Community Arts Center Looks Ahead to the Next Three Decades
For nearly 30 years, the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) has been an arts hub in Langley, Washington, bringing music, theatre, visual art, dance, and the humanities to the island. In May of this year, WICA will be celebrating three decades on Whidbey, an anniversary that will acknowledge the grassroots work that brought the organization to this moment, and the efforts to continue that for the next three decades.
“30 years ago, the dream that is the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts took flight—it was the culmination of a community collaboration of artists, city and school district leaders, founders, and funders,” says WICA Board Vice Chair Kathy Wilson. “These 30 years have produced bold and innovative programming, magical experiences and a commitment to partnerships with other nonprofits in support of their work. We are setting the stage for the next 30 years of inspiration in this precious place we call home. Your support makes this all happen.”
In preparation for the celebrations later this year and to ensure the sustainability of the arts organization into the future, WICA is embarking on a comprehensive and strategic renovation, set to begin in January.
“WICA has been a beacon for the arts for decades,” says Executive Artistic Director Deana Duncan. “During that time, we’ve grown as an organization, both in our programming and in the organization’s physical space. As we look ahead to what the future of the arts looks like in this region, we recognize the need to continue to grow and adapt—ensuring WICA remains an integral part of our community. This begins with a renovation that will take WICA into the next three decades.”
The renovation, which will begin after the curtain closes on the Whidbey Island Film Festival on January 18, will include:
New flooring in the lobby and new carpet throughout the lobby and Mainstage
New paint throughout the lobby and Mainstage
A refreshed lobby space
New Mainstage seating
A new stage floor, stage curtains, and acoustic paneling in the Mainstage
The new theatre seating, which will replace the 30-year-old chairs in the Mainstage, will upgrade the patron experience with a new look and feel that will elevate the space. Patrons are invited to take part in a new chair campaign, with naming rights available for the seating. To learn more about this, contact WICA’s Development Manager Rachel Cook at Rachel.Cook@WICAonline.org.
WICA will remain open throughout the renovation, with programming moving to the organization’s black box theatre, Zech Hall. Throughout February, the Local Artist Series will bring in a fresh lineup of community favorites, sharing everything from jazz to acoustic sets within the warm and welcoming Zech Hall space. In addition to the Local Artist series and other community events, WICA’s production of Murder on the Links will open on February 20 in Zech Hall for a three-week production run. Within the intimate setting of Zech Hall, patrons will experience an up-close look at theatre in this Hercule Poirot mystery by Stephen Dietz. Directed by Lani Brockman, recently of WICA’s The Cake and Fiddler on the Roof, this witty take on Agatha Christie’s iconic detective will leave viewers wondering whodunit up until the very end.
In March, WICA’s Mainstage and lobby will reopen with an evening performance by Whidbey Island Orchestra, the first programming event scheduled for the renovated spaces. Celebrations will continue into May, with the anniversary weekend featuring The Rural Characters and Heggenes Valley Band on May 14 and 15 followed by Whidbey Island Orchestra events May 16 and 17. On May 28, WICA will be welcoming GRAMMY-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader Christian McBride & Ursa Major to the Mainstage with music that spans jazz, R&B, hip-hop, pop, and classic traditions. The first half of 2026 will be impactful at WICA, with the organization focused on ensuring it remains an essential part of the fabric of our community.
“As we prepare to celebrate 30 years of outstanding performances and art, we look back with gratitude for those who put their heart and soul into making WICA so great,” says WICA Board Chair Peter Ehrlichman. “We thank all those who are supporting our center for the arts at this time, ensuring it remains the gem of South Whidbey for years to come.”