023. She has been working with local nonprofit organizations for the last several years with a focus on Stephenson, Jo Daviess & Carroll Counties. Stacy comes to the Freeport Art Museum from the United Way of Northwest Illinois, where she was able to grow her skill set for nonprofit management and leadership. She is excited to join the amazing staff at FAM during such an exciting time of growth and expansion.

Stacy has been a resident of Freeport for 15 years with her husband and daughter.

skutzdeline@freeportartmuseum.org

Board of Directors 

Officers

Board President - Vanessa Hughes
Owner and President, Hughes Resources Staffing Agency

Board Vice President - Aaron Mercier
Superintendent, Regional Office of Education #8

Board Treasurer - Karen Kleckner
Risk Management Bank Examiner, FDIC

Board Secretary - Nancy Heyen   
Manager (Retired), Newell Brands

Members

Mark Durein
Owner & President, M45 Marketing Services

Josh Elliott
Artist-Owner, Elliott Graphix and Zealous Art Studio

Tim Mahoney
Principal, Mahoney & Mahoney, LLC

Joy Sellers
Parent Specialist, Boys and Girls Club of Freeport/Stephenson County           

Shannon Wenzel
National Vice President, Arbonne International  

Jon Palmer
Owner, Top Notch Tonsor

Andrew Reeter
Senior Project Engineer, Fehr Graham Engineering & Environmental