New Jersey Arts Incubator
Message from Amy Simon, Executive Director, New Jersey Arts Incubator:
The ‘Valley’ of
Orange and West Orange is currently undergoing a renaissance
which will result in positive regional implications due to the
combined redevelopment and revitalization efforts of the City of
Orange Township, the Township of West Orange, the Orange and West
Orange Valley Neighborhood Preservation Programs and multiple
dual municipal initiatives.
The Housing and
Neighborhood Development Services, Inc,
HANDS, a not-for-profit
development corporation specializing in the development of
affordable housing, along with its not-for-profit partner,
ValleyArts, are uniquely dedicated to revitalizing the ‘Valley’
through the visual and performing arts. Eight buildings,
purchased by HANDS, are in the process of being renovated for
this usage including residences, retail and community space and
over 100 artist work/living residences. A numbers of fine arts,
visual arts and art services organizations have joined as
partners in the ValleyArts program and are relocating into the
Valley area.
The New Jersey
Arts Incubator is the first performing arts organization to
partner with HANDS and ValleyArts and will be located in the
heart of the ‘Valley’ in West Orange on the border of the City of
Orange Township at 555 Valley Road.
The mission of
the HANDS/ NJAI partnership is to create sustainable
redevelopment in the Valley, supporting the overall economic and
cultural base for the entire West Essex region, to construct a
pedestrian friendly environment that will spur economic
development to this historically challenged area, creating
educational opportunities for children and adults and jobs for
low and moderate income residents, as well as for performing
artists from across the state.
Across the
country, and in the State of New Jersey, the arts is a proven
economic linchpin for redevelopment and revitalization programs.
The arts generated 1.5 billion dollars in revenue in the state in
2006 alone. A number of new performing arts spaces have been
built or renovated as places to host music, theater and dance
companies bringing much needed visitors and dollars to
economically depressed communities. Yet, little space has been
created in which New Jersey artists and performers can benefit
from employment opportunities while working to develop product
for placement on New Jersey’s stages. Rehearsal and development
facilities for New Jersey performers and arts education space for
young and aspiring performers from urban and urban rim areas are
scarce.
The New Jersey
Arts Incubator is a facility in where artists and performers,
young and seasoned, may be educated in the process of making art,
the economics of working in the field of the arts, in an
environment where audiences of all socio-economic backgrounds may
participate in the creative process.
The New Jersey
Arts Incubator will encompass two levels. On the lower level, the
building will house a lobby, box office, office space for
resident companies, rehearsal studios including dance and music
studios, a 99 seat theater with proscenium stage, dressing rooms,
shop and costume facilities and a multi-media center. The second
floor will house a conference/rehearsal room, the ‘dorm’ an open
plan business center with cubicles for member arts organizations
and other office space.
The mission of the
NJAI is to bring sustainable economic development to the Valley
area through the arts and, to create educational opportunities
and jobs for low and moderate income residents, as well as for
performing artists from across the state, while providing
creative resources and a destination location to the Valley
corridor.
The New Jersey
Arts Incubator’s passion is the partnership between art,
education and communication. Professionals in the performing arts
will share their knowledge with students of all ages with a
special emphasis on programming for children of diverse cultures
in low socio-economic backgrounds.
The New Jersey
Arts Incubator’s mission is to create an environment where
artists, developing artists and aspiring artists of all
socio-economic and cultural origins from New Jersey may explore,
create and communicate their craft in a supportive and nurturing
environment while providing them with a variety of art business
support.
The New Jersey
Arts Incubator’s goal is to present works of artistic expression
by local, regional and visiting artists in an effort to foster
the communications of ideas and perspectives within our
multi-cultural and diverse socio-economic communities while
contributing to the successful model of the arts as an economic
driver in the State of New Jersey.
The Valley Arts revitalization program has
the support of local, regional and state wide elected officials.
Grants have been received by ValleyArts from PNC, Wachovia
Regional Foundation and the Department of Community Affairs, the
New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the county of Essex, as
well as other businesses and organizations. The New Jersey Arts
Incubator has the support of local and regional elected
officials, the municipalities of Orange and West Orange, ‘Valley’
residents in both municipalities and the art and education
communities.
The New Jersey
Arts Incubator intent is to open its doors to the public in
October 2008 with a renowned professional NJ theater company in
residence and an educational program in place.
The three
immediate financial goals of NJAI are: funds to fit out the
interior of the facility with the necessary elements required for
the uses as stated above and; for administrative, marketing,
hardware and software requirements and; for educational
programming for low and moderate income students. The New Jersey
Arts Incubator is incorporated as a not-for-profit in the State
of New Jersey with the 501C3 tax exempt status pending. Tax
exempt donations may be made directly to NJAI, c/o ED Amy Simon,
64 Wellington Avenue, West Orange, while the building is under
construction. Grants or funding that require an immediate 501C3
letter may contribute to NJAI by drafting notes to HANDS, Inc.
(memo NJAI) who is acting as the NJAI fiscal agent until the tax
exempt process is complete, at 15 South Essex Street, Orange, NJ
07050.
For comprehensive
information about HANDS and the ValleyArts organization log on to
the HANDS website.
Information on the Valley neighborhood of West Orange and the
City of Orange Township, Orange Valley Neighborhood Preservation
and the West Orange Valley Neighborhood Preservation Program are
available through NJAI or at the NJ State Department of Community
Affairs. |
