(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- After seven years, longtime South Jersey arts advocate Joyce Hagen is stepping down from her position as founding Executive Director of the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. ACAF will seek a new Executive Director to carry on the organization’s mission to foster arts and culture in Atlantic City. 

During her tenure as ACAF Executive Director, Hagen grew the organization from a small group of volunteers seeking to promote the arts and artists in AC to a fully operative 501(c)3 nonprofit with paid staff, robust fundraising, and successful ongoing programming. Under Hagen’s leadership, ACAF initiated Chalk About AC, sidewalk chalk events throughout the city; ARTeriors, where artists transform a vacant building through installations that capture their creative visions; and 48 Blocks AC, a grassroots event celebrating creativity and culture in AC. All three programs are designed to involve residents, visitors, and artists in creating and/or experiencing the arts in the city. 

Through 48 Blocks AC and the resulting Mural Arts program, over 60 murals by local, regional, national, and international muralists have been created in Atlantic City. The City of Atlantic City Council and Governor Phil Murphy have publicly commended the ACAF for its role in the City’s revitalization efforts. The AC Visitor’s Guide (10 Things to Do in AC) listed the murals as AC’s number one tourist attraction in 2020.

The Executive Director role is multifaceted ranging from strategic planning, management of our small team, fundraising and development, creation/oversight of programs, and advocacy and awareness-building for the value of arts/creativity in building Atlantic City’s future. The Executive Director reports directly to the Board of Directors. For more information or to apply for the position, click here.

The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public art access and fostering community art education in Atlantic City, NJ. Through programs and partnerships, ACAF promotes arts-based tourism and economic development initiatives while increasing community pride and civic self-esteem. Programs include 48 Blocks Atlantic City, Chalk About AC and ARTeriors.