Eager to be a part of the downtown Lancaster arts scene, in September 2013, we decided to both relocate our thriving studio and gallery to our current location on N. Water Street and to rebrand to "Friendship Heart Gallery". In addition to an exciting retail opportunity, this new blank canvas of studio space offered more room for everything; with over 70 heart artists participating, more space was needed for artists to move freely, keep their supplies in order and create a safe space to dry artwork. It was at this location that we also transitioned from our club status to an official licensed day services program; still maintaining a club two evenings per week.
We are proud of our current gallery as it features updated lighting and movable walls, in addition to housing an individual professional portfolio for each artist. We have expanded our retail items as well to include jewelry, notecards and home décor from our Primitives by Kathy Collaborative Collection. With the outpouring of positive support from our local community, the heart artists have exhibited in numerous businesses throughout Lancaster City and surrounding areas as well as worldwide locations!
With the Covid-19 pandemic, things had to be modified in order to keep the heart artists safety as a number one priority. The Lancaster City Studio had to close down, as many other businesses, and virtual classes were researched and implemented. While this didn't quite replace the in-person studio lessons, it did suffice until the studio could safely open its doors again in January 2021. At this point, the name transitioned slightly to "Friendship Heart Gallery & Studio", showing that the gallery and studio were two separate and exciting things happening at once!
At its reopening, however, the Lancaster City Studio still looked and operated a lot different than it had before. Where there used to be long, shared tables for the heart artists to create at, now stood individual desks with the ability to raise to standing and incline so heart artists didn't need to remain in uncomfortable positions to create their masterpieces. This change also included updated storage for art supplies in order for things to be organized and easily accessible for the heart artists.
Unfortunately, with the good also comes the not-so-good. When the Lancaster City Studio originally closed its doors in March 2020, the evening club had to close its doors for good. With staffing shortages and licensing, the Tuesday and Thursday evening clubs were not able to reopen when the day-time studio did.
We did have some incredible growth during this time of transition, though. Please see below section about the E. Oregon Studio to learn about how our one downtown Lancaster studio turned into two separate studio locations - The Lancaster City Studio and the E. Oregon Studio!
Pictured below, left: Heart artists receiving instruction in the new large studio space.
Pictured below, middle: Heart artists and team members at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new gallery and studio.
Pictured below, right: The new spacious gallery space.
Pictured below, left: A full class actively participates within the studio (2019).
Pictured below, right: The studio redesign to safely accommodate heart artists on a modified schedule (2021).
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