San Jose Arts Groups Get $1 Million to Fund Projects

This is pretty substantial news. Five Bay Area arts organizations were selected for national grants. 1st ACT Silicon Valley and ZER01 each collected $500k, meaning that San Jose raked in more arts-related funds than either SF or Berkeley from this program.

I'm particularly excited about what 1stACT is planning to do with their grant. Read below!

San Jose, CA: 1stACT Silicon Valley

The development of Gore Park into an urban plaza and outdoor living room in the SoFA (South First Area) district of downtown San Jose will connect four significant local arts institutions and advance the evolution of Silicon Valley's urban center. The Park is the capstone of a project that includes the ArtPlace-supported ZER01, transforming the SoFA district and leveraging more than $60 million in City of San Jose redevelopment funds.

"The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art has been committed to the SoFA district for more than 30 years. This project will allow us to extend our programming and our motto, 'make art here,' beyond the walls of the building to activate the entire district." - Cathy Kimball, Executive Director, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art

"SoFA is beginning to pop and transforming Gore Park will take the work that's been done to a new level." - Connie Martinez, Managing Director/CEO, 1stACT Silicon Valley

"The transformation of Gore Park into an 'outdoor living room' for the arts organizations in SoFA will create a unique gathering place in downtown San Jose for both residents and visitors. It will leverage the investment that the City and our partners have made in cultivating a vibrant arts and entertainment district in the Downtown and realize a major element of the vision for SoFA." - Kim Walesh, Director of the Office of Economic Development, City of San Jose

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Joshua Russell

Director of Communications & Emerging Initiatives

1stACT Silicon Valley

408-200-2020 ext. 104

San Jose Underground Food Market Tomorrow!

Chowhound got the scoop on all of the food vendors coming to SoFA tomorrow as part of Zer01's street fair:

Fri 9/17/10 San Jose Underground Market!

We're getting a SJ Underground Market in conjunction with AbsoluteZER0 Street Festival - 2010 01SJ Biennial. I've tried Kitchen Sidecar which makes a good banh mi burger. What else should I try?

Vendor list for this Fridays Underground Market in San Jose below.

Where: S 1st st between San Carlos and Reed St. , San Jose

When: Friday, Sept 17th, from 5pm-midnight

Allison Hobson
Golden Roots Catering
Culture of Change
Fresh Bite Baking
Bakesale Fruit Crisps
Bread Project
Good Foods Catering
Venga Paella
CoCoTutti
Fat Alley Foods
Jeannie’s Jam’s
Sweet Francisco
Luscious Liquids
Kitchen Sidecar
Kitty’s Kreations
Zukra Bakery
Thrive Holistic
JERK. (Matterson’s Authentic Jamaican Cuisine)
SF Delicious Catering
Saucy Dumplings
A Humble Plate
California Cane & Fruit Co.
Dr. Steve’s Magic
Socola Chocolatier
Hella Vegan Eats
Mali Num Num Treats
Angela’s Blackbottom cakes
Empenada de mi pueblo
HEARTBAKER
Good Foods Catering
Raw Daddy Foods ‘ jimmi jam’
Suite Foods
Cocoa Blossom Chocolaterie
Sajen Foods
Jaya
Farm Curious
Rokas Armonas
Nosh This
Tamale Nation
Sweet Lauren
Earth Alchemy Chocolate