Be sure to RSVP for ArtPRIDE's Annual Membership Meeting on December 7 at NJPAC's Chase Room from 4:30-6:30 pm. We have a great program lined up with Tom Tresser from the Creative America Project as the featured speaker on "The Politics of Creativity--A Call to Service." Tom's interactive presentation will begin with a spoken word performance by Marjorie Barnes of Newark.

Tom Tresser is the Founder and Lead Organizer for the Creative America Project, a nonprofit, nonpartisan initiative to encourage artists and creative professionals to vote, help fashion public policy and run for local public office. Tom was the Managing Director of Pegasus Players in Chicago and created the Chicago Young Playwrights Festival there, now in its 20th season. In 2003 Tom was appointed Visiting Fellow in Arts and Culture at DePaul University College of Commerce's Ryan Center for Creativity and Innovation.

The meeting is open to the public and free to ArtPRIDE members in good standing. There is a charge of $25 for non-members to the event. To RSVP call ArtPRIDE at 609-443-3582 or email artpride@artpridenj.com

At the Annual Meeting ArtPRIDE will also honor two distinguished arts advocates for their commitment to the arts throughout their careers. Jane Burgio of North Caldwell, former Assemblywoman and NJ Secretary of State, is an Honorary ArtPRIDE Trustee who will be presented with the ArtPRIDE Distinguished Arts Advocate Award along with Peter J. Ventimiglia of Pompton Plains, Vice President of External Affairs for Verizon New Jersey.

Please join us as we honor this two extraordinary individuals!

The election of ArtPRIDE's 2005-2006 Officers and Trustees will be held at the December 7 meeting.

Nominees for ArtPRIDE officers are Mark Packer of Appel Farm Arts and Music Center as President, Carol Cronheim of the NJ Cultural Trust, Lawrence P. Goldman of the NJ Performing Arts Center, and John McEwen of the NJ Theatre Alliance as Vice-Presidents. B. Michael Zuckerman of Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts is nominated as Treasurer and Donald B. Edwards of the American Boychoir School is nominated as Secretary.

New and renewing trustees will be announced and we ask you to join us as we thank Jeff Woodward of McCarter Theatre for his leadership as President of ArtPRIDE since 1998!

Approximately $900,000 in interest earned on the NJ Cultural Trust Fund will be distributed to projects recommended to the Cultural Trust by the Historical Commission, the Council on the Arts, and the Historic Trust. Guidelines are available that contain information on how qualified organizations can apply for funding.

In order to be eligible to apply for funds from these programs, organizations must first be designated “qualified” by the Cultural Trust. The guidelines and application forms for qualification are available directly from the Cultural Trust office. Organizations not yet qualified are urged to complete the application process as soon as possible in order to ensure eligibility.

Technical Assistance workshops to assist organizations in understanding the requirements of the grant program will be conducted:

December 1 - 2:00—4:30 pm at Appel Farm Arts & Music Center, Elmer, NJ

December 2 - 1:00—3:30 pm at East Jersey Olde Towne Village, Piscataway, NJ