St. Louis’ Center of Creative Arts has the blues.
On Saturday, March 1, from 7 to 11 p.m., COCA will be hosting COCAloco 2008. The fundraiser’s theme this year is “Bourbon and Blues.”
For the event, COCA will be transformed into a blues club and will feature soul food and a performance from 17-year-old musician Marquise Knox, a St. Louis native and an already-accomplished blues performer.
“One of the event co-chairs had seen Marquise Knox and his band perform at the Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival and was blown away by his talents,” said Alison Melnik, special events coordinator. “We booked him right away.”
Also performing is COCAdance, a student dance company housed within the center.
The event will be co-hosted by ArtLink, a St. Louis organization created to connect the younger generation to the arts; proceeds will go toward COCA’s Urban Arts and Scholarship Programs.
“Urban Arts has been providing arts instruction to students in elementary and middle schools in the City of St. Louis since 1993,” said Tom Wickersham, marketing manager for COCA. “All programming is provided at no cost to the participants and is sustained entirely by contributions from the local community and national funders.”
COCA specializes in drama, dance and visual arts through both in-school and after-school programs, Wickersham said. The organization’s resources are geared towards providing an arts education to children who might not otherwise receive one.
Developer Richard D. Baron created COCA in the late 1980s. After becoming interested in the idea of a center for visual and performing arts, Baron began work with the help of local artists and developers. He purchased and renovated a historic synagogue for the center. For the two decades since, COCA has been working in the St. Louis community.
In addition to food and performances, attendees have a chance to win prizes, including a weekend trip to Memphis for two.
COCA (524 Trinity Ave.) is located near the Delmar Loop. Tickets are $40 in advance and can be purchased by contacting Patty Wommack at [email protected], or $50 at the door. More information can be found at cocastl.org.
