Contact The NJ State Council
on the Arts
Mailing Address:
NJ State Council on the Arts
P.O. Box 306
Trenton, NJ 08625-0306

Office Address:
225 West State Street, 4th Floor
Trenton, NJ 08608

Tel: (609) 292-6130
NJ Relay: 711

Email: Feedback@sos.nj.gov
Promoting the Arts & Increasing Participation Statewide
One vitally important way that the Council achieves its goals of service to the needs of the entire state is through a battery of cosponsored programs, strategic partnerships, and initiatives in priority areas, such as increasing arts participation, strengthening the arts industry, fostering cross sector collaborations, supporting arts education, and more. By partnering with other organizations that share the same goals, the Council is able to widen the resources applied to the issue and build a statewide infrastructure of support. These grant funds leverage others and make for more efficient and cost effective use of public funds.
Families First Discovery Pass
Discover Jersey Arts LogoThe New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the New Jersey Historical Commission have partnered with the NJ Departments of Human Services (DHS) and Health (DOH) to launch New Jersey’s Families First Discovery Pass (FFDP) program. This program provides families and individuals enrolled in state assistance programs with free or highly discounted admission to arts and history organizations, venues and programs. The Families First Discovery Pass Program offers broad access to cultural experiences for New Jersey residents and helps cultural organizations engage new audiences with the goal of building long-lasting relationships. Residents who receive benefits through SNAP, WFNJ, Child Care Subsidy and/or WIC are eligible for free or steeply discounted cultural programs throughout the State.
Learn more about the program and participating organizations
Cultural Access Network of New Jersey
Among the Arts Council’s highest priorities is ensuring access to the arts for all New Jerseyans. To that end, in 1992, the Council joined with the New Jersey Theatre Alliance to create what is now called the Cultural Access Network to serve organizations and individuals statewide. Since its inception, the Cultural Access Network has been a multifaceted resource for cultural organizations in making their programs and facilities accessible to seniors and people with disabilities, and in being compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
www.njtheatrealliance.org/access
State of the Arts
State of the Arts has been taking audiences on location with the most creative people in New Jersey and beyond since 1981. The New York and Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award-winnging series features documentary shorts about an extraordinary range of artists – musicians, dancers, playwrights, poets, painters, photographers, and more. State of the Arts visits New Jersey’s best performance spaces – from little-known jazz clubs to outdoor festivals to the state’s exceptional professional theaters. Through video features, newsletters, and social media, State of the Arts is on the frontlines of the creative and cultural worlds of New Jersey, one of the nation’s most diverse and populous states.

State of the Arts is a cornerstone program of NJ PBS, with episodes co-produced by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Stockton University, in cooperation with PCK Media. The series also airs on WNET and ALL ARTS.

View State of the Arts stories and specials online.

To comment or make story suggestions, contact stateoftheartsnj@gmail.com.
NEW JERSEY PUBLIC ART ARCHIVE
City of Dreams Public Art Archive Since the passage of the Public Building Arts Inclusion Act in 1978, New Jersey’s Public Arts Inclusion Program has led to the commissioning and installation of hundreds of artworks in state financed construction projects. The New Jersey State Council on the Arts assists State agencies and universities in the selection of artists for projects including those for NJ TRANSIT’s Transit Arts Program, and major projects like new buildings, renovations, monuments, and memorials. In addition to featuring the many works created through the Public Building Arts Inclusion Act, the State Arts Council seeks to highlight all forms of public art in New Jersey. By undertaking an online archive of public art from across the state, the State Arts Council aims to make New Jersey’s vast collection of art in public spaces easy to find, connect with, and enjoy. The New Jersey Public Art Archive provides open access to works of public art for anyone visiting, studying, or simply passing by, and helps every New Jersey resident locate the art in their own communities. The online archive will continue to grow, as will New Jersey’s collection of inspiring, informative, and reflective works of art.

Visit the New Jersey Public Art Archive.
DISCOVER JERSEY ARTS
discover-jersey-srts Discover Jersey Arts, a collaboration between the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and ArtPride New Jersey, is a multifaceted program dedicated to increasing the awareness of and participation in the arts in New Jersey. Coordinated through the regional Jersey Arts Marketers (JAM) network, this program provides resources for both arts organizations and patrons alike.

Learn more at www.jerseyarts.com.
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Strengthening New Jersey's Cultural Industry
Diversity In Arts Leadership Program
The Diversity in Arts Leadership program (DIAL) matches undergraduate students from backgrounds traditionally untapped for arts leadership with dynamic communities, energetic host arts organizations, and mentors, to guide students' personal and professional growth throughout the summer. In 2022, the nationwide, competitive selection process granted five paid, ten-week-long virtual internships with New Jersey arts organizations.

The DIAL New Jersey experience will offer an intern a full range of opportunities for learning about creative non-profit economies and partnerships while ensuring a close-knit support system for professional growth and discovery in the field of arts administration. This internship is perfect for the versatile and curious intern who will appreciate both an insider view of state level arts and culture policy and more grassroots approaches to the non-profit profession.

The Diversity in Arts Leadership Program in New Jersey is a co-sponsored project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Rowan University, administered in partnership with Americans for the Arts and Rowan Arts Engine.
NJ ARTS AND CULTURE ADMINISTRATORS OF COLOR
The New Jersey Arts and Culture Administrators of Color is a network of professional arts administrators of color dedicated to advancing efforts related to equity, diversity, and inclusion within New Jersey’s arts community. This initiative is a partnership between New Jersey Theatre Alliance, ArtPride New Jersey, and New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

The aim of the Network is to provide self-identified people of color working in the state’s arts organizations a safe space to connect, and a platform to share their expertise, experiences, and creativity. The Network’s objective is to connet, empower, and cultivate professional arts and cultural leaders throughout the Garden State. The program aims to build a community that affords members the opportunity to develop personal and professional connections, share resources, and foster emerging leaders.
Critical Financial Services Program
Critical Financial Services Program Cosponsored with the Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), this program is aimed at gaining a comprehensive understanding of the financial health and trends of the nonprofit arts industry in New Jersey and assisting organizations in achieving greater financial health.
Arts Funder Affinity Group
This network of private and public arts funders from throughout New Jersey was formed in partnership with the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers to foster ongoing conversation, collaboration and networking around issues and priorities facing the field as a whole.
Programs for Artists
The Arts Inclusion Program
Since the passage of the Public Building Arts Inclusion Act in 1978, this program has led to the commissioning and installation of hundreds of artworks in state financed construction projects of State Buildings. Up to 1.5% of the construction budget is set aside for this purpose. The Council assists State agencies and universities in the selection of artists for all projects including those for NJ Transit’s Transit Arts Program and such major projects like new buildings, renovations, monuments, and memorials. Announcements of New Jersey Arts Inclusion Projects are publicized through CaFE and listed under the “Public Art” category when available. With questions about this program, please contact Danielle Bursk or Stephanie Nerbak.
CaFE (Call for Entry):
The Council uses café to give visual artists access to State Arts Inclusion commission opportunities. The free registration provides monthly listings of arts inclusion projects not only for New Jersey but for other states as well. Artists can upload 100 images of their work, resume, bio and more to be used in applying for commissions announced through CaFE. With questions about this program please contact Danielle Bursk or Stephanie Nerbak.
Arts Education Programs and Initiatives
Through the Council's many cosponsored projects in arts education, several important objectives are achieved: the annual placement of scores of professional artists in classrooms everywhere, the professional training of artists and educators to work effectively together, support for arts education advocacy and literacy in the arts, statewide focus on key issues, the creation of model, arts-infused schools and more.