2024 BIPOC EXHIBITION
Opening reception: Friday, October 25th at 5pm

GREÑAPUNK BY EDDAVIEL is a collection of work exploring the African heritage as Afro-Caribbean in the past-present-future, a space where myths, politics and the future merge to create a new universe. Greñapunk is a show where every art form converges to talk about being Afro (Greña) in the future. The artist, Eddaviel, is from the Dominican Republic and has worked with films, advertising, publishers, galleries, museums, universities and cultural centers around the world.

PERSEVERANCE BY DICE WHITE Dice is a 20-year-old artist from Rockford, Illinois, whose current success is a testament to the human spirit surmounting the impact of a mother addicted to drugs, his own psychological distress, and the challenge of homelessness. Dice has found a life in creating art that is boldly expressive, colorful, and complex.

FAM is co-hosting the Opening Reception with CURRE (Citizens United for Rights, Respect, and Equity). CURRE is a community organization that was established in 2020 with the aim of fostering strong and equitable communities. They focus on key areas including community development, police and community relations, communications, political awareness. Recently, they have added Youth Leadership to their target areas. Through their efforts, they have helped coordinate various activities such as community block parties, informational meetings to educate the community on important issues, and most recently, a family outdoor movie night.

This exhibition is made possible by grants from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois and Healing Illinois through a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Freeport/Stephenson County

Join us on Saturday, September 28th for the Latin pop music of LADAMA as part of Arts Midwest World Fest. Saturday’s concert is the capstone for their weeklong residency in Freeport, where LADAMA will offer workshops in local schools and other community locations.

LOCATION: Masonic Temple Ballroom

TIME: 7:00 p.m.

TICKET PRICE: $10 — Art Museum Members receive a discount
Children under 12 are Free!

Join us for an engaging reading and discussion with Daniel Smith for his book Poems from the Winter House on Saturday, September 7th at 1:30 PM at the Freeport Art Museum.

Poems from the Winter House is the literary companion piece to our Midwest Lands Exhibition. This work is deeply rooted in rural heritage, reflecting on Daniel's love for his spouse, a farm, and a way of life.

Daniel Smith, a former dairy farmer, resides with his wife, Cheryl, on a small farm in the Driftless Region of Southwestern Wisconsin. In addition to writing, Daniel works in agribusiness and counsels farm families in crisis.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear Daniel share his heartfelt poetry and insights into rural life. Join us for an afternoon of literary exploration and meaningful conversation

Join us on Friday, September 6th, from 4 pm to 5 pm for an artists talk and 5-7 PM for the opening of the Midwest Lands Exhibition at the Freeport Art Museum. This unique visual and literary art invitational focuses on farmland, rural landscapes, and the aesthetics, psychological, and emotional content of these themes.

The exhibition features works by renowned artists Dan Brinkmeier, Barry Roal Carlsen, Ellen Holtzblatt, Kurt Kamholz, Stuart Roddy, and Mark Weller. Their pieces capture the beauty and complexity of rural life. Also featured are artworks by local members of the Momentum Art guild.

Complementing the visual art, the exhibition includes poetry from Daniel Smith's Poems from the Winter House. Smith's poetry, rooted in a rural heritage, reflects quietly on his love for a spouse, a farm, and a way of life. There will be reading by Daniel Smith on Saturday, September 7, from 1:30 pm to 3 pm.

Don't miss this evocative and thought-provoking exhibition that celebrates the Midwest's landscapes and way of life. Join us for an evening of art, poetry, and community.

We hope that you will join us for our annual Paint the Port street paint party in Downtown Freeport on Friday, August 23rd! This vibrant event brings together our community to celebrate art, creativity, and local culture.

Squares are $15 online ahead of the event - everything you will need to create your masterpiece will be provided. You can purchase your square the day of the event for $20, but inventory will be limited.

Proceeds from Paint the Port are used to develop and maintain the Arts Plaza and Splash Pad.

FAM’s Regional Juried Exhibition offers both established and emerging artists the opportunity to debut work created in the last two years. This year, the museum received 220 submissions from over 65 artists living in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The regional show continues a tradition of displaying some of the finest and most recent works by Midwestern artists showcasing a wide range of ideas and forms.

This exhibition is sponsored by FAM Gold Member, Winter Construction.

Named Jordan's Musical Ambassadress, Jordanian virtuoso Farah Siraj balances a career that spans the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Farah has performed at some of the world's most prestigious platforms, including the United Nations, Nobel Prize Hall, the World Economic Forum, The John F. Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Lincoln Center in New York, MTV, Coke Studio, the TV show Good Morning Live in the USA and MBC TV in the Middle East. In addition, Farah represents Jordan annually on United Nations World Peace Day. 

This World Fest Community Concert will be held at The Wagner House, showcasing Arabic folk and flamenco style music.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here.

Wine, Chocolates & Cheese

This is an event you won't want to miss! Gather your friends, secure your tickets, and join us for an evening of unparalleled taste sensations.

Indulge your senses at our annual Wine, Chocolates & Cheese Tasting event on Friday, February 2nd from 6-8PM. This fun evening promises a delightful fusion of flavors, featuring:
• Wine, Bourbon, and Tequila Samplings: Explore a variety of fine wines, bourbons, and tequilas, expertly presented by our distinguished distributors.
• Sweet Chocolates and Savory Cheese Pairings: Immerse yourself in the perfect combinations of sweet chocolates and savory cheeses that will elevate your tasting experience.

General Admission: $40 per person
VIP Admission: $75 per person
All FAM members enjoy a special $5 off on purchased tickets!

VIP Perks:
• Early Entry: VIP ticket holders enjoy early entry at 5PM, gaining an extra hour of indulgence.
• Exclusive Pours: Access to exclusive wine pours for a truly VIP experience.
• Light Appetizer Spread: Delight your taste buds with a selection of light appetizers.

ONLINE TICKET SALES ARE CLOSED - BUT TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE DOOR

If you are a current member with a complimentary General Admission Ticket, you can upgrade to a VIP Ticket at the Front Desk the night of the event!

Arts Midwest is bringing the indigenous Yup’ik music of Alaska to Freeport as part of Arts Midwest World Fest. During a weeklong residency in Freeport, Pamyua will offer workshops in local schools and other community locations and will perform live in concert at Highland Community College's Ferguson Fine Arts Theater on Friday, February 17th at 7:00 pm.

Pamyua’s visit to Freeport is made possible by a partnership between Arts Midwest, the National Endowment for the Arts, Illinois Arts Council Agency, and Freeport Art Museum. This is the same partnership that brought Okra Playground, an ensemble from Finland to Freeport in the fall of 2022, where they spent a week offering workshops and a concert to community members.

ONLINE TICKET SALES ARE NOW CLOSED! GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR. VIP TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT.

Ticket Price: $40 per person general admission. $5 discount for multiple tickets

Enjoy a fun-filled evening tasting a variety of specialty wines provided by Royal Liquor distributors. Back by popular demand is scotch tastings! Torkelson Cheese is featuring their line of award winning cheeses and the Wine Pull is back better than ever. A variety of chocolates to taste are provided by Dave Abel with Take it or Leave it Food Truck in Lena, and Swiss Colony from Monroe, WI. Bottles of the featured wines will be available to order at a discounted price during the event.

VIP ticket holders gain early entry to the event at 5:00 p.m. to enjoy heavy appetizers, full pours of select wines, and a private party room held in one of the museum galleries. Don’t miss the silent auction just in time for Valentine’s Day! Click the Registration button below to purchase tickets today.

FAM Members at the $250 level and above receive two complimentary general admission tickets. Upgrade to VIP using the VIP upgrade option.