GILLETTE -- Gloves filled with paint, globs of Play-Doh and mounds of construction paper in the hands of 20 toddlers unleashing their creative energy are most parents' worst mess-making nightmare.

But here at the AVA Center, it's just part of the many art opportunities for some of the youngest community members.

The Little Tikes class has been an AVA tradition for four years.

"This is a great time for the kids to learn to socialize," said Brenda Peterson, who has been bringing her grandchildren to Becky Thompson's Little Tikes class all four years.

Peterson has repeated many of the projects created during art class at home with her grandchildren. During Friday's class, she was busy helping 3-year-old Cambria Scott squeeze gloves filled with paint.

"I just go home and reincorporate what we learned here," Peterson said. "It's been a great four years. This is just wonderful."

Little Tikes is one of the many art-related classes for community members at AVA. Founded in 2001, AVA has expanded its services during the past eight years to offer classes for every demographic. From toddlers to senior citizens, AVA has something for everyone, said Sandy Aberle, executive director of AVA.

"Our overall goal is to expand art in our community," Aberle said. "I want the people of Gillette to have a place to express art."

AVA rents its current building at 509 West 2nd from the city of Gillette for $1 a year. The facility includes a supply store, a gift shop, a multi-purpose room and a pottery center.

From $7.50 for kids' classes to about $35 for adult classes, the cost of most classes just covers the expense of supplies and pays for the instructor fee.

"We try to keep the cost low enough so it's available for everybody," Aberle said.

Approximately 100 people use the center during a typical week, with groups from the Children's Developmental Services, Even Start, Boy and Girl Scouts, BOCES and 4-H, among others, coming on a regular basis. The classes offer a creative outlet for a variety of people, especially for children, Aberle said.

"Art can't be wrong. It's not bad or good," she said. "It's a learning opportunity that's positive for them. It builds their character and their self-esteem."

Aberle has seen children with disabilities or behavioral issues blossom being able to express their thoughts and emotions through various art mediums. Aberle has even seen her own daughter benefit from using art to express herself.

"She could take all the anger she had in her and push it into that clay," Aberle said.

From pottery and jewelry to painting and scrap booking classes, a wealth of opportunities are available at AVA for children and teens needing a creative outlet. Adults can expand their art abilities.

The center also hosts galleries where local artists can display and sell their work. The AVA's events list is booked through 2011.

"Our goals are to be an advocate for artists," Aberle said.

While Aberle would love additional space to offer more programs, she said there are no expansion plans in the near future.

"We always say we want to expand, but it's one step at a time," Aberle said.

The next step for AVA is to add a large outdoor kiln. Not only will the kiln be available for to community, it will also be a community-wide fundraising project that will kick off early next year. When it's complete, the kiln will allow potters to create larger ceramics that currently can't be fired in the smaller kilns at the center. Aberle said the new kiln will also be available to students throughout the school district.

"We want to pull in the community when we build this kiln," Aberle said. "We want them to be able to say, 'I helped build that kiln.'"

AVA is also expanding classes already being offered and is in the process of adding a Little Tikes in Spanish class.

"Here in Gillette the Hispanic community is really growing," Aberle said.

The non-profit AVA is also gearing up for its yearly fundraiser event on Jan. 30 at the Camplex Heritage Center, a black-tie affair that will have the Kentucky Derby theme of "Art at the Derby." The event will feature live music, as well as live and silent auctions.

But for some of the most enthusiastic AVA users, the children in the Little Tikes classes, AVA is just a great place to have fun.

"I love to make spider webs," said 3-year-old Aiden Gatlin.

For his mom, Tara Gatlin, the class is a great place to be creative and have fun.

"He doesn't go to day care so it's his social interaction," she said. "It's a nice little getaway."