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K12 Gallery to expand studios, programming

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By Meredith Moss, Staff Writer 11:48 AM Friday, December 10, 2010

DAYTON — A creative e-mail plea has resulted in an expansion of K12 Gallery for Young People, downtown Dayton’s lively art facility for kids.

The project, already underway, will nearly double the facility’s size and expand its programming for teens and adults. A grand opening at 510 E. Third St. is planned from 6-9 p.m. on Feb. 16.

The seed for expansion was planted when founder and executive director Jerri Stanard sent an e-mail message to K12 supporters soliciting ideas about how to fund the much-needed expansion for the gallery. Two friends — Janet and Ron Shuff of Dallas — replied, offering to fund the bulk of the $20,000 price tag. With their lead gift K12’s board agreed to cover approximately $8,500 of the cost.

The new 2,500 square-foot studio will be called the Teen Education and Joint Adult Studio, or “TEJAS,” a Native American word meaning “welcome friends.”

TEJAS will serve as K12’s junior and high school studio. New adult classes will be held there as well. Two elementary studios, one serving students in kindergarten through second grade and the other students in third through sixth grades, will remain in the current space.

Stanard, who founded K12 Gallery for Young People in 1993, said the addition will allow the gallery to take on more large-scale and long-term projects and to host more special events such as birthday parties. At its downtown location, K12 currently serves more than 300 young people every week. In addition, two K12 artists teach more than 350 students every week at six urban Catholic schools in Dayton.

Stanard said she also hopes to expand participation in the organization’s high school program, particularly among urban teens. TEJAS will provide space for such programs as East End Community Services’ Kids in New Directions (KIND).

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2440 or MMoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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