By April 4, the first classes will be starting up in the Eden Prairie Art Center. The 5,400-square-foot facility will offer painting and drawing classes for children and adults starting in April, according to Art Center Coordinator Lindsey Scott. A grand opening is scheduled for May 26. Pottery classes will likely be offered by summer.

More than a year ago, the idea of an Eden Prairie Art Center took shape when the Sampson family offered to donate a building at 7650 Equitable Drive. The facility had been the studio of the late Roger Sampson, a retired businessman who specialized in glasswork. The Sampson family took this a step further this January when they donated $35,000 to cover the costs of bringing the facility up to code. The city invested $91,000 to add parking stalls and a fundraising group has formed in the past year to cover the Art Center’s expenses.

That group, the Friends of the Eden Prairie Art Center, is continuing to work to fund more equipment purchases for the facility. The group has set a new goal of bringing in $77,000 to purchase art-making equipment. A full wish list can be found at www.edenprairieartcenter.com.

A fundraising event is set to occur the evening of April 16, at the Eden Prairie Garden Room. The event, titled “Putting It All Together,” will feature singer Connie Kunkle, and highlight a number of artists.

“We're trying to have an event that has some creative, artistic elements to it,” noted Friends of the EP Art Center Chair Stacy Desai.

In addition to offering tickets for that event, the group is also offering an opportunity to purchase glass tiles that will become a part of a mural within the new Art Center. The “Putting it All Together” event will feature the original painting that the mural will be based on. The work was painted by Ann Rorem, an Eden Prairie artist and member of the fundraising group. Those interested in purchasing the glass tiles can contact Stacy Desai at sdesai@edenprairieartcenter.com.