NJ Arts Council grants recognize achievements of Rowan performing & visual arts presenters

When the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) awarded over $35 million in grants to more than 700 arts organizations and artists in the state for public programming initiatives earlier this year, Rowan University’s College of Performing Arts (CPA) and Art Gallery were not only among the recipients, but saw increases from previous years and extensions to existing multi-year grants.

"This is a testament to the Council’s confidence in Rowan’s ability to connect world-class artists to the our communities both through the pandemic and beyond,” said Debbie Shapiro, who curates and develops audiences for the Marie Rader Presenting Series.

“We re-invented how we did our work,” noted Mary Salvante, Gallery and Exhibitions Program Director, reflecting on the important role the arts played in people’s lives during the pandemic. “The state understands how vital the arts are to the community.”

Indeed, New Jersey nonprofit arts organizations lost more than $100 million and counting due to pandemic-related closures, cancellations, and lost contributed and earned revenue. When the arts sector is open and thriving, it generates more than $660 million in economic activity statewide, employs nearly 22,000 workers, and engages more than 8.3 million people who stay in hotels, and eat and shop locally. These awards were part of the largest state appropriation the Council has ever received in its 55-year history.

Alongside faculty who delivered courses remotely in the 20-21 academic year, Shapiro and Salvante both kept university arts programming going virtually and creatively in the midst of lockdowns and social distancing. In addition to providing cultural activity for their audiences, there was another important constituency being served: the artists.

“We kept professional artists engaged and working and that was very important” Shapiro said, with Salvante adding, “It was important to present the work to viewers, but more importantly, the artists were able to continue creating and presenting their work.”

With this boost of confidence and funds as inspiration, both are excited by the possibilities going forward. Shapiro is inspired not just to continue building visibility for the performance series, but also to further explore what it means to design impactful artist engagements on campus and throughout the region. Salvante looks forward to expanding the arts education aspect of the gallery and extending further into the community.

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts rewards exceptional work from organizations with demonstrated commitments to diversity, inclusion, and access. With this recognition for both the performing arts and the gallery, Salvante and Shapiro take that as validation for addressing those ideals and are focused on continuing to elevate Rowan as a cultural destination for the region, and the state as a whole.

Further acknowledging the College of Performing Arts as an important asset in arts education, the Council this year also awarded a grant for CPA to manage the Diversity in Arts Leadership (DIAL) National Internship Program, alongside Americans for the Arts (AFTA), in southern New Jersey. This includes assisting with professional development sessions and cultural offerings as well as disseminating funds to host organizations, vendors, consultants, partners and participants. The 10-week summer program matches arts interns from underrepresented backgrounds with organizations. The College has also received a grant through the Council's Arts Education Special Initiative (AESI) program, which supports the development of new arts education programs dedicated to direct learning about art, art forms, and the processes of creating and expressing art. The College has implemented Project Reach in collaboration with the Rowan Community Music School (CMS) and the Department of Music. In its initial effort, the project is hosting five students from the Bridgeton, NJ school district for weekly lessons through CMS this year, as well as entry into Rowan's summer music camp and mentoring from Department of Music faculty member Adrian Barnes.

"These partnerships reflects the College’s commitment to diversity in the arts as well as our commitment to our regional arts community," said Dr. Rick Dammers, Dean of the College of Performing Arts.

For more information on performing & visual arts programming, visit the College of Performing Arts box office or Rowan University Art Gallery.