(BURLINGTON, NJ) -- The polls are now open for the 2017 JerseyArts.com People’s Choice Awards. An annual contest that honors New Jersey’s vital, vibrant and diverse arts community, the JerseyArts.com People’s Choice Awards saw more than 21,000 ballots cast last year and is prepped to welcome even more arts lovers as they vote for their favorite local arts organizations.
“Now in its ninth year, the People’s Choice Awards is an awesome opportunity to highlight our robust arts community,” said Nick Paleologos, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. “We have seen the Awards grow year after year, not only illuminating the amazing arts we have in our state, but also the wonderful audiences that support the incredible work those groups are doing throughout the year.”
This year, 11 arts districts and 98 organizations will compete in 16 categories, including favorite performing arts center, dance company, art gallery, choral group and more. The nominees were determined by their peers in the Jersey Arts Marketers network, made up of hundreds of arts groups across the state.
“The quality of art we have in New Jersey is always increasing, thanks to our rich and vibrant cultural community working together to build each other up,” said Adam Perle, President & CEO of ArtPride New Jersey, which cosponsors the Discover Jersey Arts program with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. “This year, we saw a record number of nomination ballots come in from all over the state, illustrating the breadth of art we are so lucky to have here, as well as the desire these groups have to see one another thrive.”
Public voting runs from January 5, 2017 through February 16, 2017 at www.JerseyArts.com/Vote. Voters can enter to win a $100 gift card to the nominee of their choice, plus a Jersey Arts gift basket with items from this year's winners.
Winners of the 2017 JerseyArts.com People’s Choice Awards will be announced and honored in March at the New Jersey Conference on Tourism in Atlantic City.
About JerseyArts.com and Discover Jersey Arts
JerseyArts.com is the official website of Discover Jersey Arts, a cosponsored project of the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State dedicated to increasing the awareness of and participation in the arts in New Jersey. The site features a comprehensive cultural events calendar and arts directory; feature stories on Culture Vultures Arts Weekly and the Jersey Arts Podcast; details on Jersey Arts Membership, including discounts and exclusive member events; an online gallery of New Jersey artists; and other content about the state’s cultural community.
About the New Jersey State Council on the Arts
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 through strategic support of the arts. To learn more about the Council, please visit www.artscouncil.nj.gov.
About the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation
The ArtPride New Jersey Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes the value of the arts to New Jersey’s quality of life, education and economic vitality through research and a variety of programs and services. For more information about ArtPride, visit www.ArtPrideNJ.com.
