Inside this issue, you'll find information about joining our next Youth Arts Ed Council. You will also find an invitation for arts educators across New Jersey to share their stories in our Arts Educator Spotlight blog series, a new podcast from Arts Ed Newark, a webinar from New Jersey Theatre Alliance on the updated ArtsPay NJ Dashboard, a national arts policy survey from Americans for the Arts that needs voices from the field, and the latest news featuring students, educators, and schools making an impact. Read on!
Help Us Spread The Word!
Now Accepting Applications: Youth Arts Ed Council Cohort 4
Know a high school student who's passionate about the arts? Applications are now open for Cohort 4 of our Youth Arts Ed Council; a paid leadership program for 21 New Jersey students in grades 9 through 12, running July 2026 through February 2027. Participants will build advocacy and leadership skills, engage with guest speakers from the arts and education fields, collaborate on projects, and help shape the future of arts education in New Jersey schools.
Council members receive a $1,000 stipend, and no prior experience is required. Read through the application for full details,apply by 11:59pm on Monday, June 8, 2026.If you have questions, pleasereach out to Monifa Kincaid, our Program Director at Monifa@artsednj.org.
Through the council, I learned how to turn passion into action. Attending school board meetings opened my eyes to the real challenges facing arts education in Jersey City, and it pushed me to listen carefully, ask better questions, and speak with intention.
Pari
Cohort 3
I learned a lot about advocacy overall and the importance of how much a single piece of art can influence people...I learned how to advocate for the first time and that I should be fighting for my art to have a place in this world.
Jathneil
Cohort 3
The different projects and guest speakers we had also changed the way I think about careers in the arts. I learned that creativity can be used in many different fields, not just as an artist. These experiences helped me realize that I want to minor in marketing because it combines creativity with communication, two things I enjoy. Overall, the Youth Arts Ed Council helped me grow as a creative person and showed me that there are many possibilities and pathways in the arts for my future.
Isabella
Cohort 3
Across New Jersey, arts educators are showing up for students every day, bringing creativity, rigor, and joy into their classrooms. Arts Ed NJ wants to celebrate that. We are looking for K–12 arts educators across New Jersey to feature in our Arts Educator Spotlight blog series. If you are an arts educator who wants to share your story, or if you know one who deserves recognition, we would love to highlight what you are doing.
The 2026 National Arts Policy Survey is part of ArtsVote, Americans for the Arts' year-round, nonpartisan civic engagement initiative, ensuring their advocacy agenda reflects what matters to the field. This is a structured way to listen across the field and identify where there is alignment, where there are differences, and where new priorities may be emerging. AFTA will use the findings to inform its federal policy agenda and will share the results so that advocates across the country can see how national perspectives compare with their own priorities. Please take the survey and spread the word!
Arts Ed Newark has released their first episode of 'Healing Centered Arts Education' Podcast, a 4-Part series sponsored by Devils Youth Foundation. Listen to their first guest: Al-Tariq Best, Founder, The H.U.B.B. on Community-rooted Healing, Youth Voice, and Arts as Belonging! Check out this episode on Spotify, Youtube, Apple Music and Amazon Music! Next episode to be released next Friday!
The ArtsPay NJ Interactive Dashboard has been enhanced to better serve the field in 2026. This session will introduce improved features that allow for more detailed filtering and the ability to search by specific job titles, while maintaining the anonymity of survey participants.
Whether you’re an arts administrator, artist, or advocate for pay equity, the updated dashboard offers valuable insights into compensation trends across New Jersey’s arts sector. Join us and our research partners, Baker Richards, to learn how to navigate this updated tool and make the most of this resource.
