(HAMMONTON, NJ) -- South Jersey Cultural Alliance (SJCA) – an organization committed to connecting the South Jersey cultural community to information, resources, and each other – has announced the appointment of its new Executive Director, Julie Hain.

Over the past two decades, Hain has played an active role in the arts and culture field. Her work centers on connecting with artists, cultural organizations, and community partners to build capacity, facilitate collaborative opportunities, and increase inclusivity and access to arts and culture.

“It is an exciting time to lead SJCA as we expand our reach in the region and build a true alliance to represent the full spectrum of arts, culture, and history in South Jersey,” Julie Hain said. I have always been drawn to work that centered around connection and collaboration. I am so excited to continue that work here with SJCA. I genuinely believe that together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive, and thriving South Jersey cultural community.” 

Hain initially joined SJCA in 2018 as the Membership Engagement Manager and quickly expanded her scope of work to the roles of Membership & Programs Director and Associate Director. She accepted the position of Executive Director in October 2021.

Since October 2020, she’s built the South Jersey Cultural Asset Map (SJ CAMP), which emphasizes community building, resource sharing, and peer learning throughout the South Jersey cultural community. With the help of partners in the field and a team of interns, she’s grown this database from 85 arts and culture organizations to almost 1,000 cultural assets from cultural destinations to prominent performing arts organizations and from independent artists and tradition bearers to storytellers and musicians. Everything in the arts and culture landscape can be found on SJ CAMP. SJCA continues to prioritize connecting and building relationships with BIPOC, Hispanic, Indigenous, LBGTQ, persons with disabilities, and other diverse groups. Through these efforts, she’s expanding SJCA’s reach and membership in a meaningful, inclusive, and lasting way.

Before joining SJCA, Hain was Director of Education, Exhibits, and the Jersey Shore Folklife Center at the Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen’s Museum. Her professional experience includes positions with the Chicago History Museum, Chicago Arts District, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, and International Sculpture Center.

Hain recently completed the Executive Program in Arts & Culture Strategy through National Arts Strategies at the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a Master of Arts in Humanities specializing in Art History and Cultural Policy from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Business Leadership from Baker College.

SJCA’s programs are made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Other generous funders include PNC Foundation, OceanFirst Foundation, New Jersey Historic Commission, New Jersey Cultural Trust, and the New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund. 

The South Jersey Cultural Alliance unites cultural community members to create the synergy needed for an inclusive, thriving sector. We connect arts, history, cultural organizations, artists, and tradition bearers to each other and their communities, linking them to the resources and opportunities they need to flourish in the eight southern counties of New Jersey.