by Courtney Edwards | News Writer

A-State’s new Center for Three-Dimensional Arts plans to be finished with construction by April 2021.

Located across from the Red W.O.L.F. Center on Quapaw Street, classes in the new building will begin in fall 2021. Assistant Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Communication Dr. Marika Kyriakos said the new 3-D Arts Facility will be replacing the outdated areas in the Fine Arts Annex.

“It is fitted with a sculpture studio, ceramics studio, wood & metal shop, tech offices, student studios, faculty offices, and an ‘outdoor yard’ which is like a wonderful covered work patio,” Kyriakos said.

The new building will offer close to 22,000 square feet of space for students. Dr. Temma Balducci, chair of the Department of Art + Design, said along with sculpture and ceramics courses, the building will also offer an art gallery to host exhibitions. She also hopes the new building will be used to host outreach courses to the community.

Balducci said the new 3-D arts center will have larger classrooms and include a foundry, which will be used for casting metal.

“We will have a foundry for the first time in many years,” Balducci said.  “The foundry will give students the opportunity to do casting, which is something that has been missing from our program.”

Not only will the Center for Three-Dimensional Arts include art forms such as sculpting, ceramics, and the foundry for casting, but it will also include 3-D printing.

The new building has been in construction since last summer. Principal funding of $6.7 million was provided by the Windgate Foundation.

Kyriakos said the construction process was hardly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the work on the building was able to occur outdoors, and meetings were held using Webex, a video conferencing application.

“When we toured the facility, the workers inside were following COVID safety precautions,” Kyriakos said. “It’s an amazing and exciting process to see such a state-of-the-art facility materialize for our A-State students and faculty, especially during this trying time.”

The art program is currently hosting in-person classes, and the faculty members are excited to introduce new equipment and courses to art students.

 Balducci said, “We’re very excited about the new possibilities and learning experiences the 3-D building will bring our students as well as the opportunities for community engagement and recruiting.”

Comparing the old Fine Arts Annex to the new Center for Three-Dimensional Arts, Kyriakos said, “It’s like comparing top designer stiletto heels to your great-great-grandfather’s old slippers that have not only been completely worn, but the source of entertainment for every family pet since his time.”

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