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 that drives the small but mighty team of the SJCA forward. With only two full-time staff members and one part-time staffer, the team has achieved the unthinkable — a nearly one thousand percent growth in membership in under a year, and they’re still growing!
It was under Hain's direction that the organization began one of SJCA’s major initiatives, the South Jersey Cultural Asset Map (SJ CAMP). The map has evolved into a robust resource, cataloging nearly 1,000 cultural sites, organizations, and individual artists from the region. Hain highlighted the project’s impact, saying it has become “a vital tool for connecting diverse communities and empowering cultural workers.” SJCA has leveraged SJ CAMP to support various groups, including BIPOC, Hispanic, LGBTQ+, and disabled communities, fostering inclusivity across the arts sector. When the mapping project began, SJCA membership was hovering around 65 member organizations. However, as the map grew, so did membership, reaching 1,500 members in less than one year.
Hain credits this shift in approach to the effects of the 2020 pandemic. Typically, resources like this would be built via events and community outreach. However, once the nationwide lockdown was implemented, that approach was no longer viable. The new way of life forced new thought processes and new approaches to community and connection.
It is important to note that throughout the state, regions and even smaller locales can feel very siloed by county and city dynamics, and often don’t see themselves as part of larger, more intricately entwined and interdependent ecosystems. But when a region, like South Jersey, can see itself as unified and interconnected, we have the opportunity to cultivate strength in our unified voice to bolster local and statewide advocacy efforts, strengthen collaboration, and improve arts experiences for communities. The work of SJCA is a case study of how this essential organizing work can be successful in both large and small ways, how it is always evolving, and how it can inspire ongoing connectivity — locally, regionally, and statewide.
If you’re looking to SJCA as a model for your own community organizing, Hain's advice boils down to adaptability. “As a small organization, you have to stay adaptable. A lot of what we do is what I call ‘planting seeds.’ We go into communities that have emerging arts scenes and we provide them resources and have them understand the network and the landscape around them to make the right connections so they can tap into support from places like the NJ State Council on the Arts, the NJ Council on the Humanities and the Historical Commission, and the NJ Arts and Cultural Renewal Fund. There are so many resources that people don’t know they can be tapping into. It’s our job to boil that down and provide it to people whether they are patrons or people working in the field.”
Evident within moments of speaking to her, it is clear that Hain's loves, and lives, her work. The passion required to lead a two-person team to success is impressive. Along with SJCA Membership and Programs Manager Shoanne Siejas, the two have much to be proud of, but they remain grounded and focused on their common goal.
“We want to let people know that SJCA is here to be their voice. We are in conversations with all of these statewide entities doing these big projects. So if they can’t connect directly, they can connect with us and bring their messaging to those folks in our strategic partner organizations. We’ve got great partners that keep us informed, and an active community that contributes. That’s how we make it work.”
What makes their goals achievable is right there in their name: alliance, defined by Merriam-Webster as “an association to further the common interests of the members.” Creating a network, a community, an alliance is pivotal to disseminating a message. Lean on organizations and passionate individuals around you and find methods in which you can promote and assist one another. We are all interconnected.
Shoanne Seijas is proud to share that “over the past few years, the South Jersey Cultural Alliance (SJCA) has launched several impactful initiatives to strengthen connections and support for the arts community in Southern New Jersey.”
One of those initiatives, and by far the most popular, the Connector Program, hires local artists to provide resources and information that help bridge their county-specific communities with SJCA. This program enables the SJCA to better understand and address the direct needs of the field. Through the Connector Program, they have celebrated success stories of participating artists who have gone on to secure part-time or full-time roles in arts nonprofits, either with SJCA or their partner organizations.
With more to boast, they were awarded $90,000 in micro-grants to Southern New Jersey artists in 2023 and 2024. These grants have directly supported artists, allowing them to continue and expand their work. In 2023, SJCA was honored with the Los Amigas Award from the Hispanic Association of Atlantic County in recognition of its efforts to diversify its membership, making it younger and more inclusive.
SJCA is also a proud partner in initiatives such as Revolution NJ and the New Jersey Historical Commission, promoting regional marketing opportunities for South Jersey organizations. To enhance the visibility and connection within their community, SJCA encourages all members to update their profiles on their digital Cultural Assets Map. A complete and robust profile strengthens the collective reach and impact of their current and future initiatives. You can update your profile by visiting their website here.
Additionally, below you can see the three-year plan laid out by the South Jersey Cultural Alliance. May it inspire your work and encourage you to align yourself within their network.
To review membership benefits and become a member, visit the SCJA website here.
SJCA Strat Plan Summary FY24-27.pdf
