For nearly three decades, the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) has been bringing world-renowned artists, lecturers, performers, and productions to its campus in Langley, WA. Today, WICA is excited to announce it has been named as one of the People’s Choice finalists for the Northern Region of the Theatre Puget Sound (TPS) Gregory Awards. With more than 1,000 people voting, WICA was chosen as a Top 5 nominee, with final honorees announced during the October 23, 2023 virtual award celebration.

“We are honored to be considered for this prestigious award,” says Deana Duncan, WICA executive artistic director. “Art is at the heart of our endeavors and to be recognized for this work means so much to us and to our community. We firmly believe the stories we bring to Whidbey Island inspire empathy within all of us and we continue to work to make sure WICA is truly embedded in this community we all love.”

A producing organization with over 120 days of arts, cultural, and educational programming, WICA has more than 250 community volunteers and employs approximately 600 regional, national, and international artists annually. The organization’s two heritage festivals—DjangoFest Northwest and the Whidbey Island Film Festival—bring in more than $325,000 to the local economy. Through Pay-What-You-Will performances and outreach to youth through scholarships, partnerships, programming, and free access to patrons under 18 years old, the organization works to ensure the arts are inclusive and accessible for everyone.

As WICA looks ahead in its 28th season—from launching its Celtic Festival in November to the first Bluegrass Festival in January—the organization is thrilled to be considered for the prestigious TPS award and is committed to continuing to bring world-class programming to Whidbey Island.

To learn more about WICA, please visit wicaonline.org. 

To learn more about the Theatre Puget Sound (TPS) Gregory Awards or to register for the virtual event, please visit theatrepugetsound.org/2023-gregory-awards.