Grand Center Arts Academy, the first and only visual and performing arts charter school in the state of Missouri, will host an open house for prospective families and interested members of the public from 5 to 8 p.m. May 11. The event will coincide with the annual Art Walk in Grand Center.

The open house includes public tours of the beautifully restored, state-of-the-art facility, which was completed last summer by the Lawrence Group; a display of GCAA's talented art students in the main lobby; and a special performance by The Wire Pilots from 6:10 to 6:50 p.m.

At 7 p.m. GCAA will present its advanced String Ensemble, followed by selected student singers and instrumentalists at 7:30 p.m. in the lobby.

The night also marks the opening of “A Chromatic Confluence,” a temporary public art installation at the corner of Grand Boulevard and Samuel Shepard Drive.

GCAA students have been assisting Austin-based artists Lucy Begg and Robert Gay with the preparation and construction of the outdoor installation.

GCAA is now enrolling students for grades 6 through 9 for the 2012/2013 school year on a first-come, first-served basis. Students eligible to attend must be residents of the city of St. Louis or residents of St. Louis County and eligible to attend St. Louis Public Schools under the voluntary transfer program. All applicants will meet with Principal Lynne Glickert as part of the acceptance process and will be expected to give a brief demonstration of artistic aptitude.

Sponsored by Saint Louis University, GCAA opened in 2010 with grades 6 and 7 and is adding a grade each subsequent year through grade 12 in 2015. In just two years, GCAA has proven to be an environment that fosters an arts-integrated curriculum, inspiring happy, creative and intelligent students. Students who are highly creative and already pursuing their artistic dreams will find a home at GCAA.

In addition to providing a rigorous academic program including science, math, social studies and English, the school offers world-class training in music (including stringed instruments), vocal instruction, theater, visual art and dance.

The Academy is located at 711 N. Grand Blvd. St. Louis, 63103 

Visit www.grandcenterartsacademy.org, or call 314-533-1791for applications and more information.