Among the many renovations at the recently reopened Kennett Area YMCA in Kennett Square is a studio devoted to the arts.

Called the Imaginarium, the art studio was a gift from the Michael and Nancy Pia Foundation. Nancy and her husband Michael, longtime residents of Chester County, created the foundation to make a positive impact on children and their families.

The Imaginarium is a studio devoted to the arts - painting, drawing, music, filmmaking, architecture or pottery.

Nancy Pia, who also volunteers and instructs an art class at the Y, envisioned the Imaginarium as a space where people of all ages, from all walks of life, can come and play, explore, and discover something.

Pia always had a passion for art. Her passion has resulted in numerous exhibits, including a permanent one at the Delaware Children's Museum. She inspires her students to use their imagination freely.

"Life is a continuous exercise in problem-solving, and we cannot solve a problem without using our imagination," she said. "My classes focus on the creative process, rather than the creative product."

To let people know that the arts are present at the Y, Pia has created "The Creative Arts Series," which will begin this November at the Kennett Area YMCA. The Saturday classes are free for members. The classes will feature guests from the community, with exceptional talent to do demonstrations and hold workshops. Some guests include a 14-year-old musician who plays the Irish uilleann pipes and tin whistle, a Lego lady, and a kitchen artist.

"Each of us has limitless potential to be creative, and when we bring something new into the world we experience such joy and connect with the best in ourselves," Pia said.

To learn more about the arts programs offered at the Kennett Area Y, call 610-444-9622.