New digs for Building Imagination Center

The Building Imagination Center is downsizing to a smaller location in downtown Modesto but still will be heavily involved in community activities.

The center, which has hosted video production classes and art exhibitions and screened original documentaries at 1009 J St. since September, is relocating to the much smaller Gallery 909, the California State University, Stanislaus, art gallery at 909 10th St.

The center had to change locations because its $170,000 grant with ArtPlace is ending, said the center’s director, Jessica Gomula-Kruzic. ArtPlace is a collaboration of several foundations, large banks and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The center has a long slate of activities planned this year, including:

• Hosting monthly meetings of the new Filmmaker Social Club, open to professionals and enthusiasts, beginning in August. Check www.buildingimagination.com for the location and date.

• Documenting the Modesto International Architecture Festival, scheduled Sept. 14-22, by creating short films about festival events.

• Showing original films from local and other filmmakers at Gallery 909 and becoming the resident moviemakers at the State Theatre. The center is presenting its first film festival, the Imagination Fest, there Dec. 5.

• Pursuing long-term “creative placemaking” activities with the city of Modesto. A term coined by the National Endowment for the Arts, “creative placemaking” means government and private groups working together to shape the character of a town around arts and cultural activities. Some of the activities the center already has coordinated include creating mini-parks on 10th street and organizing a “chalk walk of art.”

• Extending the center’s activities into Turlock. A Turlock branch location is expected to be announced by the end of this month.