social
impact
Leveraging the arts to make positive change
What is “social impact”?
Social impact creates significant positive change in communities, and for individual well-being and social relationships.
What is Social Impact at NJPAC?
At NJPAC, Social Impact is both a philosophy that guides our work and a wide range of programs. We strive to leverage the arts to make positive changes in our community’s health, education, community development and civic engagement. Social Impact at NJPAC is comprised of three main departments: Arts Education, Arts & Well-Being and Community Engagement. NJPAC also leads research projects in each of these fields.
And how do we do that?
We use the arts to advance the collective good through free performances (on our campus and in every ward in Newark); co-producing events and gatherings with community organizations; bringing the arts to patients, staff and visitors at hospitals; free poetry workshops for teens; theater classes for returning citizens; arts training for young people; mentorship for students and emerging artists; pathways to technical theater careers; certification programs for teaching artists; collaborations with community arts organizations; partnerships with healthcare and health insurance organizations; community conversations about policies and politics and so much more!
Arts Education programs that encompass performances for school children, summer and school-year arts training programs for teens and tweens, professional development for teachers, and support programs that help young artists launch careers in the arts.
Arts & Well-Being programs that harness the power of the arts to improve physical and mental health, through “prescriptions” for free arts activities, performances in hospitals, arts classes for university students and much more.
Community Engagement offers free performances, arts events and public conversations in every ward in Newark and at parks, libraries, schools, and houses of worship around the state, many in partnership with local arts and social service organizations.
NJPAC is a community space that fosters well-being and social cohesion through the arts. We host world-class performers on stage and in community, provide opportunities for creativity and self-development for our Arts Education students and their teachers, and serve as a town square for valuable and relevant conversations and dialogue.
and coming soon…
All of NJPAC’s Social Impact work will be housed in the Cooperman Family Arts Education and Community Center, a new 58,000-square-foot building that will open in 2027. The Cooperman Center will feature a dozen multipurpose classrooms, a 169-seat education “lab”, a children’s arts reading room and a suite of professional rehearsal studios.
social impact by the numbers
144,846
people participated in our Social Impact programming in the 2024 – 25 season
18,571
students attended SchoolTime performances in the 2024 – 25 season
498
young artists who enrolled in NJPAC Saturday and Summer Arts Training programs this past season
377
free Community Engagement events held throughout the state from Newark to Atlantic City this past season
We can’t do this without you!
NJPAC raises $7.5 million every year to provide free and highly subsidized Social Impact programming. When you give, you’re supporting all these programs — and communities across our state. Your generosity makes an incredible impact!