On July 21, 2015, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts awarded more than $15.7 million in grant funding for over 700 arts organizations, projects and artists throughout the state. The awards were announced at the New Jersey State Council on the Arts’ 49th annual Meeting held at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Trenton. Of those 700, only 42 organizations and projects received the highest evaluations from the panel reviewing the applications and, for the 18th consecutive year, Morris Arts was among that highly select company, recognized with a Citation of Excellence and the designation as a Major Service Organization “for their history of excellence, the breadth of their impact and their longstanding leadership.” In addition, Morris Arts was awarded $103,080 for its local arts grant program and an additional $5,000 for its co-sponsored project/artist career development workshop.
“It is a thrill and a privilege to receive this recognition of our work from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts,” said Tom Werder, Executive Director of Morris Arts. “These two awards affirm the importance of our work in the community. Morris Arts was particularly pleased when NJSCA Executive Director, Nick Paleologos drew attention to Morristown’s Percent for Art program as an a example of how New Jersey continues to be a national leader in the arts.”
“The arts industry is critical to New Jersey’s economic growth and creative vitality,” said Acting Governor Kim Guadagno, who also serves as Secretary of State. “The grants awarded through the State Arts Council support cultural assets in every region that help shape New Jersey communities as great places to live, visit, do business and raise a family.”
Arts Council Chair Elizabeth Mattson stated, “Today’s actions reflect the Council’s commitment to excellence and to ensuring that the public funds entrusted to us are invested wisely in the people and organizations that make this state great.”
The Council receives funding from the State of New Jersey through the Hotel/Motel Occupancy Fee legislation passed in 2003, which established a dedicated revenue source to support arts, history and tourism. Additionally, the Arts Council receives annual competitive grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Funding decisions are made through a transparent, merit-based and rigorous grants process that assures access and equity. Independent peer panels evaluate grant applications to eliminate the possibility for conflict of interest.
“New Jersey artists and arts organizations are forever breaking molds, changing lives and leading the way nationally,” said Council Executive Director Nick Paleologos.
According to Arts Council records, state arts funding employs an estimated 17,000 workers, supports 37,000 cultural events and attracts 5 million visitors who spend another $125 million. The bottom line: every nickel of state spending on the arts yields a dollar of local economic impact in towns and cities across the state.