A Right Sized Venue
Listening to what people need. That was the essential lesson Dirk Koning learned in Africa, when he offered high technology to a village that really only wanted a bell to communicate.
The Koning Micro-Cinema was born of a similar willingness to listen and respond. Although there was a desire to make use of Wealthy Theatre’s welcoming space, our 400-seat Wege Auditorium proved too large for some events. So, we sought advice, considered our options, and created a plan for a second venue: smaller, technologically advanced, comfortable and affordable.
Yet we couldn’t have gone much further without the help of others. Commitments of materials, expertise, dollars and volunteer labor came readily from the following: Bob Goodrich (Goodrich Quality Theaters); Win Irwin (Irwin Seating); Bill Brunner (Paradigm Design); Bill Bainbridge; Thriller Chiller; West Michigan Film & Video Alliance; Nation of Islam; Sound Post; and many others. In August 2007, we began digging. Turning an under-used room into a dynamic space for small events became a community effort and a labor of love. The 60-seat Koning Micro-Cinema opened for use in early 2008.