Voices From the Field

In preparing to write this article about the importance of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (NJEDA) funding and investment in the arts, I visited their website to learn more about their programming. The bevy of readily available information makes it clear just how much the NJEDA is doing to spark economic development in New Jersey through innovative strategies that are serving as a...

The nonprofit world and the arts world have been upended in recent months as the new administration’s policy changes have begun to take effect. A number of executive orders have been enacted since the beginning of the new term in January, so many that it can be difficult to track. The Americans for the Arts Action Fund has done a great job of breaking down the timeline and cataloging these orders...

Housing instability in New Jersey is rising at an alarming rate. Over 1 in 4 families do not have any emergency savings at all, creating economic struggle and the inability to afford basic necessities. While these facts are unsettling, organizations are working overtime to battle these conditions and support their community. HomeFront — founded by Connie Mercer and located in Lawrenceville, New...

The daunting task of building a nonprofit organization from the ground up is not for the faint of heart, as Cheryl Brass could attest. Brass is the Creator and Program Coordinator of the newly minted East Brunswick Symphony Orchestra. In her quest to grow the young organization, Brass thought first to partner with the dynamic conductor Nate White as her Artistic Director, and then with the city of...

“I sometimes feel like this, and I really feel a lot of courage after seeing this performance.” 5th grade student, Bridgewater, NJ These were the words of a student who’d just experienced an assembly performance “A Seat for Rosa,” performed by Yearning To Learn Inc through Young Audiences New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania (YANJEP or simply Young Audiences). In the performance, a child tells his...

“How do we, not just advocate for money going to the artist, but how do we support the whole artist? How do we support affordable housing, affordable healthcare, how do we think about providing access to resources and information? How do we think about funding actual opportunities for rest? Because artists need time to rest, regroup, and strategize to create their art.” Deonté Griffin-Quick speaks...

A round of applause. A standing ovation. Our passionate, talented, and dedicated arts sector deserves no less — not just for the world-class performances, artistic experiences, and visual pieces that grace theaters, galleries, and communities all across the state of New Jersey — but also for the tremendous advocacy work that happened this past June to maintain historic state funding of $31.9...

The mission of the South Jersey Cultural Alliance is that it “connects, empowers, and advocates for artists, communities, and organizations to promote engagement and investment in arts and history in our region.” As Julie Hain, Executive Director of the South Jersey Cultural Alliance, states, “South Jersey is unique and we want to be recognized and celebrated for our uniqueness.” It is that belief...

Emanating passion, it is hard to ignore the exuberance of the Jersey City Theater Center matriarch, Olga Levina. I had the pleasure of speaking with her for just under an hour and in that time, I became enamored with the ardor and dedication which Levina brings to her work. Admittedly, she brought me to tears a number of times as I listened to her speak of her purpose with an intensity beholden to...

The United States recognizes eleven federal holidays, the most recent of which is Juneteenth. The name is a contraction of “June Nineteenth,” commemorating the milestone juncture in which federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation which had been issued by President Abraham Lincoln a full two years prior. The harsh reality of history proves...