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

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
www.njtheatrealliance.org/access
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.
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.

Visit the New Jersey Public Art Archive.

Learn more at www.jerseyarts.com.
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.
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.
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.
The Business of Being an Artist
The Council hosts this annual, multipart series of professional learning for artists. The Business of Being an Artist series is free and open to any artist, teaching artist, or folk artist who lives and/or works in the State of New Jersey. For information about the 2024-2025 series, be sure to sign-up for the Council's artist services newsletter.
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.
To learn more about each of these projects, click the links below: