About

Where do you want your art?
Where do you want to create?
Where do you want to learn?
Where do you want to work?
Where do you want to BE?

We’re envisioning something for the future of Mt Pleasant and mid-Michigan. Something that expands access to creativity, collaboration, learning, and wellness. Something that is greater than the sum of its parts, where people can be inspired and learn from the local talent that already exists in our region. To that end, community groups and organizations, beginning with Mid Michigan College, will partner to create The Pickard.

The Pickard will house a collection of learning, event, and maker spaces that broaden community members’ access to lifelong learning and personal enrichment. The building will function as a social, professional, and recreational hub that promotes creativity, connection, and well-being.

The Pickard is about collaboration and spirit. By combining the talents and expertise of its affiliates, the space can provide classes and services for many interests—cooking, crafting, art, music, technology, industrial, and more—from experts. The Pickard will promote improved well-being by offering members beautiful and flexible working and meeting environments with access to business amenities. The Pickard will promote continual growth and practice by providing both structured courses and studio/maker spaces for drop-in member use.

Let’s make something good together!

What are the specifics of The pickard?

There are a number of possibilities about what The Pickard might offer, but its final construct will depend on the needs that community members and local businesses identify. Depending on that feedback and the industries that partner with Mid Michigan College, The Pickard may feature some or all of the following:

Event space for cultural or recreational gatherings
Concerts
Shows
Speaker Series

Performances

Venue space for rent by individuals or corporations

Professional work spaces
Innovative meeting spaces for team building and corporate retreats
Open main floor with access to business amenities

Classrooms for instruction in
Visual and performing arts
Health and wellness
Fitness and recreation
Music
Technology and industry trades
Digital literacy
Monetizing creative projects
Culinary arts

Maker spaces and labs
Crafting areas
Wood / machine shops
Incubator kitchen
Sewing and design studios
Computer labs
3D rendering and printing
Prototyping and testing

Audio/Visual studio and recording and production spaces

Gallery / retail spaces

Showcases for local art and goods produced by students and members of The Pickard

Annual art shows and craft fairs

Membership and Community Member Benefits

The Pickard will offer a membership model and also allow for public access to events, courses, studios, and exhibits/retail spaces. For a monthly fee, members will receive discounts on classes and events, along with drop-in access to studios and recreational and work spaces. The general public can register for courses, events, or services of their choosing.

The Pickard will offer its members a better way of working. More than ever, people suffer from stress-related illnesses, much of which is derived from their employment. The Pickard’s beautiful spaces and access to business technologies allow for a modernized approach to heading to the office. Community work spaces, designed to promote creativity and offer amenities that relieve stress are taking off. WeWork’s success attests to the benefits of this approach. Read a Forbe’s article about how these models can improve mental health in business settings.

The event space will accommodate 300+ people, and can be rented for private or corporate use.

The facility will showcase local talent through gallery spaces and a retail area featuring products made by The Pickard’s students and members.

Why is The Pickard good for Mt Pleasant?

Increased Capacity for Personal Enrichment

The Mt Pleasant community already offers a number of community educational offerings, which are hosted by numerous businesses and organizations. But often, those opportunities are limited by the business’ available space and resources. The Pickard building and its affiliation with Mid Michigan College can increase service capacity by supplying equipment, space, and technology so that providers can expand their reach and their services.

Increased Awareness for Programs Across a Wide Spectrum of Interests

The Pickard can increase synergies between the many excellent programs already offered in Mt Pleasant. By bringing together a diverse range of interests and topics, it can raise overall community awareness and access to programs to which they may not otherwise have been exposed. Imagine learning about a yoga retreat after your cooking class, or being invited to a Setting Up Your Online Store course while you learn sewing techniques.

Centralized communication and marketing about offerings both at The Pickard and off-site at partner locations concentrates attention on Mt Pleasant’s enrichment offerings.

Increased Participation Because of Easier Access (One-Stop-Shop)

The Pickard’s membership model will allow easy exploration of both current interests and those that members may not otherwise consider.

Increased well-being

Participation in arts, crafts, fitness, and community learning is about more than picking up a new skill or honing one you already have. Research indicates that there are clear physical and emotional benefits. We are the purest forms of ourselves when we create and can fully embrace the present. Connecting to one another under these conditions propels flourishing and supportive communities.

Lifelong Learning

Mid Michigan College has been a leader in educating mid-Michigan residents since 1968. Its offerings include industry trainings, licensures and certifications, apprenticeships, enrichment courses like artistic welding and birdwatching, and credit-bearing college courses that comprise associate degrees.

As The Pickard’s initial and primary affiliate, the College will bring its accreditations and expertise to learning opportunities.

The Pickard will offer more than personal interest courses. It will also host training sessions that yield industry certifications or licenses and provide learning pathways that connect personal interests to College credits.