WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker today announced the awarding of a combined $250,000 in grants from the National Endowment for the Arts to support and enhance arts education and programming across New Jersey.

“Investing in New Jersey’s local cultural and arts organizations provides enormous returns, not just in supporting creative expression, but in creating jobs and economic growth, promoting wellness, boosting student achievement, and bringing together our diverse communities,” said Sen. Menendez. “The Administration’s constant threats to eliminate the NEA would be devastating to these local organizations and to the immense joy and benefits they provide all of us.”

These grants will be used to support organizations that employ artists and cultural workers and will provide various programs for thousands of New Jersey residents.

The specific grant awards:

Camden
Cooper’s Ferry Partnership (aka CFP)

Total Grant Amount: $10,000

To support free training in the circus arts for youth and families.

Fort Lee (Bergen)

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, Inc.
Total Grant Amount: $10,000

To support a multidisciplinary festival celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year through visual arts, music and dance.

Hackensack (Bergen)

Center for Modern Dance Education (aka CMDE)

Total Grant Amount: $10,000

To support a dance workshop and performance by guest artist Heidi Latsky Dance Company (HLDC), with related outreach activities.

Hamilton (Mercer)

Grounds for Sculpture Inc. (aka GFS)

Total Grant Amount: $45,000

To support a survey exhibition of works by contemporary Indian artist Tallur LN and an accompanying catalogue.

International Sculpture Center, Inc. (aka Sculpture Magazine)

Total Grant Amount: $20,000

To support the Dialogues and Discoveries project to facilitate conversations between working artists, writers, and the general public for publication in Sculpture magazine.

Millville (Cumberland)

Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, Inc. (on behalf of Creative Glass Center of America)

Total Grant Amount: $15,000

To support artist residencies at the Creative Glass Center of America.

Montclair (Essex)

Jazz House Kids, Inc.

Total Grant Amount: $30,000

To support free musical performances and related family-oriented activities at the tenth anniversary Montclair Jazz Festival.

Newark (Essex)

Newark Public Schools

Total Grant Amount: $25,000

To support technology-based professional development opportunities for arts teachers.

Paterson (Passaic)

Passaic County Community College (on behalf of Passaic County Cultural and Heritage Council at PCCC)

Total Grant Amount: $20,000

To support literary workshops in prisons, with related performances and outreach activities.

Peapack (Somerset)

Matheny School and Hospital, Inc. (aka Matheny Medical and Educational Center)

Total Grant Amount: $10,000

To support a multidisciplinary public arts event that will celebrate visual, literary, and performance works created by artists with disabilities.

Plainsboro (Middlesex)

Sánchez, Erika L.

Total Grant Amount: $25,000

Literature Fellowships: Creative Writing — Literature

Princeton (Mercer)

Princeton Symphony Orchestra (aka PSO)

Total Grant Amount: $10,000

To support an artist residency and community engagement project.

Wayne (Passaic)

William Paterson University of New Jersey

Total Grant Amount: $20,000

To support a site-specific installation and exhibition by Marion Wilson, an accompanying catalogue, and community outreach.