Octavius Catto School, Courtesy: Symphony in C
The Council has a longstanding goal to ensure all New Jerseyans have access to quality, lifelong arts experiences and education. The Council works with an array of partners to place teaching artists and arts programs in schools and community settings, supports training for educators and artists, and participates in regional and national affinity groups to ensure New Jersey remains at the forefront of arts education and lifelong learning.
Recently passed legislation assigns the Council with the responsibility to research and develop a guide for utilizing community-based arts learning programming to support systems- and justice-impacted youth in the state of New Jersey. Working in coordination with the Juvenile Justice Commission, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families, the Council will disseminate the guide to stakeholders in the field.
The Council anticipates publishing the guide in early 2026.
For questions about this program, contact Samantha Clarke.
Poetry Out Loud (POL) is a national poetry recitation program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and implemented by state and jurisdictional arts councils across the country. The Council sponsors NJPOL and works closely with Count Basie Center for the Arts and a network of partners to maximize the impact of the program. POL encourages the nation’s youth to learn about poetry through memorization and performance, while gaining public speaking skills, building self-confidence, and learning about their literary heritage. All NJ public, charter, private, and parochial high schools, and home school associations are invited to participate. NJPOL can be facilitated in school classrooms, after school, through community organizations, and libraries by a teacher, teaching artist, or program facilitator.
Registration for NJPOL 2025-2026 will open on November 24, 2025.
For questions about this program, contact NJPOL Coordinator Kenya Bullock.
The New Jersey State Council on the Arts is hosting quarterly Teaching Artist Community of Practice meetings. These virtual sessions serve as a platform for teaching artists to share their experiences, discuss new opportunities, and connect with each other and the State Arts Council. Through loosely moderated discussions, the sessions provide an opportunity to network with other New Jersey teaching artists, share challenges and successes of working in the state, and discuss what teaching artistry could look like as we move into the future.
Upcoming Meetings
January 7, 2026 | 9:30 – 10:30 PM | REGISTER
April 1, 2026 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM | REGISTER
July 1, 2026 | 9:30 – 10:30 PM | REGISTER
For questions about this program, contact Samantha Clarke.
Official Site of The State of New Jersey