By David Kilby, Staff Writer
MONROE — The Cranbury Arts Council will host a spring gala in a week to raise awareness of its mission to support, foster, promote and inspire artists and art appreciation.
The gala will be Saturday, March 26, from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Crowne Paza, 390 Forsgate Drive. There will be live music by the Robert Mudock Band, an open bar, dinner and a silent art auction. Tickets are $100. Proceeds will benefit all Cranbury Arts Council programs.
The Robert Mudock Band has played for the council on a number of different occasions, including several of the past Cranstock concerts, which are free, outdoor concerts in the fall featuring local talent.
The art auction at the gala will showcase works from local artists. The silent auction will feature items donated by area business and residents, which include gift items, decorative pieces, gift certificates, sporting events tickets, private Pilates sessions, hair and nail salon certificates, just to name a few, said council Committee Chairwoman Joanne Hanson.
”It will be a wonderful night to benefit a very worthy organization,” she said. “All are welcome to attend.”
The council held its inaugural gala fundraiser back in 1997 in attempt to raise additional money for the organization. The last one held was in 2007.
The council is supported by many patrons in town, including Hill Wallack LLP, a law firm that has given a monetary donation as well as 15 tickets to a Trenton Thunder Game to be given out at the gala.
Several businesses and organizations have donated to the council’s cause as well.
Extra Innings of Cranbury, an indoor baseball and softball training center, donated a one-year Grand Slam membership, which includes private lessons, a half-hour tunnel rental per week and more.
Other Cranbury businesses that have donated to the gala include Optimal Exercise, Cranbury Therapeutic Massage, Pool & Spa Place, Cranbury Farms, Village Cupcake, Lenox, Main Street Interiors, MHZ Design and Zinna’s Bistro.
The council holds many events and programs. It hosts the Youth Shelter Arts Program, an arts enrichment curriculum at the Middlesex County Youth Shelter, a 24-hour live-in facility for at-risk teens. Through this program, participants receive high school credit for their participation in poetry and visual arts exercises.
The council also hosts the Art and Technology Camp, a summer day camp for grades kindergarten through nine that offers classes in theater, dance, music, fashion design, computer graphics, woodworking and other art forms.
Art in the Park, another program the council offers, is a monthly plein air program held from May to October where a professional artist lends support and a critical eye to artists of all ages.
This spring, the council will host a digital media workshop every Thursday from April 7 to 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Room 65 of the Cranbury School.
The workshop will teach Mac users how to organize their digital photos and videos. All hardware and software for the workshop will be provided.
The cost is $100 or $90 for members. Deadline for registration is March 31.
The council also confers a scholarship award to a graduating high school senior and a Cranbury School eighth-grader who have shown a passion for the arts. It also provides scholarships on an as-needed basis to students enrolled in the Art and Technology Camp.
In addition to its programs, the council is in charge of the Gourgaud Gallery in Town Hall.
The gallery hosts monthly exhibits by local artists and is also the venue for numerous programs, including poetry readings, art classes and musical performances.
The gallery features new art every month and hosts an artist reception the first Sunday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m.
The council also hosts the annual Candlelight Picnic Concert, a two-day celebration held in September featuring the talents of a variety of local musicians.
For information on the council or to sign up for the gala, visit www.cranburyartscouncil.org or call Ms. Hansen at 609-395-9111.

