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Newark is thriving, artistically, and the Newark Arts Council has played a vital role in the city's
cultural "re-awakening." Founded in 1981 to advance and expand the city's artistic and
cultural resources, the Arts Council provides leadership, direction, and technical assistance
through partnerships with Newark's many artists, arts administrators, community organizations,
community development corporations, planning groups, economic development agencies,
and the general public. The goal of the NAC is to share resources, promote advocacy efforts,
assist in audience development and public awareness of arts and culture, and to serve as
a cultural resource to the community.
The NAC's programs and services include ArtStart (a re-granting program); Information
Services; an occasional Salon Series to assist artists in marketing and business development;
and an annual Open Artists Studio & Available Space Tour. Its policy and planning initiatives
include leadership on issues such as artists' housing, economic impact of the arts, public
arts planning, development of a strategic cultural implementation plan, and arts funding. The
NAC's efforts to provide technical assistance to artists and information services to audiences
include production of the NewarkArts newsletter and cultural calendar and a comprehensive
website (www.newarkarts.org) promoting local arts events. The NAC also collaborates with
other agencies on special projects such as the national Economic Impact Survey currently
in production with Americans for the Arts, with results expected in a few short weeks.
Because of its outreach and its many contributions, the NAC's participation is sought locally
and statewide in such efforts as the New Jersey Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, ArtPride NJ,
the New Jersey State Council on the Arts - Arts Plan NJ, the Initiative for a Competitive Inner
City (ICIC), and the Newark Waterfront Access Committee. Across the region, other municipalities
(East Orange, Montclair, Bergen County and West Orange, among them), seeing the impact
of a broad-based arts alliance, have sought the advice and counsel of the NAC.
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DINNER CHAIRMAN
Donald A. Robinson
Robinson & Livelli
LEADERSHIP
Arthur F. Ryan
Chairman & CEO
Prudential Financial, Inc.
BENEFACTOR
Kimberly B. Davis
President
JPMorgan Chase Foundation
Thomas B. Hallman
Vice Chairman
Specialty Finance, CIT
MCJ Foundation
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HONOREES
Lawrence P. Goldman became the first President of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
in June of 1989. In 1993, he also became Chief Executive Officer.
The non-profit NJPAC, which will celebrate its 10th Anniversary this fall, opened on October 18,1997.
It is an $187 million multi-facility Arts Center on a 12-acre site in the heart of the business district of
Newark, New Jersey. It is the vision and leadership of Larry Goldman that has made NJPAC a success.
The New York Times calls him, "the kind of charismatic visionary who might have been invented for
the task of turning the arts center from a dream of urban renewal to the brick colossus at One Center
Street"
Larry's contributions to the artistic and economic growth of the City of Newark are many. By believing
in the power of the arts to impact the economic development of a city, he has brought new vitality to
Newark's downtown and helped make the state's oldest and largest city a destination once again.
Judith Jamison was appointed Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in December
1989 at the request of her mentor, Alvin Ailey, who personally chose her to succeed him before his
untimely death. A native of Philadelphia, she studied with Marion Cuyjet, was discovered by Agnes de
Mille and made her New York debut with American Ballet Theatre in 1964. She became a member of
the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965 and danced with the company for 15 years to great
acclaim. As a highly regarded choreographer, Ms. Jamison has created works for many companies.
Her autobiography, Dancing Spirit, was edited by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and published by
Doubleday in 1993. Ms. Jamison is the recipient of many awards and honorary degrees, including a
prime time Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography in the PBS "Great Performances: Dance In
America" special, A Hymn for Alvin Ailey, the Kennedy Center Honor and the National Medal of Arts.
Ms. Jamison recently joined New Jersey Performing Arts Center's (NJPAC) board of directors. Alvin
Ailey American Dance Theater is the principal resident affiliate of NJPAC and performs annually at the
center's Prudential Hall.
Arts High School opened its doors to students in September 1931 as the "first-of-its-kind" in the
United States and almost immediately became the model for the High School of Art & Music in New
York City. According to Harrison E. Webb, the first Principal of Arts High, "It was taken for granted that
art and drama were to be regarded as major pursuits, comparable in importance to Latin, Mathematics
and the Sciences in an academic high school." Esteemed graduates include singers Sarah Vaughn,
Melba Moore and Connie Francis; jazz artists Wayne Shorter and Woody Shaw; Philadelphia Orchestra's
Seymour Rosenfeld; music directors Mort Lindsey and Charlie Caalello; actors Tauren Blaque and Tisha
Campbell; ballerina Beatrice Rodriquez; fashion designer Steven Burrows and dancer/choreographer
Savion Glover. We honor Arts High School for their 75 years of contributions to the arts community
in Newark.
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Newark Arts Council
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
David B. Berkowitz, President
Realty Dynamics, LLC
Ollyn J. Lettman, Vice President
UMDNJ
Valerie V. Wilson, Treasurer
Newark Public Schools
Wilma J. Grey, Secretary
The Newark Public Library
Jeanette F. Brummell
University Heights Science Park, Inc.
Mary W. Dowd
The Newark Museum
Joyce Wilson Harley, Esq.
County of Essex
Dale Harris
Prudential Financial
Dorthaan Kirk
WBGO Jazz 88
David Lederman
Cogswell Realty Group
Joaquin Matias
City of Newark
Linda P. Morgan
Cogswell Realty Group
Jeffrey Norman
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Vicente A. Perez
County of Essex
Yvette C. Sterling, Esq.
Sterling Law Firm, LLC
Susan Stucker
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Linwood J. Oglesby
Executive Director
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Download the printable Invite (pdf)