diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasElement.cxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasElement.cxx
index 319c07d2..c4612659 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasElement.cxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasElement.cxx
@@ -523,6 +523,8 @@ namespace canvas
     _style( parent_style ),
     _drawable( 0 )
   {
+    staticInit();
+
     SG_LOG
     (
       SG_GL,
@@ -530,11 +532,6 @@ namespace canvas
       "New canvas element " << node->getPath()
     );
 
-    if( !isInit<Element>() )
-    {
-      addStyle("clip", "", &Element::setClip, false);
-    }
-
     // Ensure elements are drawn in order they appear in the element tree
     _transform->getOrCreateStateSet()
               ->setRenderBinDetails
@@ -545,6 +542,15 @@ namespace canvas
               );
   }
 
+  //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  void Element::staticInit()
+  {
+    if( isInit<Element>() )
+      return;
+
+    addStyle("clip", "", &Element::setClip, false);
+  }
+
   //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   bool Element::isStyleEmpty(const SGPropertyNode* child) const
   {
diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasElement.hxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasElement.hxx
index 07e87691..3487f868 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasElement.hxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasElement.hxx
@@ -197,6 +197,8 @@ namespace canvas
       typedef std::map<std::string, StyleInfo> StyleSetters;
       static StyleSetters       _style_setters;
 
+      static void staticInit();
+
       Element( const CanvasWeakPtr& canvas,
                const SGPropertyNode_ptr& node,
                const Style& parent_style,
@@ -210,7 +212,7 @@ namespace canvas
        * @tparam Derived    (Derived) class type
        */
       template<class Derived>
-      bool isInit() const
+      static bool isInit()
       {
         static bool is_init = false;
         if( is_init )
@@ -239,6 +241,7 @@ namespace canvas
         typename T2,
         class Derived
       >
+      static
       StyleSetter
       addStyle( const std::string& name,
                 const std::string& type,
@@ -282,6 +285,7 @@ namespace canvas
         typename T,
         class Derived
       >
+      static
       StyleSetter
       addStyle( const std::string& name,
                 const std::string& type,
@@ -295,6 +299,7 @@ namespace canvas
         typename T,
         class Derived
       >
+      static
       StyleSetter
       addStyle( const std::string& name,
                 const std::string& type,
@@ -315,6 +320,7 @@ namespace canvas
         typename T2,
         class Derived
       >
+      static
       StyleSetterFunc
       addStyle( const std::string& name,
                 const std::string& type,
@@ -333,6 +339,7 @@ namespace canvas
       template<
         class Derived
       >
+      static
       StyleSetter
       addStyle( const std::string& name,
                 const std::string& type,
@@ -354,6 +361,7 @@ namespace canvas
         class Other,
         class OtherRef
       >
+      static
       StyleSetter
       addStyle( const std::string& name,
                 const std::string& type,
@@ -377,6 +385,7 @@ namespace canvas
         class Other,
         class OtherRef
       >
+      static
       StyleSetter
       addStyle( const std::string& name,
                 const std::string& type,
@@ -400,6 +409,7 @@ namespace canvas
         class Other,
         class OtherRef
       >
+      static
       StyleSetter
       addStyle( const std::string& name,
                 const std::string& type,
@@ -421,6 +431,7 @@ namespace canvas
         class Other,
         class OtherRef
       >
+      static
       StyleSetter
       addStyle( const std::string& name,
                 const std::string& type,
@@ -439,6 +450,7 @@ namespace canvas
       }
 
       template<typename T, class Derived, class Other, class OtherRef>
+      static
       boost::function<void (Derived&, T)>
       bindOther( void (Other::*setter)(T), OtherRef Derived::*instance_ref )
       {
@@ -446,6 +458,7 @@ namespace canvas
       }
 
       template<typename T, class Derived, class Other, class OtherRef>
+      static
       boost::function<void (Derived&, T)>
       bindOther( const boost::function<void (Other&, T)>& setter,
                  OtherRef Derived::*instance_ref )
@@ -463,6 +476,7 @@ namespace canvas
       }
 
       template<typename T1, typename T2, class Derived>
+      static
       StyleSetterFuncUnchecked
       bindStyleSetter( const std::string& name,
                        const boost::function<void (Derived&, T2)>& setter )
diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasGroup.cxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasGroup.cxx
index 989d0b38..51523f42 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasGroup.cxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasGroup.cxx
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ namespace canvas
   template<typename ElementType>
   void add(ElementFactories& factories)
   {
+    ElementType::staticInit();
     factories[ElementType::TYPE_NAME] = &Element::create<ElementType>;
   }
 
@@ -52,6 +53,19 @@ namespace canvas
             "canvas::Group::" << member_name << ": Group has expired." );
   }
 
+  //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  void Group::staticInit()
+  {
+    if( isInit<Group>() )
+      return;
+
+    add<Group>(_child_factories);
+    add<Image>(_child_factories);
+    add<Map  >(_child_factories);
+    add<Path >(_child_factories);
+    add<Text >(_child_factories);
+  }
+
   //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Group::Group( const CanvasWeakPtr& canvas,
                 const SGPropertyNode_ptr& node,
@@ -59,14 +73,7 @@ namespace canvas
                 Element* parent ):
     Element(canvas, node, parent_style, parent)
   {
-    if( !isInit<Group>() )
-    {
-      add<Group>(_child_factories);
-      add<Image>(_child_factories);
-      add<Map  >(_child_factories);
-      add<Path >(_child_factories);
-      add<Text >(_child_factories);
-    }
+    staticInit();
   }
 
   //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasGroup.hxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasGroup.hxx
index 5ee417ea..74adeafe 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasGroup.hxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasGroup.hxx
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ namespace canvas
   {
     public:
       static const std::string TYPE_NAME;
+      static void staticInit();
 
       typedef std::list< std::pair< const SGPropertyNode*,
                                     ElementPtr
diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx
index 9f1f5758..fee83c41 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx
@@ -89,6 +89,18 @@ namespace canvas
   //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   const std::string Image::TYPE_NAME = "image";
 
+  //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  void Image::staticInit()
+  {
+    if( isInit<Image>() )
+      return;
+
+    addStyle("fill", "color", &Image::setFill);
+    addStyle("slice", "", &Image::setSlice);
+    addStyle("slice-width", "", &Image::setSliceWidth);
+    addStyle("outset", "", &Image::setOutset);
+  }
+
   //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Image::Image( const CanvasWeakPtr& canvas,
                 const SGPropertyNode_ptr& node,
@@ -100,6 +112,8 @@ namespace canvas
     _src_rect(0,0),
     _region(0,0)
   {
+    staticInit();
+
     _geom = new osg::Geometry;
     _geom->setUseDisplayList(false);
 
@@ -128,16 +142,7 @@ namespace canvas
 
     setDrawable(_geom);
 
-    if( !isInit<Image>() )
-    {
-      addStyle("fill", "color", &Image::setFill);
-      addStyle("slice", "", &Image::setSlice);
-      addStyle("slice-width", "", &Image::setSliceWidth);
-      addStyle("outset", "", &Image::setOutset);
-    }
-
     setFill("#ffffff"); // TODO how should we handle default values?
-
     setupStyle();
   }
 
diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx
index 491ac19d..02a21536 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ namespace canvas
   {
     public:
       static const std::string TYPE_NAME;
+      static void staticInit();
 
       /**
        * @param node    Property node containing settings for this image:
diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasMap.cxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasMap.cxx
index f0484ce4..73ba6b0d 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasMap.cxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasMap.cxx
@@ -46,6 +46,17 @@ namespace canvas
   const std::string GEO = "-geo";
   const std::string Map::TYPE_NAME = "map";
 
+  //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  void Map::staticInit()
+  {
+    Group::staticInit();
+
+    if( isInit<Map>() )
+      return;
+
+    // Do some initialization if needed...
+  }
+
   //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Map::Map( const CanvasWeakPtr& canvas,
             const SGPropertyNode_ptr& node,
@@ -56,7 +67,7 @@ namespace canvas
     _projection(new SansonFlamsteedProjection),
     _projection_dirty(true)
   {
-
+    staticInit();
   }
 
   //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasMap.hxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasMap.hxx
index 57e12f2c..6bd2e54d 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasMap.hxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasMap.hxx
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ namespace canvas
   {
     public:
       static const std::string TYPE_NAME;
+      static void staticInit();
 
       Map( const CanvasWeakPtr& canvas,
            const SGPropertyNode_ptr& node,
diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasPath.cxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasPath.cxx
index d801c68a..6d4d0bf5 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasPath.cxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasPath.cxx
@@ -472,6 +472,22 @@ namespace canvas
   //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   const std::string Path::TYPE_NAME = "path";
 
+  //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  void Path::staticInit()
+  {
+    if( isInit<Path>() )
+      return;
+
+    PathDrawableRef Path::*path = &Path::_path;
+
+    addStyle("fill", "color", &PathDrawable::setFill, path);
+    addStyle("fill-rule", "", &PathDrawable::setFillRule, path);
+    addStyle("stroke", "color", &PathDrawable::setStroke, path);
+    addStyle("stroke-width", "numeric", &PathDrawable::setStrokeWidth, path);
+    addStyle("stroke-dasharray", "", &PathDrawable::setStrokeDashArray, path);
+    addStyle("stroke-linecap", "", &PathDrawable::setStrokeLinecap, path);
+  }
+
   //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Path::Path( const CanvasWeakPtr& canvas,
               const SGPropertyNode_ptr& node,
@@ -480,20 +496,9 @@ namespace canvas
     Element(canvas, node, parent_style, parent),
     _path( new PathDrawable(this) )
   {
+    staticInit();
+
     setDrawable(_path);
-
-    if( !isInit<Path>() )
-    {
-      PathDrawableRef Path::*path = &Path::_path;
-
-      addStyle("fill", "color", &PathDrawable::setFill, path);
-      addStyle("fill-rule", "", &PathDrawable::setFillRule, path);
-      addStyle("stroke", "color", &PathDrawable::setStroke, path);
-      addStyle("stroke-width", "numeric", &PathDrawable::setStrokeWidth, path);
-      addStyle("stroke-dasharray", "", &PathDrawable::setStrokeDashArray, path);
-      addStyle("stroke-linecap", "", &PathDrawable::setStrokeLinecap, path);
-    }
-
     setupStyle();
   }
 
diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasPath.hxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasPath.hxx
index f00e0a60..9cd3aef5 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasPath.hxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasPath.hxx
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ namespace canvas
   {
     public:
       static const std::string TYPE_NAME;
+      static void staticInit();
 
       Path( const CanvasWeakPtr& canvas,
             const SGPropertyNode_ptr& node,
diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasText.cxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasText.cxx
index 615eb052..ef6f4393 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasText.cxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasText.cxx
@@ -261,6 +261,39 @@ namespace canvas
   //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   const std::string Text::TYPE_NAME = "text";
 
+  //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  void Text::staticInit()
+  {
+    if( isInit<Text>() )
+      return;
+
+    osg::ref_ptr<TextOSG> Text::*text = &Text::_text;
+
+    addStyle("fill", "color", &TextOSG::setFill, text);
+    addStyle("background", "color", &TextOSG::setBackgroundColor, text);
+    addStyle("character-size",
+             "numeric",
+             static_cast<
+               void (TextOSG::*)(float)
+             > (&TextOSG::setCharacterSize),
+             text);
+    addStyle("character-aspect-ratio",
+             "numeric",
+             &TextOSG::setCharacterAspect, text);
+    addStyle("line-height", "numeric", &TextOSG::setLineHeight, text);
+    addStyle("font-resolution", "numeric", &TextOSG::setFontResolution, text);
+    addStyle("padding", "numeric", &TextOSG::setBoundingBoxMargin, text);
+    //  TEXT              = 1 default
+    //  BOUNDINGBOX       = 2
+    //  FILLEDBOUNDINGBOX = 4
+    //  ALIGNMENT         = 8
+    addStyle<int>("draw-mode", "", &TextOSG::setDrawMode, text);
+    addStyle("max-width", "numeric", &TextOSG::setMaximumWidth, text);
+    addStyle("font", "", &Text::setFont);
+    addStyle("alignment", "", &Text::setAlignment);
+    addStyle("text", "", &Text::setText, false);
+  }
+
   //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Text::Text( const CanvasWeakPtr& canvas,
               const SGPropertyNode_ptr& node,
@@ -269,40 +302,13 @@ namespace canvas
     Element(canvas, node, parent_style, parent),
     _text( new Text::TextOSG(this) )
   {
+    staticInit();
+
     setDrawable(_text);
     _text->setCharacterSizeMode(osgText::Text::OBJECT_COORDS);
     _text->setAxisAlignment(osgText::Text::USER_DEFINED_ROTATION);
     _text->setRotation(osg::Quat(osg::PI, osg::X_AXIS));
 
-    if( !isInit<Text>() )
-    {
-      osg::ref_ptr<TextOSG> Text::*text = &Text::_text;
-
-      addStyle("fill", "color", &TextOSG::setFill, text);
-      addStyle("background", "color", &TextOSG::setBackgroundColor, text);
-      addStyle("character-size",
-               "numeric",
-               static_cast<
-                 void (TextOSG::*)(float)
-               > (&TextOSG::setCharacterSize),
-               text);
-      addStyle("character-aspect-ratio",
-               "numeric",
-               &TextOSG::setCharacterAspect, text);
-      addStyle("line-height", "numeric", &TextOSG::setLineHeight, text);
-      addStyle("font-resolution", "numeric", &TextOSG::setFontResolution, text);
-      addStyle("padding", "numeric", &TextOSG::setBoundingBoxMargin, text);
-      //  TEXT              = 1 default
-      //  BOUNDINGBOX       = 2
-      //  FILLEDBOUNDINGBOX = 4
-      //  ALIGNMENT         = 8
-      addStyle<int>("draw-mode", "", &TextOSG::setDrawMode, text);
-      addStyle("max-width", "numeric", &TextOSG::setMaximumWidth, text);
-      addStyle("font", "", &Text::setFont);
-      addStyle("alignment", "", &Text::setAlignment);
-      addStyle("text", "", &Text::setText, false);
-    }
-
     setupStyle();
   }
 
diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasText.hxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasText.hxx
index 1866e688..aba96319 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasText.hxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasText.hxx
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ namespace canvas
   {
     public:
       static const std::string TYPE_NAME;
+      static void staticInit();
 
       Text( const CanvasWeakPtr& canvas,
             const SGPropertyNode_ptr& node,