WHAT WE DO
The Cultural Access Network Project
The Cultural Access Network Project, established in 1992, is a program of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and New Jersey Theatre Alliance. The Project provides a wide range of services to assist theatres and cultural organizations in making their programs and facilities accessible to seniors and people with disabilities. The programs of the Cultural Access Network Project are guided by a steering committee representing arts patrons, state and county officials, arts administrators, and managers from organizations serving people with disabilities. The project serves as a nationally-recognized role model program for other states to follow.
The Creating Change Network
The Creating Change Network is a program of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance in partnership with ArtPride New Jersey, that aims to build a more equitable, just, accessible, and anti-racist theatre and arts community. Launched in 2021 with the Creating Change Virtual Symposium, attended by over 550 arts leaders, the network offers ongoing roundtables and workshops, in-person accountability check-ins, and other collaborative efforts. The programs of the Creating Change Network are guided by a steering committee representing arts administrators, artists, and leaders of social justice organizations.
New Jersey Arts and Culture Administrators of Color Network
The New Jersey Arts and Culture Administrators of Color is a network of professional arts administrators of color dedicated to advancing efforts related to equity, diversity, and inclusion within New Jersey’s arts community. This initiative is hosted by New Jersey Theatre Alliance and is a partnership between the Alliance, ArtPride New Jersey, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and Newark Symphony Hall. The project is guided by an advisory committee made up of arts leaders of color from across the state
Professional Development and Training
New Jersey Theatre Alliance offers opportunities for staff of member theatres to convene to network, socialize, and learn together. It can be challenging for individual theatres to sponsor significant professional development opportunities for staff; the Alliance aims to fill that gap by bringing together colleagues from around the state to build skills and discuss pressing issues in their area of expertise.
Pandemic Support and Relief
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, New Jersey Theatre Alliance served as a vital source of information and support. We contracted Dr. Stuart Weiss, a well-respected physician and crowd safety expert, to serve as the medical consultant for the field. We distributed over $100,000 of direct relief grants to individual theatre workers and over $75,000 of funding to our members to support the purchase of PPE and testing supplies. We also worked with a nationally-known marketing firm to create the “Opening Night, Opening Right” campaign to publicize the consistent health and safety protocols of our members.