Priority of the Arts: The New Jersey State Council on the Arts
- Apr 27
- 5 min read
photography by Ed Maximus
New Jersey has a long history and tradition of being a welcoming state and embracing rich, diverse cultures. From Ellis Island as an immigration hub during the early half of the 20th century to almost 200 languages spoken across the contemporary state, New Jersey reflects a microcosm of international expression and artistic inclinations. Since 1966, the New Jersey State Council of the Arts has been a symbol and conduit of how the state takes the arts seriously. In recent years, The Council and New Jersey lawmakers have made the decision to expedite the growth of the arts within the state. In 2021, the NJSCA’s budget almost doubled overnight, from 19 million dollars to a minimum 31.9 million annual budget backed by law.
As a result, the grant-giving arm of the New Jersey State Council of the Arts has expanded on various programs, such as their individual arts fellowship which gives grants to a wide range of visual artists with no strings attached. The NJSCA also extensively funds non-profit arts organizations and 21 officially designated County Arts Agencies all across the state, from major urban centers like Jersey City, Newark, and Trenton to smaller townships in the New Jersey Shore and South Jersey. But The Council also indirectly finances for-profit entities through the Economic Development Authority and Business Action Center. Also, NJSCA offers specific artist grants to non-profit organization and venues which offer arts education services to opportunity-vulnerable segments of society, such as older adults through their Creative Aging Initiative (CAI). Poetry Out Loud, educational webinars, apprenticeship programs, and last but not least, the Arts Annual program are all part of the grant-giving arm of the NJSCA. The Arts Annual program is one of their staple features because the initiative involves a direct partnership with New Jersey’s most established museums, and in turn, offering financed direct open call opportunities for New Jersey artists devoid of any financial obligations or fees. NJSCA’s Arts Annual program is a vital conduit which offers established credentials, prestige, with museum credentials and presentation standards to artists in the state of New Jersey. The Arts Annual program has also expanded in recent years by offering two museum opportunities a year instead of one.
costume design and performance by Meagan Woods
When individuals think of the arts in terms of location, they often think of New York, London, Los Angeles, and Berlin because over half of all galleries in the world are located in these four cities. Speaking of statistics, the ‘for-profit’ label for galleries is often misleading because according to UBS - Art Basel data, about 70% of galleries are either breaking even or losing money and only 18% of galleries are running at a profit margin at 20% or above. Which is why the NJSCA’s indirect financial reaches outside of the non-profit world in New Jersey is important to sustain artistic opportunities for artists as well. But what exactly makes the state of New Jersey such an important destination for the arts? Well the answer could primarily found in geography and demographics. If you love the arts, whether performing, visual, musical, or spoken word, visiting venues which hosts artistic expression can be a daunting logistical task. From utilizing extensive public transportation to traveling long distances to reach your destination to finding parking, New Jersey offers an alternative experience. Because the state is small in scale and is the most densely populated state in the union, you will often find multiple artistic municipal hubs within relatively short distance from one another with easy driving and parking access (at least in comparison to the four major global art cities). You also find extensive mini art communities all across the state, from an extensive array of independent performing arts theatres to galleries in industrial settings. This offers a wide variety and multiple choices to experience the arts in an accessible and varied manner. Also, the diversity of the state offers a rich tapestry to allow you to expose yourself to different cultural expressions and interpretations.
performance by Mimiko Usuda
So why is the state of New Jersey such an important destination for the arts according to the New Jersey State Council of the Arts? We asked the Executive Director Allison Tratner who stated: “As one of the most densely populated, diverse states in the nation, New Jersey’s vibrant arts community has something for everyone. From the smallest neighborhoods to the largest cities, hundreds of arts organizations in every artistic discipline employ thousands of artists and culture workers and attract millions of residents and visitors with unique offerings. The arts industry supports local businesses, activates downtowns, strengthens tourism, and contributes to quality of life in indispensable ways. And robust public funding for the sector through the State Arts Council provides reliable support to arts organizations and artists who have long helped their communities to thrive”. Additionally, Ms. Tratner explains the importance of the expansion of the Arts Annual program by noting: "The Arts Council has cosponsored the Arts Annual since 1984, rotating the exhibition amongst a group of partner museums located across the state. This year, we’re marking two exciting milestones that signal the various ways this program continues to grow. First, we are happy to welcome Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University as our newest partner. Zimmerli’s first Arts Annual – Hank Willis Thomas Selects – will open later this year, and as always, the exhibition will showcase work from artists living or working in New Jersey. Not only is the Council welcoming a new partner this year, but one of our other partners – Morris Museum – will be hosting the first Arts Annual to be staged outdoors. That exhibition – Common Ground: NJ Artists Think Monumental – opens on May 28th [2026]”.
textile art by Ann Vollum
New Jersey artists should also note, the New Jersey State Council not only publishes reports, data, and information about their activities, but also an extensive graphic catalogue of individual fellowship artists. The catalogue is important because of allowing residents to understand who are the writers, musicians, performing and visual artists who shape the artistic direction of the state of New Jersey, who greatly influence our artistic output, prestige, and impact within our inner-communities. Over the last 5 years, The Council has also had a significant number of individuals to their staff who have vital specialized technical and cultural expertise as well as national and regional connections to strengthen the overall administration. NJSCA also has an initiative with ArtsPay NJ, a long-term initiative to influence direct compensation to artists for their expertise and work. This is important because artists are often required to put out funds for public opportunities, such as application and registration fees. By influencing the greater arts community to reward and / or financially compensate artists, they are treated more like cultural workers rather than hobbyists ‘renting’ access to venues.
performance by Ramya Shankaran
In analysis, we will find the New Jersey State Council on the Arts offers a complex web of operational integrity and acts as the backbone structure of the artistic community in the state of New Jersey. Through grants, educational initiatives, publications, and financing direct artistic opportunities, The Council offers a beneficial outcome to artists which has and will only increase in resources and organizational strength and planning in the years to follow. In essence, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts exemplifies why the state of New Jersey is a vital destination to those with interests in the arts as either a spectator, scholar, connoisseur, enthusiast, gallerist, collector, patron, arts administrator, or practicing artist.