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We want to hear from YOU about the Arts on MI for 2021!

2020 was an indelible year for all of us. We were severely limited in ways we could connect and engage with you because of the pandemic, which has disrupted many things that would have happened. We are exploring several new offerings to keep you informed about assorted arts events and activities on the Island and the progress of Mercer Island Center for the Arts (MICA). We want to hear from YOU —

It’ll just take a few minutes – http://bit.ly/2NXvPwg

This survey is a way for us to know how we can better communicate and connect with you despite Covid-19. Please take a few minutes to answer the questions. We value your input and feedback. Please also take a few minutes and share your feedback and opinion on how we can better serve you. We appreciate your participation!

Sincerely –
Prady Misra, Genevieve Morton, John Gordon Hill, Michelle Peyree, Xixi Shakes, James Rudolf, Elliott Newman, Virl Hill, Bruce Lorig (posthumously), and Paul Shoemaker 

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A Community Opportunity

Since the start of 2018, we have had many encouraging events, meetings, and gatherings, but Monday evening (October 22) was something special. That night, I truly felt MICA could happen. If you weren’t able to attend, the top five Tully’s developers presented their proposals to the community as well as took questions. All five have included MICA + YTN in their proposals and each one of them brings something different to the table. With that, narrowing the field will be a difficult task for the city. Not only are there five developers willing to help create a space for the arts on Mercer Island, but the community members in attendance were energizing. The room was filled with the chatter of questions, ideas, thoughts, and excitement – positive energy that they too feel this could happen.

What are the next steps going forward? It will take a few weeks for the city to choose the top two proposals. In the meantime, we encourage MI citizens to keep asking those great questions to the parties involved. The City has created a website for feedback, click here. Executive Director Paul Shoemaker and I have said, and continue to say, we will take a phone call and sit down for a coffee, beer (or glass of wine) with anyone who asks. This is our community and I am committed, along with the other staff and board, to seeing a space for the arts come alive.

Onward!
Sharon Perez
Director Strategic Relationships

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Community Visioning Begins!

What: Input Session #1
Who: Arts Groups and Artists
Where: Mercer Island Community and Events Center
When: May 15, 2018

The first of our small input sessions began on Tuesday, May 15th. MICA is excited that so many arts groups and individual artists decided to take part in the session. These sessions are led and moderated by our partner Phinney Bischoff and are a great way to get unbiased opinions from island arts stakeholders.

The topics were varied and ranged from how the arts on the island need a space, MICA’s role as a central hub for the arts, STEM vs. STEAM, and the importance of bringing diverse communities to the arts table. At the end of the Community Visioning, MICA will synthesize all of these discussions and release a full report.

Here are a few great quotes to ponder:

“We have the recipe and everything is in the pot…but not one’s turned on the burner yet”
“Our city leaders just want to create more programs. No one wants to be the glue.”
“MICA can bring a sense of community that can exist outside of the schools.”
“Find the people who support it and press on them. Once it’s built, everyone will love it.”
“Too many people live with the assumption that all the good stuff happens in Seattle. Others believe that if you support the arts, you’re taking away from something else. MICA can challenge that.”

Input sessions to come: business owners, parents, and many more. Keep up on the dialogue by regularly visiting our website.

Everybody’s input is important! Please register and take part in our large visioning session on June 11 from 7-9:00pm at the Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club. Visit www.mercerislandarts.org/register or email info@mercerislandarts.org or call 206-715-7671.

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MICA Matching Campaigns

Between the dates, July 17 – August 24 Mercer Island Center for the Arts (MICA) will work to expand our Friends of MICA as well as support our parter Resident User organizations.

How?

MICA will engage in six small fundraising challenge match campaigns beginning July 17 to build the Friends of MICA giving. Each campaign will run one-week and feature one of the MICA Master Artists e.g., YTN, Russian Chamber Music Foundation, Music Works NW, Island Youth Ballet, & MIVAL. For each week-long campaign, one generous donor will match all Friends donations 1-to-1 up to $1000. 100% of the match will go to that week’s featured organization. For example, during the week of July 31st MICA features YTN and if we obtain a total of $500 for Friends of MICA, the donor will donate $500 to YTN; if we receive $1000 worth of Friends of MICA, then the donor will donate $1000 to YTN. Essentially doubling the dollar amount of Friends of MICA that week.

Yes…very exciting!!!!

We are grateful and thrilled for the wonderful donors that have agreed to take part in this matching campaign. Below are the dates and names of the generous donors. If you know who they are, give them a big thank you when you see them.

July 17 – 23 | Island Youth Ballet | Rick and Jenny McPherson

July 24 – 30 | Music Works Northwest | Bruce and Andy Lorig

July 31 – Aug. 6 | Youth Theatre Northwest | TBA

Aug. 14 – 20 | Russian Chamber Music Foundation of Seattle | Trenton and Genevieve Morton

Aug. 21 – 27 | Mercer Island Visual Arts League (education programs) | Nancy and Virl Hill

Please sign up to become a Friend of MICA and support the Arts on Mercer Island.

If you are already a Friend of MICA, get your friends to become a Friend of MICA. Just ask them, say something like “Hey Beth, I support MICA and the arts on Mercer Island and I know you do too, would you consider becoming a Friend of MICA? If you become a Friend in the next few weeks, your gift will double and support the arts on the island”

That’s all it takes.

Don’t forget about the MICA Happy Hours from 5-6:00 pm at the MICA Offices 7710 SE 29th St. (before Mostly Music in the Park) where you can meet with other Friends of MICA, as well as that week’s, featured Mercer Island Master Artists’ patrons.

July 20 | Island Youth Ballet

July 27 | Music Works NW

Aug. 3 | Youth Theater NW

Aug. 17 | Russian Chamber Music Foundation of Seattle

Aug. 24 | MIVAL

Thank you for being a Friend of MICA. Your support is very much appreciated. We look forward to seeing you throughout the summer.

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