Madison's Shakespeare Theater Gets $157 Grant

MADISON, NJ — Six figures of grant money from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts has been given to the Madison's Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey to help fund ongoing activities.

The organization received a state grant totaling $157,717 for "general operating support." Overall, the Council awarded $15.7 million in grants to 700 arts organizations across the state.

"It is an honor to lead a department that invests in the people of New Jersey in such diverse and meaningful ways," said Secretary of State Tahesha Way. "Grants through the State Arts Council have a direct positive impact on New Jersey residents, families and communities. The return on the investment is undeniable, and we are grateful to today's award winners for the important work they do."

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is one of 25 professional theatres in the state. According to their website, the group is one of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation — serving 100,000 adults and children annually — it is New Jersey's only professional theatre company dedicated to Shakespeare's canon and other classic masterworks. Through its productions and education programs, the company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of the classics for contemporary audiences, the site said.

The arts are an economic driver in the state: 3.8 percent of New Jersey's GDP comes from the arts. 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.

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