Playwrights Theatre Receives State Arts Award

Playwrights Theatre has been designated a Major Arts Organization by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for demonstrating a solid history of artistic excellence, substantial programming, leadership, and broad public service, receiving superior review through the Council's peer panel grant review process. Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno along with State Arts Council leadership held an awards reception on January 25, 2011 in Trenton to recognize the importance of the work of Playwrights Theatre.

"Major Arts Organization designation from the Arts Council is a very prestigious award," said John Pietrowski, Artistic Director. "We are very grateful that the panel has recognized Playwrights in this manner, and are proud to be amongst the other New Jersey theatres chosen."

This award, the State Arts Council's most prestigious mark of distinction, is designated based on grant application review and conferred upon Playwrights Theatre for the duration of the grant period for which funding is received.

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts is a division of the NJ Department of State. It receives funding in direct appropriations from the State of New Jersey through a dedicated Hotel/Motel Occupancy fee and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. Since 1966, its volunteer members and professional staff have worked to improve the quality of life in New Jersey by helping the arts to flourish. For more information about the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, visit www.njartscouncil.org.

ABOUT PLAYWRIGHTS THEATRE:

Founded in 1986, Playwrights Theatre is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit professional theatre and arts education institution dedicated to developing and nurturing the dramatic imagination of artists, students, and audiences. Our New Play Program creates development opportunities for professional writers through readings, workshops and productions, and invites audiences to participate in authentic feedback experiences. Our New Jersey Writers Project, Poetry Out Loud, New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest and Festival, and Creative Arts Academy programs provide a comprehensive and hands-on arts education experience to over 31,000 students, Pre-K through adult.

Writers in the New Play Program are drawn from across the country, including our affiliation with the National New Play Network, a nation-wide group of theatres dedicated to the development and production of new work. Teaching Artists in our Education Programs are professional artists working in their field in the New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia metropolitan areas. From 2003-2012, we have been designated a Major Arts Institution by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (along with only four other theatres: The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, George Street Playhouse, McCarter Theatre Center and Paper Mill Playhouse) as "an anchor institution that contributes vitally to the quality of life in New Jersey."

Funding for our activities comes from: the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the F.M. Kirby Foundation, Inc., Bank of America, the Bay and Paul Foundation, The Bickford Foundation, Dramatist Guild Fund, Horizon Foundation of New Jersey, The Prudential Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Travelers, The Victoria Foundation, and many corporations, foundations and individuals.

Playwrights Theatre is a member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, the National New Play Network, and Madison Arts & Culture Alliance.