ART PRIDE NEW JERSEY FOUNDATION INC

ArtPride’s vision is that New Jersey will be the most arts-rich and culturally vibrant state in the Union.

ArtPride is the state’s largest cross-discipline arts service organization, representing hundreds of New Jersey groups of all sizes. ArtPride’s 250+ organizational members include theatres, museums, galleries, performing arts organizations, arts councils, schools and universities, small businesses, large corporations, and other arts-related entities.

ArtPride faces another critical year as it continues essential support programs for hundreds of New Jersey arts organizations and advances a pro-arts public policy agenda. In the coming year, ArtPride will expand its marketing and advertising efforts, move into the development phase of the next generation of JerseyArts.com, advance a strategy to increase state appropriations for the arts, and continue the fight to preserve funding of federal cultural agencies.

The most prominent and visible example of ArtPride’s direct services to the arts community is Discover Jersey Arts (DJA), the only statewide arts audience development program. ArtPride is proud to cosponsor DJA with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Dedicated to increasing the awareness of and participation in the arts in New Jersey, this program is a shining example of a public-private partnership. Since 2000, DJA has reached millions of patrons, promoted thousands of events, and created a true sense of community between the professional personnel of arts organizations across New Jersey.

Through DJA, ArtPride staff coordinates with approximately 300 arts organizations statewide to create and distribute promotional and marketing information to the public. This includes seasonal and annual campaigns that drive nearly 8,000,000 patrons to cultural events in all corners of the state. Content- and campaign-driven efforts drive promotional initiatives consisting of both traditional media (television, print, radio) and new media (paid and organic social media, streaming, and website advertising).

ArtPride’s policy agenda focuses on increased and sustainable support for the arts through public funding at all levels of government, as well as the passage of pro-arts legislation in education, healthcare, and economic development. ArtPride also promotes increased private investment in arts and culture by individuals, businesses, and philanthropic entities.

Advocacy efforts educate elected and appointed officials on the importance of arts, creativity, culture, and innovation to the Garden State. ArtPride is actively seeking increased state appropriations in collaboration through strategic interactions with the new administration, legislative representatives, cabinet-level appointees, staffers, and other policy leaders. The organization also yields the power of more than 10,000 arts advocates, who respond consistently and effectively to ArtPride’s requests for grassroots citizen activism.

At the same time, staff and volunteers are working with New Jersey’s federal delegation to maintain funding and support of the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

ArtPride New Jersey’s mission and greatest value to the state has been its ability to both serve and coalesce the state’s diverse arts community. Its board leadership represents leaders of large and small arts groups from all over the state, and has strategically steered the organization to meet the needs and demands of change. As arts groups struggle with economic challenges, the evolution of the nonprofit business model and ways to serve audiences that increasingly use technology as an alternative to real-life art experiences, ArtPride has responded with services, connections, and opportunities to face challenges head on. Moving forward, ArtPride will continue to be responsive, supportive, and relevant to the field, ensuring that the state’s dynamic arts community continues to thrive.

ArtPride’s overarching goal is to continue as New Jersey’s premiere statewide arts service organization and advance its mission through promotion of participation, public value, and public policy. ArtPride’s public policy agenda begins with maintaining and growing public funding support of the arts at the state and federal level. Advocacy efforts also include shepherding legislation and policy that is favorable to the arts in areas such as healthcare, education and community/economic development.

ArtPride will monitor state and federal legislation, testify when necessary, write and/or generate letters of support, and contact elected officials via email, phone, and personal visits. Action alerts will be created and published through email and social media to address policy issues as they arise throughout the year.

ArtPride will provide a minimum of 6-10 advocacy training sessions or workshops to engage advocates in ways to personally and professionally advocate for the arts. ArtPride expects to perform 50 advocacy consultations in 2019. These consultations range from phone calls to in-depth strategy meetings. ArtPride will also administer candidate surveys to those in the N.J. state legislature up for election.

ArtPride will continue to lead efforts to ensure the long-term preservation, and continued growth in funding for, the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities. This work will be accomplished in partnership with Americans for the Arts, the National Association of State Arts Agencies, statewide arts advocates, and community leaders. ArtPride looks to send another strong and diverse N.J. delegation of 25-30 advocates to the National Arts Advocacy Summit (formerly known as National Arts Advocacy Day) arming them with a clear agenda, resources, and training.

ArtPride will look to increase private sector recognition of the value of the arts to New Jersey’s quality of life by cultivating strategic partnerships with the education, healthcare, economic/community development, business, and tourism sectors. This work is driven by the Art Matters program, which is cosponsored by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

ArtPride will continue executing the Discover Jersey Arts program, the only statewide promotional campaign for the arts, also cosponsored by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Through DJA, ArtPride will provide resources to increase the public awareness of and participation in New Jersey’s arts and cultural offerings.