Ralph Finaldi SICA, the Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts in Long Branch, will get by with a little help from its friends.
SOS (Save Our SICA), a benefit for the center for contemporary art, music, video and spoken word, will be held May 12, 5-11 p.m., at its home at 120 Third Ave.
Funds raised will go toward bringing the center up to date on mortgage payments for its vintage industrial building, a former canning factory.
SOS will feature continuous music by musicians who have volunteered to help SICA stay afloat. When Executive Director Doug Ferrari e-mailed musicians that have played at SICA, telling them that the arts center is in a rough spot and asking if a few of them would donate their time toward the benefit, the response was an outpouring of support.
“Over the course of the next week, we heard back from 15 musicians and bands wanting to help,” he said.
Coming out to entertain at the SOS fundraising event are: Brian Amsterdam, Arnie Baird, Christian Beach, Ronnie Brandt, Alex Brumel, Michael Ferentino, Spike Ivory, Kate & Emily, Terri Little, Allie Moss, The Riffsurfers, Ken Shane, Michelle Vecchione, Jay Wilensky and Asbury Music Award 2005 Poet Laureate Tony Tedesco.
Light fare and beverages will be donated by Cask 591 restaurant and Freddie’s, both Long Branch, and Readie’s Fine Foods, Red Bank. Reservations are $35, $25 for members, and may be made by calling (732) 263-1121.
SICA’s mission is to increase public accessibility, awareness, appreciation and knowledge of the contemporary arts. Open for less than two years, it has quickly become a rising center for the arts in New Jersey. In 2005 SICA held an astonishing 37 courses, seminars and workshops; nine first-rate exhibitions; 87 musical events in the caf; five spoken word (poetry) events; six speaker series events; the annual artX, a two-day festival of art, performance, music, film and video art; and hosted nine Black Box film forums, three “Music of Invention” series events, and 13 other activities facilitated by SICA for groups from throughout central New Jersey.
These events directly engaged 821 artists and 183 volunteers. A conservative estimate of attendance at SICA events last year is more than 4,900 visitors.
“We have had a wonderfully successful start – programmatically,” said Ferrari. “There are currently no institutions like SICA in central New Jersey, and we strongly believe that our activities fill a great cultural void while creating an important economic stimulant for the area. But we need help to continue!”
Visit www.sica.org to learn more about SOS, sponsorship opportunities, becoming a member or volunteer.