Madison Marquette Partnership W/ NJPAC Spreads Across AP
Community Arts Advisory Council Forms, Programs & Initiatives Planned
The partnership between Madison Marquette and NJPAC is quickly spreading throughout the 1.4 square mile community.
Just four months after the partnership was announced, the collaborative effort yielded a sold out presentation by Neil DeGrasse Tyson and the Kings of Comedy Valentine’s Day Show.
But behind the scenes, new partnerships with Lakehouse Music Academy and the Asbury Park School District is helping to bring arts education programming directly into the community and schools.
Left to right: Eyesha K. Marable, NJPAC Community Engagement Producer; Alison Scott Williams, NJPAC VP Arts Education; Chris Femiano, Madison Marquettte; Katie Sword, NJPAC VP Marketing and Communications; and Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton
“Madison Marquette is proud to have partnered with NJPAC to increase and diversify programming at Paramount Theatre and Convention Hall,” Madison’s Director of Operations Chris Femiano. “Our success on the boardwalk is not just measured by what we do on Ocean Avenue but our ability to engage and be part of the community.”
Katie Sword, VP of Marketing, NJPAC shared the upcoming programs planned by NJPAC and Madison Marquette: Mar 24th, Paula Poundstone, Apr 14, Let It Be, A Celebration of the Music of the Beatles; 4/20 Disney Jrs. PJ Masks.
During a Thursday morning meeting with members of the Asbury Park community, Madison Marquette and NJPAC representatives discussed bringing forth performing and visual arts projects and initiatives, Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton said.
“They are looking to partner with existing groups to offer programs that will help bring the east and west side neighborhoods together,” Clayton said. “This is a great opportunity because they are opening doors by bringing music and art into the lives of not only our children but the entire community.”
Clayton said the meeting was attended by city residents and representatives from Lakehouse, the school district, Interfaith Neighbors, the Boys and Girls Club, Trinity Episcopal Church, The ShowRoom, Asbury Park Public Library Board, Mercy Center, Alphabets Preschool, Asbury Park Technical Academy of Dance, Coastal Habitat for Humanity, APTV, Charity Kings, Sportz Farm, Words! Bookstore, Conover Realty and Oceans Family Success Center.
They will look to launch a Books On The Move reading program in the spring, a dance program that will include classes with an Alvin Ailey instructor, in school residency programs, a building a bridge program that brings together the community’s youngest and eldest members, and visual arts meet and greets.
“We are trying to find the great artistic voices in Asbury Park,” Marable said. “We just want to compliment them and find out what the city does best because we believe that the language of the arts will resonate louder than any other issues in a community.”
The next step will be to form an Asbury Park Arts Advisory Council, Marable said.
“Yesterday’s meeting was a great opportunity to share information about our partnership with NJPAC and to establish an open dialogue with the community regarding the arts,” Femiano said.
“It will be the first of many meetings and planning initiatives to bring forth diversity in programming and attendance,” Clayton said. “Everyone left with a feeling for the possibilities and excitement and the thought of what art can do.”
[Photos courtesy of Asbury Park Communications Director Sonia Spina]
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