This weekend marks Whidbey Island Center for the Arts’ seventh anniversary, and to celebrate WICA has planned three events to usher in the summer arts season.

Anniversary weekend kicks off Friday with the world premier screening of the Melissa Etheridge concert movie “Live and Alone.” Saturday is a fun-filled night to raise money for local artists, emceed by Mister Conductor of Fun himself, Jim Freeman. And closing the weekend Sunday is a tasty tease of WICA’s upcoming production of Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile.

The Locals for Locals Concert is predicted to be the big shebang of the weekend, and Shelley Sharp, marketing director for WICA hopes people know the significance of the night.

“It’s a great thing for the community, and not many people realize the show supports local artists in a big way,” Sharp said.

Ticket sale profits from Locals for Locals fund the local artists series for the 2003-04 season. Concert series performers receive free rent and box office fees at WICA. In addition, the artists keep all admission collected for the shows. According to Sharp, if a show sells out this can amount to as much as $3,000 per show.

Sharp won’t spill the beans about who has been chosen for the concert series, because that surprise is saved for Saturday night. But she will divulge the jury made a diverse selection of acts that WICA hasn’t seen before. Previous concert series performers have included storyteller Jill Johnson and popular local band, The Rural Characters.

Because of her sold-out Local Artists Series performance last year, Johnson has been able to expand her storytelling craft and performance schedule to include Anacortes, Seattle, Coupeville as well as this summer’s family series. Johnson also looks to produce a CD and video of the story of Berte Olsen.

“Performing in the series is a jumping off point for a number of things that can help artists,” Johnson said.

Sharp said WICA has invited acts to perform for the Locals for Locals that have been crowd favorites in the past, and now she’s just waiting for ticket sales to speed up.

Locals for Locals concert attendees are more likely to recognize blues singer and guitarist Ryan LaPlante’s voice than his face. LaPlante was the man behind the plant when he voiced the part of Audrey II in WICA’s production of Little Shop of Horrors.

Latin jazz band Bahia will also spice up the stage Locals for Locals night. Bahia has been offering up its “tropical sound from Puget Sound” since 1997. Traditional jazz fans will appreciate the group’s straight-ahead selections while Bahia also thumps out fun favorites sure to please newbies to the jazz genre.

Bahia was selected for the Local Artists series two years ago, and band member Dale Fuentes said the group is performing Saturday to help give back to the venue that has given so much to the community.

“I’ve played all around the world and right here in Langley we have one of the best venues I’ve played. You just can’t beat the feeling of community and arts we have here,” Fuentes said.

Cowboy poet Marshall MacElveen speaks from experience. MacElveen grew up on a cattle ranch in Western Colorado and has been a bullrider and professional cowboy all across the West.

“I’ve always been a storyteller and this has become a way for me to communicate something I think this world is missing,” MacElveen said.

His poetry talks of the natural cycle of things and the working partnership of humans and animals that is often only approached from the human aspect, according to the poet. All of this complete with a twang of cowboy humor.

Sunday WICA dishes up a “Taste of Italy” at Trattoria Giuseppe Restaurant. Lovers of theater and fine food can sit down over a bowl of antipasti, sip on vini, and mellow out to the sounds of accordians and violin music by Susanne Ohrivik. Diners can get an up close glimpse of “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” which will make its WICA run May 30 – June 14. The number of seats that are filled Saturday and Sunday will determine how much help this year’s series artists receive.

“Last year only 85 people turned out for the Locals for Locals concert, and we would love to fill the house to raise money for the local artists,” Sharp said.

For more information about the WICA anniversary weekend visit www.wicaonline.com.