The Californer - Five Years of Impact: New Jersey Arts & Culture Renewal Fund Celebrates Milestone Anniversary

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Lynne Toye, Executive Director Of NJACRF

Over $10 million awarded to more than 220 arts, culture, and history organizations across New Jersey since 2020.

PRINCETON, N.J. - Californer -- The New Jersey Arts & Culture Renewal Fund (NJACRF) proudly celebrates five years of transformative investment, partnership and impact across the Garden State's arts, cultural and historic sector. Established in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, the Renewal Fund was founded with the mission to provide critical relief to organizations whose work enriches communities, fosters creativity and preserves the cultural fabric of New Jersey.

"The New Jersey Arts & Culture Renewal Fund does much more than provide grants," said Jeremy Grunin, President of the Grunin Foundation and NJACRF Board Treasurer. "We are cultivating community—sharing our culture, experiences, and resources in ways that renew our collective commitment to the arts."

In 2023, the NJACRF reached a significant milestone—establishing itself as an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, a change that expanded its capacity to receive tax-deductible donations and strategic grant funding. This change ensured that the Renewal Fund would remain a steady resource that could continue to offer support in times of unexpected sector disruptions.

To date, NJACRF has awarded over $10 million in general operating support grants to more than 220 nonprofit organizations across the state, playing a vital role in sustaining and strengthening a vibrant, inclusive arts ecosystem. This year, the need is greater than ever. "Federal grant cancellations and shifts in funder priorities have deeply affected smaller cultural organizations this year," said Lynne Toye, Executive Director of the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund, referring to funding reductions at the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). "Small grass-roots community organizations are particularly vulnerable," she added. Some organizations have had to reduce staffing and programs as a result of unexpected reductions in funding. NJACRF will award additional grants at the end of this year.

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In addition to its grantmaking, NJACRF is strengthening the sector in other ways. In 2023 it launched a series of community convenings to foster connection, collaboration, and shared learning among arts, culture, and history professionals. Hosted at cultural institutions throughout New Jersey, these gatherings are creating networks, elevating diverse voices, and building a more unified sector.

"These convenings help to bridge the gap between funders, grantees, and community leaders, while allowing for a safe space to share experiences," said Toye.

As NJACRF celebrates its fifth anniversary, its leadership sees this moment not just as a milestone, but as a launchpad for future growth. "The arts, culture, and history sectors are dynamic, resilient, and ever-evolving," said Sharnita C. Johnson, Vice President of Strategy, Impact and Communications at the Victoria Foundation and Board President of NJACRF.

NJACRF will host a special convening in late October at ArtYard in Frenchtown, NJ to celebrate the anniversary. They hope this will serve as not just a celebration of the Renewal Fund's work and accomplishments, but another chance for grantees and supporters to build relationships.

Just as the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund was founded to meet the sector's needs during the pandemic, they hope to continue their work by amplifying the contributions of arts and culture organizations and uplifting the correlation between a thriving cultural sector and community wellbeing.

"Our work gives voice to individuals who were historically marginalized, by unearthing, preserving, and sharing their stories with the broader community," said Catherine Fulmer-Hogan, Board President of the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, an NJACRF grantee. "This work is essential to advancing a more just and equitable future."

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"The progress and impact of NJACRF is a powerful testament to what is possible through collaboration with supporters including the New Jersey State Council on the Arts," Toye added. "We are proud of what we've achieved—and we are inspired by the future ahead."

For more information about the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund and its ongoing work, please visit https://NJArtsCulture.org.

About New Jersey Arts & Culture Renewal Fund
The New Jersey Arts & Culture Renewal Fund was established in 2020 to ensure the survival and strength of the state's arts, arts education, cultural and historic sector during and after the pandemic. The New Jersey Arts & Culture Renewal Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, provides financial support to catalyze a more equitable statewide recovery and build resilience for arts, cultural and historical organizations. To learn more, visit NJArtsCulture.org.