Downtown Huntington has been freshened up over the past decade and the rebranded 4th Avenue Arts Center has been expanding to meet those needs.

“It kind of got started as a seed, a hope, a want maybe, and then it shaped into a lot beyond me,“  said artistic director Jessica Lynn Fox.

Fox has headed 4th Avenue Arts since its beginnings in 2006 and has since lead the renaissance that her dream has undergone.

The former Jeslyn Performing Arts Center has been recently rebranded 4th Avenue Arts, initiated by the outfitting of their new Pilates studio.

The arts center is looking to bring its new services to the forefront of the community Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. with its grand opening celebration.

The event offers mat classes and chair massages, as well as program discounts and the release of their new schedule.

A yoga class by Studio 8, as well as Reiki sessions from Jennifer Holley and Fox will also be offered between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the event.

“I would refer to it as a grand shift,” Fox said.

Fox said Jeslyn Performing Arts will go on at the center as part of its comprehensive program and these classes should continue regularly.

Over the past 10 years, 4th Avenue Arts has been a growing facet of the local arts community. Their overall expansion has included a costume shop, a 500 seat theatre, a boutique and the newly equipped Pilates studio.

The developments have also worked upon the education that 4th Avenue Arts administers, allowing them to create a homeschool curriculum as well as satellite programs.

Fox also said that a new “vintage” take on the Pilates program is being planned called Pin Up Pilates that will be run by instructor Lauren Cundiff.

“I think that they’re passionate, and I think it’s really important that we will see that translate into the Huntington community,” said 4th Avenue Arts director of communications Evan Fowler. “The way that they’re so receptive of everybody that they deal with, the way they’re so welcoming, it’s just an open arms feel. I think the community will embrace them in the same way.”

Ryan Fischer can be contacted at [email protected].