Derby’s new arts center to offer culinary date nights, a recording studio, 3-D art

A new $2.5 million arts center has opened in Derby, offering classes open to the public that include 2D and 3D art, pottery, painting, glass fusing, culinary arts, sewing and dance.

The 20,000-square-foot Hubbard Arts Center is in what once was the Derby school district’s 6th Grade Center at 309 N. Woodlawn. The Derby Historical Museum is adjacent to the center, which is named for Charlie Hubbard, a former Derby superintendent of schools and longtime community advocate.

On a recent afternoon, several kids were in the center, taking part in classes and a camp. They were making muffins in The Kitchen, a commercial-grade culinary demonstration studio; painting watercolors of bugs in The Art Spot 2D studio; and hanging out in The Gallery, the center’s largest space that is being used for the Derby Recreation Commission’s summer camps.

“Over the weekend, we had a spike in enrollment,” said Aimee Geist, who directs the center’s arts program. A youth pottery class that takes place in The Art Spot 3D studio, which has 15 potter’s wheels, proved so popular a second session had to be added.

“For some reason, teens are ready to throw pottery,” Geist said.

The 3D studio has two ceramic kilns and one kiln that is used for glass fusing and stained glass. During a recent visit, several ceramic Christmas trees, which will serve as demonstration items for a slate of upcoming Christmas in July classes, could be seen on shelves in the studio space.

The hallways of the center serve as gallery space.

“We will be exhibiting not only student artwork, but work by area, regional and, I hope, nationally known artists,” Geist said.

The culinary arts classes are proving popular as well. Classes are available for kids as young as 3 through adults, along with some date night options for adults too. The demo kitchen features two large screens to view close-up camera shots of culinary demonstrations.

The center also has a digital media studio for podcasting and instrument recording.

Geist noted that the center has extensive COVID-19 cleaning protocols for tools and spaces, including nightly fogging.

With the new center, the recreation commission is consolidating some programs that were being held at various locations following the DRC’s renovation of its main facility at 801 E. Market in 2013-14, explained Mykalynn Penny, the rec commission’s director of marketing.

“We joke that it’s a hub of activity and not just an arts center,” Penny said.

Wellness classes, such as the new parent education and diabetes management classes, that used to be held at the Derby Senior Center will now meet at the Hubbard Arts Center. The arts classes used to be held at the Derby Middle School, while the summer camp program had various homes, including an elementary school.

Geist, who helped create Senior Wednesdays programming in Wichita, is starting a Senior Tuesdays program for the arts center, as well. The program, available to anyone 55 and older, will feature an activity, demo or speaker on the third Tuesday of the month. Cost is $5.

The center also will sponsor a quarterly event called Friends and Family Day, a free activity that will include art-making, food trucks and other activities. The first Friends and Family Day is happening Saturday, Aug. 1, on National Coloring Day, so the theme for the day will be coloring projects.

The center’s grand opening event is planned for Aug. 29.

About one-fourth of the center — more than 5,000 square feet — will be available for rent starting this fall, Penny said. The Gallery can accommodate up to 300 people, while the Innovation Room meeting space can be configured for between 36 to 56 people.

To find out more about the Hubbard Arts Center or to register for classes, visit derbyrec.com.

This story was originally published June 26, 2020 at 5:01 AM.