$14K In Grants Awarded To 2 Bridgewater Arts Organizations

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Two Bridgewater-based arts organizations were among 15 in Somerset County to be awarded grants through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Local Arts Program (LAP).

The two organizations in Bridgewater received a total of $14,000 out of the $200,000 that was awarded and approved by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission and the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners.

The grants assist organizations with general operating support and special projects. It is an evolving field that serves the community’s interests by promoting arts, culture, and creativity.

The Bridgewater organizations to receive grants are:

Adult Day Center of Somerset County, Bridgewater - $4,000
Special project funds will support “The Art of Care” program, which will result in an exhibition to be held during September 2023.

Raag-Rang, Bridgewater - $10,000

Funding will support the organization’s 2023 programing, including concerts, lectures, and Kal-Ke-Kalakar (Artists of the Future).

"Communities that integrate the arts into their public spaces and plans enjoy improved wellbeing on so many levels," said Somerset County Commissioner Melonie Marano, liaison to the Cultural & Heritage Commission. "In Somerset County, our creativity continues to draw visitors and inspire residents. We appreciate the work of our nonprofit organizations and municipalities and are delighted to support them with this state funding."

"We are fortunate in Somerset County to have numerous nonprofit organizations and municipalities that are dedicated to the arts," said Rory Britt, the President of the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission. "I encourage the public to patronize these organizations and enjoy those events made possible through our LAP grants."

Below are the other Somerset County organizations who received LAP grants:

American Theatre Group, Bernards - $35,000

Funding will support the 2023 season of artistic productions, the professional development program for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and Queer-identifying playwrights, and an arts education program for students and recent graduates.

Bound Brook Cultural Arts Committee, Bound Brook - $3,000
Special project funding will help expand the types of music and dance performances at Riverfest 2023, an annual free event featuring high quality artistic performances.

Downtown Somerville Alliance, Somerville - $34,000
Creative placemaking funding will assist in the development and installation of a statue of Paul Robeson on Division Street in Somerville.

Friends of the Abraham Staats House, South Bound Brook - $1,000
Special project funding will be used to facilitate two new programs. The first is a dramatic one-man retelling of the Middlebrook Cantonment, and the second features virtuoso recorder and harpsicord performances of 17th and 18th century music.

Friends of the Kennedy Martin Stelle Farmstead, Bernards- $22,700
General operating support funding will be used to increase staff capacity as well as update the organization’s strategic and disaster plans.

Light Opera of New Jersey, Inc., Bernards - $10,000
Funding will support a fully staged light opera production as well as expand outreach opportunities in Somerset County.

Raritan Valley Choral Society, Hillsborough - $3,300

General operating support funding will be used to support 2023 performances and updates to the organization’s website.

RVCC Arts & Design Department, Branchburg - $4,000
Special project funding will be used to acquire distinguished musicians to perform at the 2023 RVCC Mozaika Concert Series.

Raritan Valley Symphonic Band, Hillsborough - $5,000
General operating support funding will help the organization expand marketing efforts and hire a guest musician to hold a masterclass, as well as to be a featured performer at one concert.

Somerset Symphony Orchestra, Branchburg - $10,000
Funding will support three masterwork concerts and the reinstatement of their On-The-Go Chamber Music arts outreach program.

Somerset Valley Players, Hillsborough - $20,000
Grant funding will aid with 2023 production costs, facilitation of an acting workshop for young actors, and marketing to increase community outreach.

Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, Montgomery - $18,000
Special project funding will be used to commission the creation and publication of a youth historical fiction book titled Truehart Sourland Journals.

Ukrainian History & Education Center, Franklin - $20,000
General operating support funding will support staff capacity while providing hands-on folk-art programming and youth arts programming.

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