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.


Spotlighting the Heart of Jersey City: Olga Levina

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...

Moorestown Celebrates Juneteenth with Community

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...

Teaching Artist Certificate Now Available Through NJPAC and Rutgers University-Newark Collaboration

As we exit the all-too-short Teacher Appreciation Week, it is only fitting that we continue to honor educators by highlighting the work of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Arts Education Department. In collaboration with Rutgers University-Newark, NJPAC is introducing the new “Teaching Artist Certificate Program.” Marking the first of its kind, thanks to the novel collaboration between a...

On the Hill: NJ Arts Advocacy Day

Once every year, New Jersey arts advocates collectively descend upon Washington D.C, barring those dark times of the pandemic that so many of us try to forget, in order to educate their representatives on the value of the arts. This year’s Arts Advocacy Day took place on March 21, 2024 wherein arts organizations across the state advocated for continued federal funding and legislation in support of...

Speranza Brings Hope to Jersey City

“Speranza” means “hope” and whether or not you were prepared for an Italian lesson today, you’ve gotten one! The Italian word was adopted as the name and calling card for Speranza Theatre when a group of young New School for Drama graduate students were looking to name their newly minted theatre collaboration. In search of a word carrying meaning, that rolled off the tongue, some Italian words...

Exploring 'The Universe of Ben Jones'

Casey Mathern, Ben Jones, and Midori Yoshimoto, during the reception of the Universe of Ben Jones exhibition at the William Paterson University Galleries, September 2023. Photo: Andy Liu. Ben Jones in his studio, Jersey City, NJ, February 2023. Photo: Manuel Acevedo. “I dedicate this catalogue to my grandfather Frank Curtis, who was a working-class Black Man born in Charleston, South Carolina, in...

Icon of Advocacy: Ann Marie Miller Shares Her Most Iconic Moments With ArtPride NJ

In a journey that started in 1995, Ann Marie Miller, Former Director of Advocacy & Public Policy, has been a longtime advocate for New Jersey’s arts and culture community. She’s accomplished a multitude of milestones, big and small, throughout her career. We asked her to share some of her most memorable moments with ArtPride New Jersey, as she looks forward to retirement. Retirement…rewirement...

Newark’s Creative Catalyst Fund, a Case Study in Artistic Resilience

Students participating in the “Piano Bus” program led by Keys 2 Success, General Operating Support grantee through the Creative Catalyst Fund (Image courtesy of Keys 2 Success) In the spring of 2020, artists and cultural institutions across the country were unsure of their future. Recognizing that Newark’s artists and cultural organizations are critical to making the city vibrant and healthy...

High School Thespian Dani Biondi Wins DemocracyWorks Competition

NJ Thespians annually holds an essay competition, DemocracyWorks, in partnership with ArtPride New Jersey, in which high school students who are members of the International Thespian Society are invited to write an essay describing the importance of advocating for theatre education and arts education to elected officials. It is also an opportunity for students to convey their personal stories of...

How a New Trend in Public Art is Creating More Opportunities for Artists

When you think about public art, what comes to mind? A statue of Lady Justice balancing her scales in front of a courthouse? A three-story, abstract sculpture by a famous 20th century artist? Often, big names and big, expensive projects. All well and good, but there is another approach to public art – one that is opening doors for more artists from a greater diversity of backgrounds. When Newark...