ArtsXChange Comes to Gant -Gilbert Collective

Newark Centers of Hope Summer Enrichment Programs Dates

July 5 through August 18, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vince Lombardi Center of Hope, 201 Bloomfield Ave. (973) 577-7748

Hayes Park West Center of Hope for Girls, 179 Boyd St., (973) 733-3959

Hyatt Court Center of Hope, 11 Hawkins Court, (973) 799-2990

Pennington Court Center of Hope, 190 South St., (973) 619-9001

After more than a year of extensive talks and planning with neighborhood organizations, NJPAC launched ArtsXChange, an initiative with Clinton Hill Community Action.

Since its April launch, the new series has brought two performances to the South Ward each month. Summer events scheduled include a jazz concert in Mildred Helms Park and a local-artist-led workshop at the Gant-Gilbert Arts Collective in July, and a performance of one of Pia Wilson’s plays by the Yendor Theater Company in August.

Every event is the work of community residents and local artists, in collaboration with an NJPAC production team. The partnership grew out of community feedback received by NJPAC’s leadership after they announced plans to build a new arts education and community center, the Cooperman Center, on its downtown campus.

“A number of people said to us: ‘Well, a new community center sounds wonderful, but what are you doing in my community? Can you do something for us here, in our neighborhood?’” NJPAC’s President and CEO John Schreiber, told the crowd at the ArtsXChange kick-off event.

So far, the program has featured local talent including the Shabazz Dance Troupe, poet Mia X, students from Belmont Runyon school, and The Other Side of Newark, a hip hop collective featuring young people from across the city who are mentored by West Ward Councilman Dupré Kelly—better known to hip hop aficionados as “DoItAll” from Lords of the Underground.

NJPAC plans to launch similar programs in other city wards and neighborhoods. Full details about ArtsXChange events can be found at njpac.org/series/artsxchange. dN