Voices From the Field

ArtPride regularly invites guest writers to share new perspectives on issues related to the arts community and the many ways the creative industries impact New Jersey.


A Fitting Tribute to Dr. Clement Price

We encourage you to celebrate the life of one of New Jersey's most inspirational advocates at the 35th Anniversary of the Marion Thompson Wright Lecture Series: Curating Black America, on Saturday February 21, 9:30am - 7:00pm. African American history is American history, located at the center of the making of the American Republic. Next year's Marion Thompson Wright Lecture Series entitled...

NJEAL at Leadership Training

Upon being selected and sponsored to attend Building One New Jersey and Together New Jersey's Leadership Training, I hoped to further my knowledge in order to assist in the sustainability and advancement of the Arts in the community in which I live and work, which in turn would have a positive effect on both the State and National levels. I was motivated to attend due to the concern regarding our...

Surprising Results from New NEA Reports

Three reports from the National Endowment for the Arts reveal new findings about the impact of arts and cultural industries on GDP, as well as how and why Americans participate in certain arts activities. The data for the three reports is all from 2012, so for the first time the NEA can show a comprehensive view of a single year in the life of the arts and cultural sector from three different...

ArtPride NJ Welcomes New President & CEO

ArtPride New Jersey–a coalition of arts organizations and individuals that advocates at local, state and national levels for funding, support and recognition of the arts as vital to New Jersey’s quality of life–is pleased to announce two staff changes. Adam Perle, former Vice President of the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, has been hired in the new role of President & CEO with ArtPride...

Burgio/Rittenhouse Memorial Fund

Last year we launched a new way to support ArtPride NJ and grow tomorrow’s advocates by honoring Jane Burgio and Berda Rittenhouse, two exceptional women who are remembered dearly as ardent and leading advocates. We are pleased to report that through the generosity of 32 inaugural friends, the Burgio/Rittenhouse Memorial Fund raised $12,000 to advance this cause. Support for the Burgio/Rittenhouse...

NJEAL at NAMP

I was looking for inspiration...the National Arts Marketing Project Conference was it! An experience that was perfectly timed for the moment. I am in the process of revamping the art series that I present, ArtSpeaks and ArtsTechNJ, and working on two larger initiatives: the creation of a festival managers association and a plan for a local performing arts center. Through ArtPride's support of New...

#AFTACon 2014 in Nashville!

From Arts Education to the Country Music Hall of Fame, from Big Data and Advocacy to Ben Folds, from Creative Placemaking to Hatch Show Prints, the Americans for the Arts Annual Convention was designed to inspire arts leaders from all across the country ... and inspire it did! For nearly 60 years, Americans for the Arts has convened an annual convention for arts and community leaders to network...

We Did It! #FoodWaterAirART

Thanks to all of you, we met our goal and the movement is real! Our wonderful backers will hear from us shortly regarding t-shirt sizes and any other details regarding your perks. We appreciate everyone who has played a part in helping to spread the word that the arts are essential to all of our lives! About our Project: Can art fuel a movement? You bet it can! History is thick with examples of...

Politics Unusual - 7 Revelations from a Newly-Hatched Arts Advocate

On March 24 & 25, 2014, ArtPride NJ gave me the life-changing opportunity to participate in National Arts Advocacy Day in Washington D.C., run by Americans for the Arts, our national arts advocacy group. I and my fellow New Jersey delegates met with our Congressional representatives to advocate for the Arts. As with most revelations, my time in D.C. was a quietly extraordinary experience – one...

Turn Up The Volume! A2160 & S1133

We’ve turned up the heat, now we need to turn up the volume! A2160 and S1133 are written to RESTORE state funding for arts, history and tourism ... dedicated funding that has been eroded over the years. Even when overall revenue has grown, the arts, history, and tourism communities have been working with the minimum amount of funding allowed by law, and we think it only fair that these communities...