Music Academy In Moorestown To Share In $1.3M Recovery Grants

MOORESTOWN, NJ - The West Jersey Music Academy in Moorestown will share in $1.3 million in grants from the New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund (NJACRF), the organization announced on Thursday.

It is the second round of statewide grants offered by the organization after the coronavirus pandemic forced venues to close and lay off or furlough majorities of their workforce.

The organization, hosted by the Princeton Area Community Foundation, awarded more than $2.6 million to more than 100 other arts, cultural and historical nonprofits in New Jersey earlier this year, officials said.

The state’s nonprofit arts industry reported more than $100 million in losses as a result of the pandemic, according to officials.

This led to the creation of the NJACRF, aided by a gift from the Toms River based Grunin Foundation.

“COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted the health and economic well-being of many communities in New Jersey,” Merck Social Business Innovation Vice President Carmen Villar said. “We are proud to support the NJACRF’s work to ensure equitable recovery of the vibrant arts and cultural sectors for all communities in our state.”

Merck recently became a leadership donor, and the 1772 Foundation and the Turrell Fund became major donors.

The fund has raised more than $4.5 million statewide, but a lot of work remains, officials said.