JOHN DAY — Painted Sky Center for the Arts has a calendar full of classes and workshops, and this month offers a chance to sample the offerings.

The center, 116 NW Bridge St., will have a Spring Fling open house on Saturday, April 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also, KJDY will broadcast live from the location for the first two hours of the event.

“I had this idea to have a public open house to let people know what we’re all about,” said Valerie Munyon, executive director. “A lot of people don’t even know we exist in this big building in the heart of John Day.”

Planning to create an art center in Grant County started in 2018, and Painted Sky opened in 2019 in Canyon City. It moved to John Day at the end of 2022 into a former junior high school.

The new location offers more space — a gymnasium and stage, four classrooms and a conference room.

During the Spring Fling, visitors can check out the various departments, which are all planning special demonstrations or projects.

“We’ve got so much going on,” Munyon said.

For instance, people can work with clay in the ceramics department, paint on a miniature canvas or work on a piece of leather.

Also, the youth department will be open for children to work on art projects.

“It’s going to be a fun day,” Munyon said. “People can get a sample of what the classes are like.”

Local artist Kim Randleas will be working on a new painting, which everyone has a chance to win by buying a raffle ticket.

Painted Sky’s departments include: ceramics, leather, fiber arts, cultural arts, visual arts, literary arts and youth. In addition to the class schedule, the center runs a youth art program after school and on Fridays through the school year.

Membership

Memberships are available which come with benefits, such as 10% off classes and workshops and member-only events (there is one planned for June). Also, members can check out books from the art library and use the meeting room for free.

The art library is open to the public, Munyon said, but only members can borrow a book to take home.

Yearly memberships are:

• Individual: $50
• Family: $100
• Bronze: $200

Business memberships are also available: Silver ($500), Gold ($1,000) and Platinum ($2,000).

For information about memberships and the various benefits, visit paintedskycenter.com and click on the “Membership” tab.

Capital campaign

Munyon said the art center has received support — $250,000 — from The Roundhouse Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation and Marie Lamfrom Foundation to help purchase the building, plus a bridge loan from Craft3. Also, Painted Sky will receive $500,000 from Cultural Resource Economic Funds through the Cultural Advocation Coalition of Oregon.

This leaves $140,000 to raise still, and donations are welcome, Munyon said. For information, or to donate, visit paintedskycenter.com and click on “Capital Campaign,” call the center at 541-575-1335 or email paintedskycenter@gmail.com.