PinkCricket Youth Arts Center Hosts Grand Opening of its New Facility 6/1

The PinkCricket Center for Arts Education, a nonprofit youth arts center in downtown St. Petersburg, is expanding to a new location on June 1. The PinkCricket opened its doors in August of 2009 at 534 Central Avenue, a 2,600 square foot space with one large room divided into two classroom spaces. The new location at 475 Central Avenue, Suite 100, in the historic Kress Building is 4,500 square feet and includes a lobby with a gift shop area, an art gallery, and four large classrooms. The building also has an additional 10,000 square feet of space available downstairs that is connected to the new location. The PinkCricket will begin taking over the additional space throughout the summer and a portion of the downstairs space will be open in the fall in time for the school year

"We are so excited about moving into the new location and being able to expand in time for summer camp," said Sara Turner, Executive Director of The PinkCricket. "It is almost surreal how quickly we have grown. We opened in August last year with just three staff members and eight students. Now, as we are moving into summer, we will have eleven staff members and at least fifty children in our summer camp each week!"

When The PinkCricket opened in August 2009, the only program they offered was their arts-based after school program, Arts in the Afternoon. Even without funding or donors, they have provided families with sliding scale scholarships to be in the program. Since August, they have continuously expanded their programming to include camps on school's out days, Free Friday Nights, Kids' Night Out, special events, and outreach to community events. Free Friday Night takes place on the first

Friday of the month from 6:30-9:00pm to coincide with First Friday and provides families with an opportunity to participate in hands-on arts activities together at no cost. Kids' Night Out is offered once a week on a Friday or Saturday for a fee. Parents can drop their children off at The PinkCricket for a pizza dinner, themed arts activities and games from 6:30-10:00pm. The PinkCricket has also hosted a number of special events, such as their Glow in the Dark Party in October and Noon Year's Party in December. They have also provided hands-on arts activities at community events, such as Creative Clay's Folk Fest, St. Pete Clay's Oktoberbest, and the NorthEast Exchange Club's Rib Fest. Beginning in the fall, The PinkCricket will again expand their programming to include early childhood arts education workshops, arts workshops for middle and high school students, a volunteer/ youth development program, and more special events.

This summer, The PinkCricket will offer their first summer camp. The camp will include six classes a week for students entering Kindergarten through Fifth Grade for ten weeks. Campers will get to choose from different themes each week and each camp will include a field trip in the community related to the theme. Campers will also have the opportunity to take part in electives in the aftercare program, such as the Art of Reading book club, drama class, music class, yoga, fitness dance, cultural exchange club, community service, and The PinkCricket's Downtown Arts Beat Writing Club. Students in middle and high school will be able to volunteer at The PinkCricket throughout the summer. The PinkCricket is offering sliding scale scholarships as low as a $25 per week rate for families in need.

"Opening The PinkCricket has been one of the most amazing and challenging experiences of my life," said Turner. "We really want to provide our youth access to the arts and our arts community, which is why we opened The PinkCricket. Expanding and being able to offer even more programs to our students and the community makes all of the struggles to make this happen worth it. Our grand opening is going to be a big celebration of everything we have accomplished and all the amazing things we plan to do."

The Grand Opening of the new location will take place on June 3 through June 5, with the actual ribbon cutting ceremony and community event taking place on Saturday, June 5. During the Grand Opening events, guest will have the opportunity to tour the newly remodeled facilities, participate in hands-on arts activities, watch performances by local musicians and actors, create a piece of tile art for a permanent display in The PinkCricket, and support The PinkCricket through a silent auction, donor opportunities and camp registrations.

Upcoming Event Details:

The Pink & Green Breakfast: Thursday, June 3, 7:00-9:00am

The PinkCricket will host their first annual donor breakfast, The Pink and Green Breakfast, on Thursday, June 3 from 7:00-9:00am at the St. Pete Brasserie at 535 Central Avenue. The event will include a light breakfast, performances by PinkCricket teachers and students, an art exhibit by PinkCricket students, and remarks by The PinkCricket's Executive Director, Sara Turner. Admission to this event is by invite only and intended to introduce potential donors to the organization.

Preview Night at The New PinkCricket: Friday, June 4, 6:00-10:00pm

The PinkCricket will offer guests a sneak peek at the new PinkCricket facilities at 475 Central Avenue, Suite 100, on Friday, June 4 from 6:00-10:00pm. The event will include a tour of the new facility, an end of the school year performance by PinkCricket students, performances by PinkCricket teachers and local performers, live art by local artists, an art exhibition featuring the artwork of PinkCricket students and teachers, food and drinks from local restaurants, hands-on arts activities, a silent auction, a raffle, door prizes, an opportunity to create a piece of tile art for a permanent display, and more. Tickets for the event are available for $10 per adult and $5 per child.

Pink Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening: Saturday, June 5, 12:00-6:00pm

The PinkCricket will celebrate the grand opening of their new location at 475 Central Avenue, Suite 100, with a pink ribbon cutting ceremony at 12:00pm on Saturday, June 5. The street will be closed in front of the new PinkCricket for the festivities. Following the ribbon cutting, guests will be invited to tour the new facility, meet teachers and staff, and participate in hands-on arts activities and workshops by local arts & cultural organizations. Food will be available for purchase from local restaurants.

Performances and a fashion show will take place on a stage throughout the day. Local artists will also have artwork on display and for sale. The event will be free to the public, with a suggested donation of $5 per family.

The PinkCricket's mission is to promote youth participation in the arts and the arts community; supports creativity and individuality; facilitate community involvement in arts education; and reward achievements in the arts. The youth arts center currently provides an after school arts program, Arts in the Afternoon; a weekly Kids' Night Out program; and camps. They will be adding youth arts workshops this summer and early childhood programming in the fall.

Please call The PinkCricket at (727) 823-7465 or go to www.thepinkcricket.org for more information on all of their upcoming events or programs.

The PinkCricket Center for Arts Education is located at 534 Central Avenue and 475 Central Avenue, Suite 100, in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.

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