A groundbreaking ceremony kicked off construction on a new gallery and other improvements at the Art Center of Western Colorado in Grand Junction.

The project will include a 1,700-square-foot gallery named in honor of Grand Valley artist Jac Kephart.

The project also will include a new space for education programs, updates to the Gould Gallery, the installation of a fire mitigation system to protect the building and collections and upgrades to the permanent collection preservation.

The expansion will be the latest for the Arts Center, which has grown over 68 years from a two-story house to a 13,000-square-foot arts campus.

The Art Center continues a $600,000 capital campaign for the Jac Kephart Gallery and other improvements. For more information or donation, visit the website at https://gjartcenter.org/kephartproject.