FARMINGTON — Residents interested in the proposed Emery Community Arts Center are invited to a series of informal informational sessions being held at the University of Maine at Farmington.

“We want to make sure everyone in the community can see the plans and a 3D model of the art center for themselves,” said Mary Sylvester, UMF director of alumni relations and university advancement.

Prior to the Planning Board’s scheduled walk over the site at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, an information session takes place at 2 p.m. in the president’s conference room on the first floor of Merrill Hall.

The public is welcome to walk over the site with the town’s board. Stakes will outline the proposed footprint of the building.

Two other sessions are planned, including one at 7:30 a.m. Friday, July 31, in a conference room at Ferro Alumni Center on Main Street and another at 7 p.m. Aug. 5 also at Ferro Alumni Center. Different times were chosen to make the meetings more available and to fit in with different schedules, Sylvester said.

The proposed arts center will feature a 100-seat multipurpose performance space, two smaller exhibit/performance spaces, an outdoor theater and an indoor courtyard, which doubles as a lobby and exhibition space.

During these planned session, those who are interested can see the architectural drawings and model for themselves and ask questions, Sylvester said.

“It’s always interesting to see it for yourself and become informed,” she said.

The proposed space reflects plans created for a center to be shared by the university and community. An anonymous gift of $5 million was given to fund the project.

abryant@sunjournal.com