Arts Council Of The Morris Area

MORRIS ARTS' MISSION IS TO BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ARTS WITH ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY ARTS EVENTS, SUPPORT OF LOCAL ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND ADVOCACY FOR FUNDING FOR THE ARTS.

ARTS IN EDUCATION: THROUGH THE ARTS IN EDUCATION PROGRAM, WE SERVE A DIVERSE RANGE OF SCHOOLS AND OTHER POPULATIONS CONNECTING THEM TO ASSEMBLIES, WORKSHOPS, AND CUSTOMIZED ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN THE VISUAL ARTS, DANCE, MUSIC, POETRY, THEATRE, CREATIVE WRITING, STORYTELLING, FILMMAKING AND ENVIRONMENTAL ARTS. THIRTY-ONE RESIDENCIES TOOK PLACE IN FY2023. MORRIS ARTS OTHER TWO PROGRAMS, SERVING AT RISK TEENS, WERE ALSO HELD IN 2023.IN 2023, MORRIS ARTS WAS AWARDED A GRANT FROM THE NJ STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS TO FUND TWO RESIDENCIES FOR INDIVIDUALS, AGED 55 AND OVER. THE PROGRAMS TOOK PLACE IN THE TOWNS OF BOONTON AND DOVER AND FOCUSED ON MEMOIR WRITING AND THE USE OF EXPRESSIVE DANCE IN STORYTELLING.

ARTS PARTICIPATION AND ADVOCACYARTS PARTICIPATION AND ADVOCACY INITIATIVES CREATE AND PRESENT INNOVATIVE CULTURAL EVENTS THAT INTRODUCE THE ARTS TO LARGE AND DIVERSE AUDIENCES IN NON-TRADITIONAL VENUES AND SETTINGS. MORRIS ARTS JOINED WITH OTHER MORRISTOWN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN JUNE, 2023, FOR A WEEKEND OF EVENTS CELEBRATING AND COMMEMORATING JUNETEENTH. LATER THAT MONTH, MORRIS ARTS HELD ITS ANNUAL GIRALDA MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL, HOWEVER, INCLEMENT WEATHER MADE IT NECESSARY FOR THE EVENT TO BE HELD INDOORS. WHILE ATTENDANCE WAS A BIT DAMPENED BY THE WEATHER, IT DIDNT IMPACT THE ENTHUSIASM OF CONCERT GOERS, NOR DID IT ERASE THE SMILES ON THE FACES OF 2 DESERVING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO WERE AWARDED $6,500 IN MORRIS ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS AT THE EVENT. IN AUGUST, MORRIS ARTS WAS ONE OF 3 SPONSORS WHO HELPED CREATE ONE OF THE LARGEST ASPHALT MURALS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY IN DOVER. THIS PROJECT WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF CREATIVE PLACEMAKING WHICH USES ARTS AND CULTURE TO STRATEGICALLY SHAPE THE PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL CHARACTER OF A PLACE TO SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTE ENDURING SOCIAL CHANGE AND IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL APPEARANCE OF A PLACE OR AREA. MORRIS ARTS HOPES TO HELP COMMUNITIES IN AND AROUND MORRIS COUNTY TO DO MORE OF THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS. AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE ARTS, MORRIS ARTS CONTINUED TO COMMUNICATE AND INFORM ITS CONSTITUENTS OF LOCAL ARTS EVENTS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTS. AS A MEMBER OF AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS, MORRIS ARTS WAS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE 6TH AMERICANS FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY SURVEY WHICH ATTEMPTS TO QUANTIFY THE VALUE OF THE ARTS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.

LOCAL ARTS :MORRIS ARTS CONTINUED ITS STRONG SUPPORT OF LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS WITH OVER $121,900 IN REGRANTS WITH FUNDS FROM THE NEA AND THE NJSCA. THIS LEVEL OF INCREASED SUPPORT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A FUNDING INCREASE FROM THE NJSCA.