Galloway Township's Stockton University Receives 2 State Arts Grants

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, NJ — Galloway Township-based Stockton University has received two arts grants from the state. The university's State of the Arts program received a $200,000 Co-Sponsored Project grant, the state announced this week. The Stockton University Performing Arts Center received a $101,020 General Program Support grant.

Stockton was among 700 statewide that received more than $15.7 million in grant funding, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts announced during its 51st annual meeting in Trenton.

"Today's awards demonstrate our continued commitment to preserving New Jersey's status as a national leader in public support for the arts," Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno said. "I'm proud of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for all its work in providing and stimulating critically important opportunities in the arts for people of all ages."

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.

"Every year my colleagues and I marvel at the work these arts organizations and artists are doing in every corner of the state,” Council Chair Elizabeth Mattson said. “New Jersey truly is home to a thriving creative industry that seems to know no bounds."

Last year, Council grantees spent $275 million in New Jersey; employed an estimated 25,000 workers; and attracted nearly 7.5 million patrons who spent an additional $232 million in the state. New Jersey artists and arts organizations produced $1 of local economic activity for every three cents they received from the State Arts Council.

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