But never fear, plenty of smaller, cutting-edge art organizations have benefits on the calendar, many offering the chance to buy artworks as well as enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres. A last-minute sampling of several coming up during the next week or two:

* May 4, 2009: Artseen: An Auction to Benefit the New York Foundation for the Arts, featuring cocktails -- bars coordinated by the Bubble Lounge -- and a silent auction of works by NYFA-affiliated artists. The event is being hosted by Friedrich Petzel Gallery at 537 West 22nd Street in Chelsea. Tickets begin at $100. For info, see www.nyfa.org

* May 5, 2009: Storefront for Art and Archtecture 2009 Spring Benefit, honoring architecture dealer Max Protetch and artist Madelon Vriesendorp, takes place at the Standard hotel at 848 Washington Street, and features a silent auction of works by artists ranging from Vito Acconci and Tony Feher to Lebbeus Woods and Andrea Zittel. Tickets start at $125. For more info, see www.storefrontnews.org.

* May 5, 2009: The Yaddo New York City Benefit, with Sam Waterston as master of ceremonies and performance artist John Kelly as special guest, takes place at the Tribeca Rooftop in Lower Manhattan and features a benefit auction of Yaddo photographers. Tickets range from $350 to $1,000. For more info, click here.

* May 6, 2009: Momenta Benefit 2009 is being held at Sara Meltzer Gallery, 525-531 West 26th Street, and features both a raffle and an auction, with tickets priced at $225 (every ticket buyer wins an artwork). For details, and to preview artworks, go to http://momentaart.org

* May 6, 2009: Creative Time’s annual benefit, with the theme "Getting Lucky," honors art patrons Melva Bucksbaum and Raymond Learsy with cocktails, dinner, dancing and a silent and live auction at the 69th Regiment Armory at 68 Lexington Avenue between East 25th and East 26th Streets. The event has more than a dozen co-chairs, including Mark Bradford, Beth Rudin DeWoody and Malcolm McLaren, and the auction includes donated works by Wade Guyton, Enoc Perez, Laurie Simmons and Emily Jacir. Tickets begin at $1,000. For more info, see www.creativetime.org

* May 11, 2009: Strike III: The 4th Annual Visual AIDS Vanguard Awards Spring Benefit takes place at the 300 New York bowling alley at the Chelsea Piers. Mistress of ceremonies Karen Finley introduces three honorees -- Douglas Crimp, Nayland Blake and Hunter Reynolds. Tickets begin at $250. For more info, click here.

* May 12, 2009: "Welcome to Gulu" Exhibition and Benefit Art Sale, marking the appointment of Ross Bleckner as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, at the United Nations Delegates Dining Room at the U.N., First Avenue and East 46th Street. Artworks made by Ugandan children an art-therapy workshop, conducted by Ross Bleckner, will be sold to benefit child victims of human trafficking. Tickets start at $250. For more info, contact monasebian@un.org

* May 14, 2009: The Aljira Fine Art Auction 2009 kicks off at Aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art at 591 Broad Street in Newark. The auction offers works by John Ahearn, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Tom Otterness and others. Admission is $75. For info, see www.aljira.org

* May 16, 2009: The White Columns 40th Anniversary Benefit Auction takes place at White Columns, 320 West 13th Street, and features donated artworks by artists ranging from Rita Ackermann and Carol Bove to Fred Wilson and Christopher Wool. Tickets start at $150; for more info, contact info@whitecolumns.org

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