After a year-long hiatus, Inside, the beloved BIPOC-centered open mic series, is returning to Seattle, this time in partnership with Colman Commons in the historic Colman Building. For founder Sierra-Leone Jones, the comeback represents the restoration of a sanctuary for Black and brown creative expression.

Today, we had the absolute privilege of welcoming Laura Clise, Founder and CEO of Intentionalist. Guided on an insider walkthrough by Colman Commons Director Ashleigh McCurdy, Laura got a first look at our venue’s versatile layout and experienced an intimate, one-on-one preview of master artist Takiyah Ward’s upcoming exhibit, RETROspective.