More than two years after the doors closed at the Dr. Robert Smith House on North Main Street, new life will be breathed into the historic landmark as the Gallery Group will be opening a second location in the house in May.

The official agreement was signed on Friday, signifying that the Gallery Group and the Gilmer-Smith Foundation have partnered together to reopen the Smith house.

The Gallery Group opened its first location at 162 W. Pine St. in 2004. The Gallery Group is a non-profit organization that features not only local artists, but art of adults with disabilities.

Ann Vaughn, executive director of the Gilmer-Smith Foundation, and Donna Jackson, executive director of the Gallery Group, announced Monday that the new art gallery will be opening on May 7.

“I think it’s the right time. I think people are more aware of the amount of talent there is in this area artistically and to have a venue available for them to display their art. It’s just an incredible opportunity for the art community that they have never had before,” said Vaughn.

“This is not only a great opportunity for the Gallery Group, but it is also going to spell a rebirth for the Dr. Robert Smith house. Once again its doors will be open to the public and offering beautiful local art as well as visiting artists,” she said.

Jackson said the gallery is full to capacity and this new location will allow the Gallery Group to expand.

“It’s going to breathe life back into this building,” Jackson said. “It’s going to become more of the gracious, alluring home that it was meant to be.”

Vaughn said that Gertrude Smith, benefactor of the Gilmer-Smith Foundation, was a patron on visual and performing arts.

“She was an interior designer, and artist in her own right. So what better way to offer than a place for local and featured artists to display their work,” Vaughn said.

Jackson said the project has been in the works for some time, but she is excited about the new gallery opening.

“We are ecstatic. When Ann came to us and asked us about the potential, I was so honored. We needed to expand our gallery. We’ve got 90 students now and we really are bursting at the seams,” Jackson said.

A year ago, Jackson said, she had to limit her artists to only three pieces. Now, each artist will be able to display six pieces.

“The historic home lends itself so well to displaying art. There are several rooms and niches that you can use,” Vaughn said.

Jackson said the Gallery Group will continue to have a featured artist every month. Those monthly events will be held at the Dr. Robert Smith House.

There will be a room set up especially for the art that their adults with disabilities have created. It will be called the special students gallery.

“Right now I’ve got one girl working on a show. It’s going to be a beautiful show. Art has just inspired her so much. I’ve seen such a change in her. That’s the kind of people we are seeing results with through art,” Jackson said.

There are 32 local artists who have art on display at the Gallery Group. There are 90 adults with disability students who benefit from the classes offered at the gallery.

“Now we will be able to grow and ask lots more artists to come. This will just enhance the art community. It’s going to give them the venue they have been desperately needing,” Jackson said.

She said everyone at the Gallery Group, including herself, is a volunteer.

“Service to humanity is truly what we represent. Because it’s not about the money, it’s about the service. The whole purpose of starting this was to give adults with disabilities somewhere to go and somewhere to feel important. The arts was a way of doing that. I would never have believed we would have grown to this,” Jackson said.

All of the money to fund the group has come from private contributions and from the sale of the art. Since the Gallery Group is a non-profit, it only makes 10 percent of what the local artists sell. Most of the art supplies for the adults with disabilities come from donations from the community. Teachers volunteer their time at the gallery. The group also is supported by the United Fund of Surry.

A grand gala for the gallery opening will be on May 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. Refreshments and entertainment will be provided.

Vaughn said, “I do believe that our visitors from the past will again visit our doorstep and be impressed with what the gallery has to offer.”

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.