Lawrence Arts Center Executive Director Susan Tate, third from left, shows off some sculpture pieces in the main lobby in the center to Gunda Hiebert, left, Lawrence, and Tim and Dawn Freeman, of Seattle. A selection of pieces will be auctioned on Saturday as part of the benefit for the 35th anniversary celebration for the center.

Leni Salkind, Lawrence, works on trimming press molds of sea shells in the ceramic studio at the Lawrence Arts Center on Tuesday. The center offers a wide array of art projects for people of all ages.

The Lawrence Arts Center building, 940 N.H., opened in 2002, moving from the former Carnegie Library building at Ninth and Vermont streets.

On Tuesday morning, a gaggle of Head Start preschoolers burst through the doors of the Lawrence Arts Center.

“This is awesome,” one of the awestruck tots said with his head titled upward.

On the wall were portraits of some of Lawrence’s more familiar faces in the art world — Stan Herd, Wayne Propst and Molly Murphy among them. Scattered nearby were two birdhouses built by renowned KU architecture professor Dan Rockhill and sculptures created by 19 other creative forces in Lawrence.

This Saturday, many others are likely to share the boy’s sentiment as they enter the same lobby to celebrate the Lawrence Arts Center’s 35th anniversary.

From its beginning days at Lawrence’s Carnegie Library at Ninth and Vermont streets to a gleaming 40,000-square-foot building at 940 N.H., the Lawrence Arts Center has grown into a community gem for all ages.

“It gives so much joy to so many people,” longtime supporter Vickie Otten said. “From little girls in tutus to older people carrying art canvases — you just think where would they go and what would they do if we didn’t have this. I can’t imagine it not being a part of our community.”

The Lawrence Arts Center’s doors opened in January 1975, after supporters persuaded the Lawrence City Commission to allow the use of the Carnegie Library despite the group’s lack of money or planning, said Ann Evans, who was the first executive director of the center. She stayed for 33 years.

“One of the city commissioners, bless her heart, said this was just going to be a lady’s club,” Evans remembers.

Years later, that particular commissioner told Evans how happy she was that she was wrong.

Today, the arts center offers a mixture of classes, performances and exhibition space.

It also takes art into the community, working with programs at the regional juvenile detention center, Boys and Girls Club and the rehab treatment center known as First Step House.

“That is the wondrous thing about the arts center. They reach every aspect, every age, every demographic truly for the entire community,” said Ellen Chindamo, a former education director at the arts center and now a board member. “If you want to learn about art, participate in art, be a part of art, you can find it there at any level.”

Looking back, current Executive Director Susan Tate simply lists surviving as the arts center’s single biggest achievement.

“It’s an amazing accomplishment to have existed for 35 years when many have struggled to stay open,” Tate said.

Of course there have been other milestones as well. Chief among them was the arts center’s controversial move from the Carnegie Library to the new facility, which has galleries, classrooms and performance space.

“It turned out to be exactly the right decision,” said Deanell Tacha, who was chair of the building committee and admitted to advocating to keep the arts center at the library. Tacha is no longer on the board, but she is overseeing the planning for Saturday’s celebration.

It’s an event that she hopes is whimsical, magical and celebratory and one that brings together those who have been part of the arts center’s 35-year history. Tacha said the event won’t just look into the past.

Already the arts center is heading in new directions by expanding its exhibition space, introducing a theater program for adults and increasing outreach efforts to children who have little access to the arts.

Tate said it takes an entire community to create a place such as the Lawrence Arts Center.

“Together we will celebrate 35 years, but also look toward a future that is increasingly challenging our community through art as well as enriching and nourishing our community,” Tate said.