Walking repeatedly past a decrepit North End Boise church, Treasure Valley Institute for Children's Arts founder Jon Swarthout kept seeing something nobody else did. Not a nuisance property. Not a ruin.
This space can be a gem again. TRICA could hold classes here. The community could engage in the arts in new ways. The space at 15th and Eastman could become a community hub of education and magic for everyone to enjoy.
Founded in the 1990s, TRICA's purpose is to create meaningful experiences in the arts with outstanding and loving educators who inspire the children of the Treasure Valley to develop attitudes and values that contribute to a stronger sense of community, humanity and goodwill. The TRICA team includes preschool teachers, summer school educators, elementary school classroom instructors, administrators, event organizers and a board of directors focused on arts, education and community benefit.
After two years of pursuing the church, Jon worked out a plan to purchase and remodel the space. The former Immanuel Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1907 for a large, active Boise congregation that worshipped together for decades before the building eventually fell into disrepair and became the site of illegal activity. Many neighbors still remember it as an unsafe nuisance property. It was listed as one of the Top 10 Most Endangered and Threatened Historic Sites in the State of Idaho.
"By 2005, TRICA had been working consistently with Treasure Valley schools and had grown into an established summer dance program," Swarthout shares. "However, I knew that in order for TRICA to grow, the company would need a permanent home." After two years of negotiations, TRICA acquired the Romanesque-Baroque stone cathedral in 2007 and embarked upon the dream of transforming it into a children's center for learning through the arts.
Fourteen years, $7.5 million and more than 2,500 donations from foundations, corporations and individuals later, the doors opened. The completely remodeled structure stands as a testament to vision, historic preservation and the repurposing of spaces for new uses. Something for which the community is thankful.
TRICA is a delightful and electrifying space — a safe place where children soar to new heights, feel energized and creative, and at the same time loved and safe. Programs include a Preschool for the Arts, Summer Arts Camps for students ages 3 to 9, Capture the Castle after-school programming and various in-school opportunities. Since opening in 2021, TRICA has also hosted professional arts organizations, weddings, church services and community events ranging from bingo nights to the beloved Maypole Market.
Over 29 years, TRICA has impacted more than 500,000 children and families in Idaho. This December, the annual Snow Globe returns — an immersive art experience families return to year after year.
For Snow Globe tickets visit trica.org/snowglobe. For preschool information visit trica.org/preschool-of-the-arts. To rent the TRICA facilities visit trica.org/events.