It's a workspace and a play space. It's a venue and a destination. It's a place to create art and a place to market art.

But perhaps even more importantly, Mulberry Art Studios is about April Koppenhaver's inspiration, her commitment to the community, her creativity, her love for art.

"Art is fundamental to the growth and sustaining of a culture," said Koppenhaver, the founder, operator and director of Mulberry Art Studios. "All art makes us feel and think, and it shares with us different perspectives. All of life can be taken to the level of art. When people start putting things together, it's art. It's a higher consciousness. Sometimes when you see art and there's no soul there - I have a hard time calling it art. It's a way to connect with another person's soul."

Located at 19-21 N. Mulberry St. in Lancaster - inside of what was once Gunzenhauser Bakery - the 22,000-square-foot Mulberry Art Studios is home to a wide variety of art forms, including music, dance, theater, culinary, photography, video, advertising, pottery, ceramics and different types of painting. But Mulberry Art Studios also offers classes, gallery spaces, studios and stages and promotes shows and displays for artists of varying notoriety.

"We serve the community," said Koppenhaver, a 68-year-old resident of Manheim. "We give grassroots artists the opportunity to show, as well as professionals. We've done individual shows and collective shows. When we started, there weren't as many art galleries and it was harder to show. We want to give a platform to artists who aren't known. We want to lift up their dreams and make them happen."

With art as a backdrop, Mulberry Art Studios possesses the ambiance to host myriad celebrations for up to 220 guests. In addition to art shows, weddings, birthday parties, anniversary celebrations and special events are all common occurrences at Mulberry Art Studios.

"The city is alive and well," said Koppenhaver. "There are so many people who want to do what we offer. I feel like we've gotten our job done over the years. People want to walk to downtown in the city. We were the economic catalyst for the revitalization of Lancaster city. The buzz brings people and people bring prosperity. It's a lot of people working for the same cause. An art center is very inclusive. We have to keep supporting the artists."

Koppenhaver started Mulberry Art Studios in June of 1988. She had a vision of what an arts center could do for the downtown; she took a chance and stuck to her guns.

"When I walked into this building, I just knew it would work," said Koppenhaver. "It needed a ton of work, but I felt somehow it would happen. I found an investor who loved Lancaster and loved the arts, and he was shocked no one else had come up with the idea before. People should be inspired to pursue their dreams and have stick-to-itiveness. Artists have to create. It's just what we do. And people are intrigued by creation."