What We Do 

 
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 Mission Statement

The Jersey City Arts Council ensures that our creative community remains relevant, diverse, influential, and a valued asset within our city.

+ Extended Mission Statement

By assuming the role of an outreach and resource entity, we increase public engagement in the arts, providing access to information for residents in every ward. The JCAC mission is to provide the arts community with the tools, funding, and advocacy needed for creative expression, allowing artists and arts organizations to benefit from, and contribute to, the economic growth of our city.

 Vision Statement

JCAC believes Jersey City is a national model for a progressive, equitable, multicultural arts sector, where all community members have the opportunity to learn about, participate in, and access the arts.

 
 
JCAC work by Norm Kirby
 

+ Extended Vision Statement

Empowerment of the arts community is the primary mission of the Jersey City Arts Council. The arts are one of the major foundations of any city’s economic sustainability, and must be treated as such. Arts initiatives are often used as a temporary quick-fix tool in struggling communities, but then quickly discarded once they have served that purpose. Creating a platform that embodies our collective voices will help to prevent this repetitive scenario. By organizing, we are strengthening the influence and long-term presence of the arts community.

The Jersey City Arts Council will serve as a link for binding our many arts organizations and individuals together. It is our objective to create a unified agenda based on the unique needs of all of our various creative factions. Our approach to achieving this goal is to direct our focus to ensure that our city will continue to benefit from a thriving and robust arts community: the arts council will provide a source of reference for our artists, working as an advocacy organization, and assisting artists with networking, promotion, career education, funding, public outreach, and the creation of venues.

Jersey City is acknowledged as being one of the most ethnically diverse cities in America, and the art we produce reflects this. We believe every community requires a thriving cultural element within it to induce positive change, and we commit to addressing the inequities in arts access across the city. We will work to awaken the artistic elements that already exist within our communities. Our goal is to make sure that people residing in every neighborhood, ward, and district are afforded the tools needed to express themselves creatively, thereby contributing their unique vision to the multicultural artistic landscape of our city. Providing outreach and the access to information is the key to achieving our goals.

Values Statement

We believe in the vital role the arts play in our society

We believe the arts provide opportunity for expression, mental and emotional well-being, cultural exposure and understanding, as well as an entry point to the ever-growing professional creative sector. The arts benefit all members of society creatively, economically, socially, and educationally. Artists and arts organizations must be valued, supported, and fairly compensated, and all citizens are entitled to access to the arts.

We empower the arts to be a catalyst for political and social change

We seek to support and employ a diversity of populations within our work, and are committed to building systems that are equitable, accessible, anti-racist, and culturally inclusive. We can create a better future through innovation and a willingness to address long-standing flaws within traditional power structures. We understand equitability as a means to create a level playing field for all stakeholders.

We promise to represent the arts community with integrity

We serve all members of the Jersey City community, including artists, donors, board, staff, volunteers, collaborators, and the government. We commit to acting with integrity and without self-interest.

 Milestones

  • November 2016, the first meeting of the JCAC Board of Directors.

  • August 2017, JCAC secures 501(c)3 nonprofit status. Bylaws are adopted and revised in 2019.

  • Fall 2017, JCAC hosts debate on arts issues between mayoral candidates Steven Fulop and Bill Matsikoudis.

  • 2018, JCAC begins working with Mayor Fulop, State Senator Brian Stack, and Assembly members Raj Mukherji and Angela McKnight on legislation that would allow municipalities to hold referenda on a tax or surcharge for the arts.

  • 2018, JCAC partners with the Office of Cultural Affairs and NJCU to launch the Jersey City Cultural Asset Map.

  • April 2018, JCAC launches the inaugural Jersey City Poetry Festival, an annual celebration of the written and spoken word, now overseen by Jersey City Writers.

  • Fall 2018, JCAC collaborates with the City of Jersey City to create the official position of Poet Laureate for Jersey City.

  • November 2018, JCAC presents the first annual Jersey City Arts Awards at White Eagle Hall.

  • Spring 2019, JCAC provides fiscal sponsorship for the first Art Fair 14C.

  • June 2019, JCAC holds its first Annual Conference hosted by NJCU’s School of Business at Exchange Place.

  • March 2020, JCAC responds to the COVID pandemic by launching a weekly call for artists to share resources, in partnership with the Office of Cultural Affairs and NJCU.

  • Summer 2020, working with Mayor Fulop and the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation, JCAC advocates for and helps with the distribution of $250,000 in relief funds (including the Arts Relief Fund grants) to local artists and organizations impacted by the COVID pandemic.

  • August 2020, partnering with Golden Door International Film Festival, JCAC presents “Quaranscenes” Film Scramble.

  • November 2020, a referendum is passed creating the Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund. Jersey City is the first municipality in the state to approve such a measure.

  • February 2021, JCAC partners with Nimbus Dance Works to create two regranting programs for artists through the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation.

  • March 2021, JCAC partners with artist Shamona Stokes to create Antenna Grant for Young Women in the Arts.

  • 2022: JCAC awards the first cycle of Individual Artist grants in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Arts & Culture Trust Fund

  • 2023: Individual Arts Fellowship administered by the JCAC for the 2nd year

  • 2024: JCAC distributes Arts Relief grants to 10 advanced Jersey City artists in partnership with the New Jersey Arts & Culture Renewal Fund, hosted by the Princeton Area Community Foundation