By DENNIS FRAHMANN
Beginning on May 10, the Gallery and Studio exhibit spaces at the Cambria Center for the Arts will expand hours to six days a week. The Center will now be open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Previously, the Center’s exhibits and store were open only on weekends.
This doubling of exhibit hours is all part of the Center’s goal to broaden access to its offerings. Over the past two years, the Center has added a new exhibit space called the Studio to complement its long-running Gallery space featuring local artists. It has expanded its traditional season of locally produced plays and musicals to also include evening and matinee performances of concerts, one-person shows, and special acts. Its Art Education program now features a broad array of adult learning programs and artist groups. In addition, it has continued to sponsor the very popular annual Cambria Film Festival and offer a variety of free art classes to local students.
As part of its expanding mission, the Center has also recently completed the bulk of its Staging the Future campaign begun in 2019. Among the accomplishments of this multi-year campaign were the refurbishing of lighting in the Gallery, adding custom storage units and bookcases to support the visual arts mission, outfitting a multi-use classroom, adding new furniture to the Gallery and Studio public spaces, improving the lighting and sound in the theater, and upgrading projection and screens for film programs. The remaining element in the campaign is to update the Center’s kitchen.
Coming up in May at the Center is the opening of a new exhibit in the Gallery titled “Inspired by a Master” running Friday, May 3, until Sunday, June 30. All the artwork showcased will be inspired by renowned artists, including such iconic masters as Vincent van Gogh, Frieda Kahlo, Eduard Manet, Leonardo da Vinci, and others of similar caliber. Also on the calendar are the final performances of “Jesus Christ Superstar: The Concert” during the weekend of May 3.
Local artist Mauro Maressa will be offering a sculpting class for adults on May 18. A free youth class for 6 to 12-year-olds on making Father’s Day cards will be delivered on May 23. A tribute concert to Donovan takes place May 26.
Throughout the summer, there will be a wide array of art classes, student classes, music, and film programs. The Center’s Gallery also sells an assortment of art by local artists, handmade cards, jewelry, and more. The Center is found at 1350 Main Street. Further details and tickets for classes, plays and performance times can be found at CambriaArts.org. Members of the Center receive special discount on many of the Center’s offerings. Donations to support the Center’s mission can also be made on its web site.
