(Trenton, NJ) Governor Jon S. Corzine has signed a proclamation declaring October as Discover Jersey Arts Month in the state of New Jersey, encouraging those in the region to explore the cultural assets the Garden State has to offer.

Steve Runk, executive director of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, explains, “New Jersey is home to hundreds of theaters, museums, galleries, musical groups, dance companies, performing arts centers and other arts institutions. No matter what corner of the state you live in, there is sure to be something happening right in your own backyard.”

A comprehensive calendar of upcoming arts events is available online at www.JerseyArts.com which can be searched by date, region and discipline, making it easy to find out exactly what is going on, where and when. The site also offers discounted tickets and premiums to those that sign-up online for a free Jersey Arts Ticket membership. The web site and membership program are both part of the Discover Jersey Arts program, a statewide project dedicated to increasing participation in the arts.

Arts organizations statewide will be taking this opportunity to engage their audiences through email campaigns and curtain speeches at events. David Gray, executive director of the New Brunswick Cultural Center, states, “This is a wonderful chance to remind our audiences that the arts are about more than just the production they see on a stage or exhibition at a museum. The arts bring us together as a community, help us educate our children and provide important economic development to our region.” Studies show that the nonprofit arts contribute more than $1.5 billion dollars annually and 82,000 jobs to New Jersey’s economy (New Jersey’s Arts Mean Business, 2000).

These efforts are being done in conjunction with National Arts & Humanities Month, an effort coordinated by Americans for the Arts, the national organization working to empower communities with the resources and support necessary to provide access to all of the arts for all of the people. Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts and national coordinator of Arts and Humanities month, says, “Everyone recognizes the creative and cultural value of the arts and humanities. National Arts and Humanities Month offers us a chance to celebrate the often overlooked economic, educational, and civic engagement values that the arts impart in our daily lives.”

Discover Jersey Arts is a cosponsored project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and ArtPride New Jersey Foundation dedicated to increasing the awareness of and participation in the arts. Information on the arts in New Jersey is accessible online at www.JerseyArts.com or by calling 1.800.THE ARTS.

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