GARDINER — A downtown art gallery that features work by those with developmental disabilities is partnering with local businesses in hopes of drawing more visitors to the city.

Spindleworks, which also has a gallery in Brunswick, is working with Gardiner Main Street on a Voices of Gardiner walking tour.

Locals gathered at the gallery Thursday for a preview of the joint venture.

“We’re just hoping you have an opportunity to see what makes Gardiner, Maine special,” Tamara Whitmore, executive director of Gardiner Main Street said. “We’re not a normal tourist spot so we’re hoping it helps our businesses downtown but also helps introduce us to the wider world.”

Manon Whittlesey, program manager at Spindleworks Gardiner, said Voices of Gardiner is a self-guided audio tour narrated by Spindleworks artists.

As people visit each shop, they can gather small works of Spindleworks art and scan QR codes for more information.

“For too long, the voices of people with disabilities have not been heard or valued in our communities,” according to the website linked to the project. “Voices of Gardiner is changing that by bringing their stories to the forefront through a fun and interactive self-guided tour!”

And of course, the Spindleworks gallery featuring walls full of artwork welcomes all visitors, Monday through Friday. For artist Justin Boisvert, Spindleworks is a place to enjoy making art and a way to make friends in the larger community.

“It’s my favorite thing to do since I was like 6 years old,” he said as he showed off one of his paintings.

At this point, the tour features seven downtown locales, including the public library, Bintliff’s Corner Brew, Gerard’s Pizza and Selene’s Fly Shop, which sells fishing gear. More tour stops could be added later, organizers said.

At its core, Spindleworks seeks to pair artists of all abilities with mentors who teach them the basics, from tips on technique to explanations of how a gallery works and advice on how to price items, Whittlesey said.

And while Whittlesey serves as a teacher, she learns everyday too.

“I’ve learned to let go of fear when making art,” she said. “I’ve learned to expect the unexpected. I have learned how incredibly valuable a change in perspective can be.”

The audio tour is free, but there is a $20 suggested donation. For more information, go to VoicesofGardiner.org.