Turlock’s downtown scene will officially welcome California State University, Stanislaus on Friday through a ribbon cutting ceremony for the university’s new art gallery and a CSUS themed Night Market.

“As the art department of the university, part of our mission is that we have a gallery to serve both our students and the community and we thought what better way to serve the community than having  a place downtown,” said Roxanne Robbin, chair of the art department.

The establishment of a downtown gallery will not only expand the university’s presence in town but also further President Joseph Sheley’s mission of bridging the gap between the college and the community.

Made possible through the contributions of private donors, the CSUS Art Gallery has been in the making for four years. While the aim is to display student art, the gallery is more than a place to admire works as it includes an interactive component with a Building Imagination Center and studios for students working towards their Bachelor of Fine Arts.

The Building Imagination Center, which was formerly located in downtown Modesto, will focus on video production and exhibitions of Central Valley community members, alumni  and graduate movie makers while also hosting community workshops for classes and student projects.  The Lofts for the BFA students provides undergraduate students the rare opportunity to hone their craft in a dedicated space. The gallery also serves as an exhibition space for work of CSUS students as well as international artists.

“We are very excited to be able to offer the community so many different avenues into the arts through a single facility,” said Jessica Gomula-Kruzic, director of the Building Imagination Center. “The university felt that the downtown location of the facility — and its proximity to the Carnegie Arts Center and the downtown farmers market — was an excellent way to reach out to the community and let them see the wonderful student and faculty talent in the area.”

Gomula-Kruzic and CSUS Art Gallery director Dean DeCocker will oversee the gallery space which serves as not only a place for community members to satisfy their artistic interests, but also provides art students professional experience in running an exhibition space.

“Ultimately, we believe that opening the Art Space on Main will bring us closer to our mission by engaging the community more directly,” said Robbin.

The CSUS Art Gallery is located at 135 W. Main St. The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. Sept. 5 with a short program including remarks from President Sheley to follow at 6 p.m.