Trenton Vessels by Artist Diana K. Moore, Department of State Building, Trenton, New Jersey
The New Jersey State Council on the Arts is a division of the New Jersey Department of State, created in 1966 by Public Law Chapter 214 and consists of 17 members, all appointed by the Governor for terms of three years, and three ex-officio members. Since its creation, the Council’s volunteer members and professional staff have worked to improve the quality of life in New Jersey through strategic support for the arts.
With annual appropriations from the State Legislature as well as annual federal grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Council designs and carries out a dynamic program of financial and technical support services for New Jersey arts organizations and programs, as well as individual artists. The Council has priority programs in arts education and lifelong learning, artist services, creative communities, and folk & traditional arts.
The Council works with a broad array of partner organizations in carrying out this work. Among its programs, the Council administers the Public Buildings Arts Inclusion Act, through which works of art are commissioned and installed in new state construction.
The Council's programs and services have earned national recognition for excellence, innovation, and responsiveness to community needs.
Public support for the arts in New Jersey is drawn from a dedicated, renewable revenue source--the Hotel/Motel Occupancy Fee--established in 2003. Under this law, a percentage of the fees shall be annually allocated to the Arts Council. Additionally, the Arts Council receives an annual, competitive federal grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Official Site of The State of New Jersey