LONG BRANCH – A group of area arts, business and entertainment organizations have joined forces to bring the “TriCity Arts Tour” to the Long Branch, Red Bank and Asbury Park communities.
The tour is set to launch from June 3-8 and is a “living exhibit” highlighting the arts and entertainment events taking place in the three towns.
“The idea is to showcase our area,” said Todd Katz, a principal in the Broadway Arts Center redevelopment project in Long Branch. “It is not just for the people in the community, but it is for people outside the area to come and see what we have to offer.
“It is a very unique situation,” Katz said, explaining, “The three cities have train stations within walking distances from their arts districts.
“Someone can come and stay at the Ocean Place Resort & Spa in Long Branch, hop on the train and head to Red Bank for dinner and then get on the train again and see what is going on in Asbury Park,” Katz said.
The event listings for the premier weekend of the tour can be viewed at www.tricityartstour.com and for more information, visitors and members of the community can call (732) 923-2043.
“Ideally, we would like to turn this into a monthly event to promote the region,” Katz said. “There are always so many events going on.
“This is not just a summer community,” Katz said, adding, “We are a unique year-round community.”
Events listed for the tour include “cutting-edge galleries and professional theater, to film festivals, major outdoor events and the most legendary homegrown music scene in the Garden State.”
In addition to the events listed in the tour, visitors will also be able to experience shopping and dining opportunities in the three towns, according to Katz.
“Visitors can take in a world-premier stage play, discover one-of-a-kind outdoor music and art presentations, explore the region’s most anticipated antiques showcase and sample concerts from classical to classically R&B,” ac- cording to the TriCity Web site.
Jacob L. Jones, director of the Long Branch Urban Enterprise Zone, said at an April 22 meeting in Long Branch that he has received suggestion after suggestion about having the three towns join forces to showcase area events.
“We decided to put a program together that announces and publicizes what the three towns are doing on a specific weekend,” Jones said. “The towns are not adding events or paying for events.
“This is just a way to package what is already happening,” Jones said. “And [the three cities] are not competing with each other. We are just saying that we have these activities and you can come here and make your choices.”
The long-term goal is to promote the region as a destination, Katz said.
“If anyone comes to Long Branch for a weekend, they can come and see all that is happening here and also see that Red Bank and Asbury Park have a lot to offer,” Katz said. “We envision this to be long term.”
The Urban Enterprise Zone offices of Long Branch and Asbury Park, as well as the Arts Coalition of Asbury Park, Red Bank RiverCenter, Red Bank Alive and the Monmouth County Arts Council are presenting the tour.
The groups presenting the tour are offering sponsorship opportunities to help promote the program. Those interested in sponsoring the tour can visit the TriCity Web site for more information.
Event sponsors will have their titles appear in full on all press and promotional materials for the tour, and companies or organizations will be able to maintain a presence at all affiliated events. Also, a predetermined amount of event tickets will be reserved for the sponsor and a predetermined number of rooms at major area hotels will also be reserved.
“Any money that we raise is going purely to promotion,” Katz said. “Each town has already made a commitment that they will sponsor their own events.
“So, all money that comes in is going straight to marketing,” he said.
Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider said he thinks the TriCity tour is a great idea for the area.
“People could come here and go to Asbury Park or Red Bank and never touch a car,” Schneider said.