We want to thank our community!

This event was attended by more than 60 of our community members which include:

Multigenerational Mira Mesa community leaders and residents
Representatives from local government
Local and city artists, musicians, and actors.
Representatives from local cultural groups
Previous Epicentre Collaborators
Parents representing our local schools, homeschool, and youth community groups

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Agenda

11:00 AM

Welcome and Introduction – Mitz Lee

11:05 AM

Why are we here? by Mitz Lee and Sandy Smith       

11:15 AM

Community Discussion – How do you envision art, music, and culture in the community?

Lunch/Breakout

12:00 PM

Open Discussion

12:20 PM

Outcomes / Next Steps – Lainie Hardman

a.     Plan of Action
b.     Letter campaign
c.     Webpage / Facebook
d.     Next meeting

Meeting notes

How do you envision art, music, and culture in our community?

Table 1

● Epicenter became a “rock venue.”
● Multipurpose stage w theater and stage
● Make it sustainable.
● MM does not have an art museum.
● Need creative classes (instruments, life skill classes, etc.)
● Entrepreneur, craft, art fairs
● Film festivals, community movie nights
● Video game night
● Ways to get creativity and collaboration going.
● Keep RSVP
● Question – was there a stage and lighting? Yes, there was (but not great lighting).

Table 2

  • Space was supposed to be 4000 sq ft.
  • Would like a place to meet a new friend – cafeteria with chess/scrabble.
  • Extension of home soundproof rooms for practice (instruments)
  • Full sized theater
  • Building to be open 10am to 6pm, with booking possibility after hours
  • Full kitchen
  • Poetry reading?
  • Childcare?
  • Exhibits for fund raising. Casino night?
  • Ice cream socials
  • AC for classes

Table 3

  • Incubator for talent
  • Connect to groups in art, music, culture.
  • Anime, cosplay, dancers, performers – connect all cultural groups.
  • TED talks
  • Flexible exhibit space
  • Functional outdoor space
  • Commercial kitchen
  • Promote diversity of MM

Table 4

  • Focused on teens and youth in community.
  • Kids who need space for relaxation, skateboard park, space for exercise.
  • Bicycle and scooter parking
  • Pool table, ping pong table, dedicated night for youth
  • Cross pollination with MMSC for classes, programs
  • Give people space to be creative with caution and oversight.

Table 5

  • Multi use/function space.
  • Meetings, theater
  • Keep a focus on teens.
  • Community theater, painting, dance
  • Employees – who is going to be running it? Who will coordinate activities?
  • Alternative forums of art expression (podcast, comedy, storytelling, etc.)
  • Pathway to incorporate art that reflects community on side of road or
    on building – have art reflect MM values and priorities.
  • Pastor perspective – bring in education and share education, share diversity.

Table 6

  • Stage/space for music
  • Art and gallery show.
  • Trade skills (cooking, etc)
  • Spaces for cultural art classes (pottery, glass, digital arts, etc.)
  • Improv space
  • Teen adulting classes (financing, taxes, etc)
  • Boy scouts/Girl scouts.
  • LGBTQ space
  • Role playing community (D&D, Ren faire)
  • Outdoor performing area

Table 7

  • What would the children like to see in MM? (Thoughts from 11-year-old Katherin B.)
  • Gaming room, recording studio (youtubers), teen world, how to start a business – themed rooms.
  • Pool table
  • Acting classes, performing arts space
  • Should be able to stay IN MM to do activities.
  • Homeschooling activities, groups, to come together in MM
  • Would like to see a copy of the lease of ownership/title report?
  • Mark P. – All suggestions are viable, but need money – getting money from city or county will be complicated – consider getting corporate money (sponsorship)
  • For all the program suggestions – there are organizations that can be partnered with who do similar program ideas

Table 8

  • Senior citizens choir

NEXT STEPS

Compile ideas from community discussion

Letter campaign to city letters to let community plan our own future.

FOLLOW our Facebook page. 

Share your info and stay in touch with us.

COMMENTS / Q&A

Funding – can we get local businesses involved?

  • Bike Park / skateboard park – make it safer for kids.
  • Background on movement for Epicentre (Jeff)

○ Harmonium gave up on the Epicentre

○ It requires a lot of repair work – city’s estimate for $3 M
○ Money from county – proposal $4.5 M
○ Increased budget to $8 M (county)
○ Recommendation to take advantage of funding from county

○ The disrepair and contamination of buildings are issues.
○ Make building all inclusive – performing arts center (PQ, Sorrento Valley, etc)
○ Multi-cultural programming
○ Resurrect MM Theater Guild

● Sandy

○ See Epicentre be the anchor of the park.

○ Performing arts center would pull everything together.

○ Stage isn’t a real stage.

○ MM and surrounding communities NEED something nice to pull everything together culturally.

● People need to see the center.

● Intergenerational activities (performance arts)

● MMSC requirements – show up, enjoy, make friends.

SUMMARY

It is clear the vast majority of the people who attended this dialogue want a space for art, music and culture – a Performing Arts Cultural Center and to have further discussions in order to explore how we can make that happen.

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Who are Friends of Mira Mesa Arts & Culture?

We are a group of individuals who have joined together to form a community that is passionate and dedicated to promoting and celebrating arts and culture in Mira Mesa. We believe Mira Mesa is the
perfect location for a Performing arts and Cultural Center because of its location, cultural diversity, strong music, art, and theatre communities.

Mira Mesa is also a hub for anime, comic, and cosplay groups and our community is well known as having a deep well of talent for leaders in gaming, multimedia, digital, and social arts. This page serves as a platform for members to share information, ideas, and updates on local arts and culture groups, initiatives, and events and to serve as a place to connect with others who share similar interests