From the Front Row: Discover Jersey Arts

Last month’s From the Front Row page featured information on ways to get discounts on Broadway tickets. This month, for those who would prefer to stay local rather than head to the city for the bright lights of Broadway, we have information about Discover Jersey Arts, an organization whose mission is to increase awareness of and participation in the arts in New Jersey. Their website, www.JerseyArts.com, offers a wealth of info to help support that mission and features a central clearinghouse on details about the Garden State’s cultural scene. Co-sponsored by the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Discover Jersey Arts strives to connect residents and visitors to the arts that they enjoy while at the same time promoting the arts to enhance the state’s quality of life and economic vitality. Program support is provided by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, the South Jersey Cultural Alliance, and the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism.

Pay a visit to the website or to the organization’s Facebook page, both of which are as colorful and vibrant as the topics and events they showcase, and you’ll find a comprehensive calendar of events and performances, a directory of cultural and arts organizations, a virtual gallery of work from New Jersey artists, profiles of creative talents, an ongoing feed of updates and news of related interest, and even road trip suggestions. If you have a particular passion, you can search by genre, with everything from theater, dance, film, poetry, storytelling, and festivals to painting, sculpture, photography, crafts, historical walking tours and reenactments, or contemporary and classical music. There is even a link for camps, workshops, lectures, auditions, and entries in exhibits or competitions. Narrow your search by keyword or by location and distance to see what’s happening nearby or perhaps someplace further away for a fascinating day trip or a fun night out. 

For those who are more than just an occasional visitor to theaters, concerts, or museums, the site also offers an option that rewards loyal patrons of the arts – affectionately called Culture Vultures – in New Jersey. Called the Jersey Arts Membership program, it provides several levels of membership. The free basic membership, good for two years, offers discounts and premiums at more than 100 theaters, museums, and arts centers throughout the state, plus complimentary subscription to the Jersey Arts e-Savers emails. The emails highlight exclusive “two-for-one” and “buy one, get one” member discounts to featured events each month, plus behind-the-scenes stories, videos, and podcasts. Basic members also get invitations to special promotions throughout the year and have access to the online Jersey Arts Member Center.

There are also two paid premium memberships available, at a cost of just $10 for one year or $15 for two years. In addition to the perks available to basic members, paid members also receive invitations to exclusive member parties, premium extras such as flash sales and early ticket offers, and a free second membership card for a family member.

Whether you opt for the paid or unpaid membership, the Jersey Arts Membership program is a valuable resource that opens terrific access to a colorful world of talented arts and entertainment, right here in the Garden State! Find out more at www.JerseyArts.com or follow the Facebook page at Discover Jersey Arts.