(NEWARK, NJ) -- GlassRoots, Newark's 23-year-old nonprofit glass art institution, is thrilled to announce its move and expansion in 2025 to a new space at 23 William Street in RBH Group's Teachers Village community. This state-of-the-art ground-level location will house GlassRoots' offices, glassmaking studios, classrooms, and event spaces, providing greater access and visibility to the general public. Twice the size of the organization's current space in Newark's Downtown District, GlassRoots' new home will position Newark's premier glass art center as an anchor of the City's Arts and Education District and an engaging cultural institution for an evolving neighborhood.
The larger facilities will strengthen the organization’s impact throughout the Greater Newark community by accommodating more school and community-based partnerships to serve over 10,000 students annually. Located in the heart of Newark and just minutes from major routes and transit stops into the City, GlassRoots will continue its tradition as a welcoming, creative space for young people, families, artists and the business community.
“Being part of a neighborhood that intersects Newark’s residential and business communities will provide endless opportunities for our organization,” says Carol Losos, Executive Director of GlassRoots. “Our free and affordable classes and programs unite people of all ages and artistic abilities; teachers and youth leaders cherish our unique blend of art and science; and, surprising to many, businesses engage GlassRoots to facilitate out-of-the box team building activities and create bespoke handmade awards. We look forward to expanding these celebrated offerings to even more of our neighbors with this exciting new chapter for our organization!”
This expansion would not have been possible without the generous support of the City of Newark, the Nicholson Foundation, our 2020 Capital Campaign donors and RBH Group who worked closely with us to secure crucial funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) under the Activation, Revitalization and Transformation (A.R.T.) Program aimed at revitalizing the economic centers of cultural destinations in Newark and Atlantic City.
Ron Beit, President and CEO of RBH Group affirms, “RBH Group is thrilled to welcome GlassRoots as the anchor arts organization in our Teachers Village community downtown. Since its founding over 20 years ago, GlassRoots has engaged with and inspired youth as well as adults from Newark and beyond, to ignite creativity and learning through glass art-making. The new street-front Glass Art Center in Teachers Village will include studios, classrooms, offices and retail space for art-making, education and entrepreneurship, doubling the size of the current space, and allowing GlassRoots to annually serve 10,000 students, offer 300 more classes, employ more students, teaching and production artists and substantially increase its art glass production for sale. RBH Group has long supported arts organizations in its developments downtown, and looks forward to a long and creative partnership with GlassRoots.”
This support for GlassRoots’ expansion reflects recent research demonstrating the positive economic and social impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry.
The groundbreaking 2023 Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) study by Americans for the Arts revealed that:
* 89% of attendees to cultural events agreed that the activity or venue they were attending was “a source of neighborhood pride for the community.”
* 79% of the American public believe that the arts are “important to their community’s businesses, economy, and local jobs.”
* 72% of Americans believe, “The arts provide shared experiences with people of different races, ethnicities, ages, beliefs, and identities (gender, political, national origin).”
* 73% agree that the arts “helps me understand other cultures better.”
“GlassRoots’ commitment to bolster our community is stronger than ever,” says Board President Roger C. Tucker, III. “The Newark Glass Art Center will help our city become an even more enjoyable, fascinating, and diverse cultural destination that educates, entertains and celebrates the glass arts.”
GlassRoots sparks change and enables growth in individuals and communities through the transformative power of glass art: building skills, igniting creativity, inspiring confidence and impacting economic vitality.
