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All of the programs and services of the Council focus its modest financial and human resources on enabling the cultural community of New Jersey to create those public values for the benefit of all New Jerseyans, both those that are intrinsic and those that are instrumental such as fostering quality education, stimulating economic development, bolstering tourism and building NJ pride. The Council does so in ways that express its own set of public values: equal access, fair decision-making based on independent evaluation, uniform criteria and funding principles, and full public accountability. A great many of its programs and services are carried out in partnership and collaborations with literally dozens of other organizations statewide.
Arts Basic to Education Grants: support the operations of nonprofit organizations, excluding schools, that have a focus on making the arts a basic part of a sound, quality education by providing school-time and school-based arts programs for students in pre-kindergarten to grade 12 that are directly connected to the curriculum and /or to professional development for teachers;
Arts Education Special Initiatives: multi-year matching grants to discipline specific arts groups for growth of school-based arts education programming that is fundamental to the curriculum;
Artists in Education Program: placement of professional teaching artists in long-term (20-100 days) in-school residencies both statewide and with a special initiative to focus on the greater Camden area;*
The New Jersey Writers Project: placement of professional poets, playwrights and prose writers in short-term (5-12 days) in-school residencies;
Artists Teacher Institute: annually, two 10-day institutes for professional development in the arts for teachers and artists;*
The NJ Arts Education Census Project: statewide survey of the status of arts education in all NJ public schools to create the NJ Arts Education Information and Resource Center;*
The Arts Create Excellent Schools Initiative: work in pilot schools and surrounding consortia to establish successful models of arts-infused curriculum;*
Arts Education Summits: periodic gatherings of arts education leaders and other sectors to address priority issues.*
Poetry Out Loud: national poetry memorization and recitation program for New Jersey high school students;
Artists' Fellowships: annual awards to creative artists recognizing artistic excellence;*
Folk Arts Apprenticeships: annual awards to talented apprentice artists to preserve traditional/folk arts by studying with master artists;
The Arts Inclusion Program (Artists' Services > Arts Inclusion Program): the commissioning and installation of artwork in state-financed construction projects across the state;
Visual Arts Registry: a registry of over 6,000 images of artists' work;
Projects Serving Artists: annual matching grant support to organizations for projects advancing the work of artists in communities;
NJ Arts Annuals: annual exhibitions in fine arts and crafts at major NJ Museums;*
Fellowship Showcases: exhibitions and performance showcases in visual arts, dance and writing by Council fellowship award winners;*
Professional Development Seminars: annual regional seminars on topics of relevance to the professional development of New Jersey artists;*
South Jersey Arts Facilities Directory (formerly the South Jersey Space Bank): web-based, searchable database on spaces and venues throughout the region available for artists and art activity;*
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts: a cosponsored project of the Council to provide affordable legal services to artists and arts organizations.*
Building Arts Participation: annual matching grant support for innovative strategies of arts organizations in broadening, deepening and diversifying cultural participation;
Discover Jersey Arts: a multifaceted statewide arts marketing campaign to increase awareness of and participation in the arts in New Jersey (www.jerseyarts.com);*
State of the Arts: a weekly arts magazine co-produced on NJN public television;*
Arts Plan New Jersey Implementation Project: leadership in garnering endorsement for the mobilizing and measuring progress made under Arts Plan New Jersey* (www.artsplannj.com).
e-News: a monthly electronic news brief on the impacts of Council-supported activities as they relate to topics of high priority interest to state and local leaders;
NJSCA Web Site: a dynamic gateway to information and knowledge about the Council, its programs, events and the impact of its work and that of others;
Knowledge Bank: a searchable database of information and knowledge about best practices in the field, most current research, and the impact and outcome of arts activity;
Cultural Access Network of New Jersey (CAN): cosponsored with the NJ Theatre Alliance, a battery of information and technical services to help the arts community fulfill the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and make the arts fully accessible to persons with disabilities;*
Arts Management Intern Program: 12-week paid internships at the Council for college students pursuing careers in arts management.*
* Indicates Arts Council Programs carried out through partnerships and collaborations.
HOW COUNCIL GRANTS WORK:
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Grant Programs are Developed
based on strategic planning with constituents framing purpose, eligibility and
matching requirements, evaluation criteria and required materials;
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Guidelines are Announced and Distributed
through direct mailing to over 3,000 groups, press releases and
postings on the Council's website promoting the opportunity widely;
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Notices of Intent to Apply
are submitted to Council staff to determine appropriateness;
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Technical Assistance
workshops are held at 8-12 locations throughout the state and staff
are available for one-on-one assistance;
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Applications
are received and reviewed for completeness. All applicants must be current with their
Charities Registration and State of NJ Corporate Recording filings;
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Independent Peer Panels Evaluate Applications
in each category or art discipline against published criteria to assess excellence
in all relevant areas. Panels discuss all applications, record consensus commentary
and assign numerical ranks that are averaged;
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Grants Committee Recommendations
and deliberations are based on funding principles adopted prior to the process and
on complete review of panel comments, ranks, and any funding history;
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Annual Meeting
held by the Council meets in public session to vote on recommendations of
the Grants Committee; and
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Grant Contracts and Reports
are employed to set specifications, monitor progress and collect data on
impact of funded programs. Final payments are held pending satisfactory final report
and post grant audits are required.
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