“Three years into his role as CEO and president of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, John Schreiber led the charge to modify the organization’s initiatives to better reflect the diverse community in which it is located,” writes Meg Fry on Thursday (8/4) in the weekly NJBIZ (Somerset, N.J.). The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra performs at NJPAC’s Prudential Hall. “Newark’s demographics include a population that is over half African-American, over a third Hispanic and a quarter Caucasian. ‘To not acknowledge that would not only be a poor reflection of what we want to accomplish, but also simply bad business,’ Schreiber said…. The arts center … created the Department of Community Engagement in 2014…. Championed by Donna Walker-Kuhne, vice president of community engagement, the program has increased access to NJPAC spaces and facilities … while providing underserved individuals and families with deeply discounted tickets. ‘The more diverse we program, the larger universe of citizens we can reach out to in the interest of the arts center’s business and mission,’ says Schreiber. ‘If we do it right, diversity should not only be present on our main stage but also through our education and community engagement initiatives.’ ”
Posted August 18, 2016
