It’s hard to imagine that 40 years ago hardly anyone in Lawrence had much idea what a community arts center should look like.

From humble beginnings in the former Carnegie Library building, the Lawrence Arts Center has become an integral part of the life of Lawrence, attracting thousands of people every year to learn, perform, create and enjoy.

The story in Monday’s Journal-World about Ann Evans, the Arts Center’s founding director, is a reminder of how far the organization has come. When it opened with a single exhibit and workshop in 1975, only a quarter of the former library space was usable. Now the Arts Center is a focal point for the arts in Lawrence, housed in a facility much larger than you would find in most cities our size.

The building is filled with a lifetime worth of activities. Lawrence children can attend the arts-based preschool and participate in various after-school and summer programs through high school. Adults come to the Arts Center not only to enjoy their children’s activities but to pursue their own artistic interests.

Throughout its history, the Arts Center has put a priority on serving all the residents of Lawrence, not just those who can pay the full fees for classes and programs. According to its annual report, the center provided 1,058 financial aid awards totalling $111,759 in 2014-15.

The Lawrence Arts Center is a true grass-roots effort made possible by the hard work and generosity of many, many donors, artists, instructors, organizers and staff members. Over the last 40 years, they have created a unique artistic hub that not only serves the interests of Lawrence residents but attracts many visitors from other cities to attend events and programs.

All those who have supported and worked to build the Lawrence Arts Center over the last four decades should be proud of the important community asset it has become.