New Jersey Arts and Culture Community Offerings

New Jersey Theatre Alliance offers opportunities for the full arts and culture community, not just theatres, to learn and network together. The Alliance strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Kat Lily, Access Coordinator.

All events listed below are open to the larger New Jersey Arts & Culture Community.

ArtsPayNJ Educational Offerings

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Offering Retirement Benefits at Arts Organizations

Tuesday, October 15, 2024 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

The ArtsPay data showed that only 38% of arts organizations offer retirement plans, and only 28% offer a match. New rules in New Jersey went into effect in September 2024, requiring employers with 25 employees to offer access to a retirement plan, and many organizations with smaller staffs are also eager to find ways to offer this to their employees.

This conversation will feature the expertise of Todd Hassler (director of the NJ Secure Choice program), James O’Doneghue (from Benefits Consulting Group), John McEwen (New Jersey Theatre Alliance) and managers from arts organizations that have successfully implemented retirement plans at their companies to discuss affordable, simple, and compliant paths to offering retirement benefits at your organization.

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Wage and Hour Essentials: Employee Classification and Overtime Rules for New Jersey Arts Organizations

Tuesday, November 19, 2024 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

ArtsPay NJ Data shows that a majority of arts workers work more than 40 hours per week, but an small minority are eligible for overtime pay at their organization. In addition, upcoming changes to federal labor laws will adjust the salary threshold for overtime eligibility which could impact many arts organizations.

This informative session led by Amy Vasquez of the Employers Association of New Jersey, will help clarify the laws in our state related to Wage and Hour, Wage Payment and Wage Theft. Designed to familiarize you with how these laws apply to your employees and highlight common pitfalls to avoid, this session will cover Minimum Wage, Overtime, Employee Classification, Wage Payment Requirements, Wage Theft Law, Earned Sick Leave.

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Salary Banding and Benchmarking as a Pay Equity Strategy

Thursday, February 20, 2025 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

ArtsPay NJ data shows that many employers want to address pay equity at their companies, but don’t know where to start. This session will feature several arts organizations of varying budget sizes that have recently implemented salary banding and/or benchmarking as a way to address this issue. This discussion will feature Adam Perle (ArtPride NJ), Lori Rovera (Young Audiences of New Jersey and Pennsylvania) Gary Garrido Schneider (Grounds For Sculpture), and Mike Stotts (Paper Mill Playhouse) as they share their experience working toward pay equity.

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Ethical Internship Models

Thursday, March 13, 2025 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

ArtsPay NJ Data shows that about 50% of arts organizations still offer unpaid internships. Only 17% offer paid internship opportunities. This session will offer case studies and learnings from people who have created and supervised paid internship, fellowship, and/or apprenticeship programs in the nonprofit sector. The conversation will focus on how they budget for the programs, create opportunities for feedback, build partnerships, and prioritize the professional learning experience of the participants.

Panelists will include Andrew Walker and Carolyn Parelli (Eleven Plus), Tess James (Princeton University), Gina E. Beviglia (F.M. Kirby Foundation) and Daria M. Sullivan (New Jersey Theatre Alliance).

Creating Change Virtual Roundtables

Post-Affirmative Action and the Attacks on Nonprofit DEI

Thursday, February 13, 2025 | 10:30 AM -12:00 PM

As we continue to navigate the evolving landscape of affirmative action and its implications, as well as a new presidential administration, please join us for a presentation on recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions related to affirmative action and what they mean for the nonprofit field. Led by Lloyd Freeman, Esq, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Buchanan, a national legal and government relations firm, this interactive discussion will explore the decision, its immediate impacts, and future implications on Nonprofit DEI programming. This session was not recorded, due to advice of council.

Creating a Thriving Multi-Generational Work Environment

Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 10:30 AM -12:00 PM

This interactive session, led by Ymani Hawkins, MSW, will explore age and generational differences as key facets of diversity, offering practical tools to foster collaboration and understanding in multi-generational teams. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the field, this workshop will provide insights into leveraging generational strengths, addressing stereotypes, and creating an inclusive culture where all voices are valued. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your leadership and teamwork skills while contributing to a more equitable arts environment.

Navigating DEIA Pushback

Tuesday, April 8 | 10:30-12:00pm

We are in a moment where reactions to the fight for equitable and just workplaces range from persistent enthusiasm to a shift in priorities, to outright resistance and even legal restrictions. This panel will offer some historical context about previous cycles of pushback in the U.S. and will feature thought leaders from university and corporate sectors who have managed to keep DEIA work central to their organizations despite a changing social and political climate and will focus on how arts organizations can do so as well. Moderated by Marshall Jones, III, Associate Dean of Equity at Mason Gross School of the Arts; Featuring Sharon Stroye, Emory University, Dr. Antonio Culer, University of Michigan, Darrelle Johnson, The Broadway League, and more guests to be announced.

Writing Through Difficult Emotions

Thursday, May 15, 2025 | 10:30 AM -12:00 PM

How do we process difficult emotions, stay hopeful, and maintain our own mental health while working for justice in the face of unjust systems? Continuing the well-being focus of the in-person Creating Change summit this past fall, Jennifer Chauhan from Project WriteNow will offer an interactive workshop that leads participants through a process of using creative writing to navigate, untangle, and process emotions. Give yourself the gift of self-care by taking a pause, practicing a new form of writing, and connecting in creative community.

View Creating Change Archives

Archived Creating Change Offerings

Whenever appropriate, Creating Change offerings are recorded and archived for later viewing. Browse the archives below for videos on a wide variety of topics related to equity and justice.

View Creating Change Archives

Cultural Access Network Virtual "Access Thursdays"

The Cultural Access Network Project is a project of The New Jersey State Council on the Arts and New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

To request an access service or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Kat Lily, Access Coordinator.

View Past Recorded Roundtables and Webinars

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Target Marketing and Websites: Keys to Building Audiences for Your Access Programs and Services

Thursday, December 5, 2024 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Developing a target marketing campaign and an accessible website where the public can easily find information on your access services and programs are key in building an audience. Tips on building a target marketing plan, best practices on website accessibility, and an overview on how to upload accessible events to the New Jersey Theatre Alliance calendar will be offered.

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Access Is a Partnership Between the Organization and Host Venue

Thursday, January 9, 2025 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Whether you are touring your programs to different venues or renting a venue for one public event, your organization is still required to ensure the program is accessible.

Learn how touring organizations and their venue partners can be proactive in working together to ensure programs are accessible and marketed. The importance of ADA Tour Riders and Checklists will be discussed.

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Ensuring Trustees Know the Importance of ADA Planning

Thursday, February 6, 2025 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

The accessibility journey needs to be an organizational priority and all individuals and departments need to be engaged in the work, including the Board of Trustees.

We will hear from organizations whose trustees are engaged in the access work of their organizations, the important role the Board plays in setting access policy and ensuring there are financial and human resources dedicated to access, and how the Board can assist in the ADA planning of their organization.

We encourage managers of organizations to invite their trustees to this session.

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Making Museums, Galleries and Visual Arts Organizations Accessible

Thursday, March 6, 2025 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Every artistic discipline has some unique things to consider when planning for accessibility. This session will focus on best practices for visual arts organizations as they assess and offer access services and programs.

Learn from your peers, discuss strategies, and explore solutions to challenges.

Sensory Friendly Experiences

Thursday, April 3, 2025 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Sensory-friendly experiences can be designed to create welcoming and accessible environments for children and adults with cognitive disabilities. This session will explore best practices for developing sensory-friendly experiences for theatres, museums, film, and other artistic disciplines.

Topics to be discussed are program development, staff and volunteer engagement, and community engagement.

Wrap Up/Check In

Thursday, May 1, 2025 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Join us for a wrap-up session to reflect on this year’s roundtables, discuss challenges, share progress in accessibility efforts, and exchange strategies for engaging colleagues in this work. This is an opportunity to reflect, ask questions, and gain insights from peers as we continue working toward greater inclusion. We will also invite participants to share ideas and recommend topics for future roundtables.