Princeton Group To Host Fund For State Arts And Culture Industry

PRINCETON, NJ – The Princeton Area Community Foundation (PACF) announced Thursday that it will host a newly-launched fund, to help the state’s arts and culture industry.

The New Jersey Arts and Culture Relief Fund (NJACRF) was recently established to support arts and culture groups across the state, who have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a press release, more than $1.6 million was raised by a group of funders, and an additional $1 million was received from the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF).

PACF is responsible for holding and distributing these funds to applicants.

The arts and culture industry in the state was hit hard by the pandemic, due to cancellations, refunds and closures. According to the NJPRF, nonprofit arts organizations in New Jersey employ around 22,000 workers, who are now facing hardship.

“New Jersey has a celebrated and vibrant arts and culture sector that has suffered tremendously as a result of the pandemic. We are proud to support NJACRF so they can give much needed aid to this community,” Josh Weinreich, CEO, NJPRF said in a press release.

PACF is expected to announce an application date soon. Cultural groups and artists can apply.

Sharnita C. Johnson, Arts Program Director at the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and NJACRF Co-Chair, said in a statement that New Jersey could “risk losing a necessary component” of complete recovery without the arts and culture sector. “With help, the sector will continue to support healing, resilience, and relief, and move forward on a path for safe reopening,” she said.

NJPRF has also pledged to match new contributions dollar for dollar, up to $1 million.

Artists and cultural groups can learn more about the fund by visiting https://pacf.org/njartsculture/ or contacting Michael Nuno at mnuno@pacf.org.