The Mercer Island Center for the Arts (MICA) recently announced their upcoming journey to discover what the Mercer Island community wants in a new space for the arts on Mercer Island. Toward this effort, MICA will be hosting two upcoming group visioning sessions.

Since MICA’s reintroduction on February 6th at the City Council meeting, they have been planning and preparing for the ensuing year. One of those steps to accomplishing their goal to create a Center for the Arts is what the organization calls a “Community Visioning Dialogue.” The “visioning” aspect will be MICA’s endeavor to create a “vision” for a community arts center on Mercer Island with the Mercer Island community in mind.

On April 24th, MICA presented its 2nd Annual Friends of MICA Celebration and kicked off their Community Visioning Dialogue. The event brought together 67 local arts supporters at the Suzanne Zahr Gallery on Mercer Island. Executive Director Paul Shoemaker and Director of Strategic Relationship Sharon Perez discussed what Islanders can expect from MICA over the next three months and explained what the Community Visioning Dialogue is all about.

Additionally, to share the ideas of the Community Visioning Dialogue with the community, MICA distributed an all-island mailer titled “Moving Forward. Together.”

“I’m excited to get out and hear what the Mercer Island community wants in a new space for the arts,” said Shoemaker. The MICA team welcomes all Islanders to share their voice throughout the visioning dialogue process, as all ideas and viewpoints will be taken into consideration.

To assist in the visioning dialogue, MICA has enlisted the assistance of Phinney Bischoff. With over 30 years of creative and community engagement experience, Bischoff will create and execute a series of impartial listening events throughout the months of May, June, and July. These listening events will consist of one-on-one interviews, small group input sessions, large group visioning sessions, and a survey.

The first of two large group visioning sessions will be held Monday, June 11th, from 7 to 8:30 pm at the MI Boys and Girls Club. If you would like to attend, be sure to register ahead of time, as space is limited to 100 participants.

To register for a visioning dialogue event, send an email to [email protected] or call 206-715-7671. To find out more information about the visioning process or receive updates, visit the MICA website >>

[Information adapted from official press release provided by Keith Imper, MICA Marketing Manager.]