(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The Arts Institute of Middlesex County has been approved for a $25,000 Grants for Arts Projects award to support the Share Your Foodways project. Middlesex County Arts Institute’s project is among 1,248 projects across America totaling $28,840,000 to receive this first round of funding in the Grants for Arts Projects category this year.

“We’re honored to be recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts for all the work the Arts Institute of Middlesex County provides the community,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. “In keeping with our Destination 2040 vision, this grant supports the Arts Institute’s goal to offer enriching Educational Cultural Programming in the County. The Share Your Foodways program helped reduce food insecurity during the pandemic, I’m excited to see this project expand in 2022.”

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support arts projects like this one from Arts the Institute of Middlesex County that help support the community’s creative economy,” said NEA Acting Chair Ann Eilers. “The Arts Institute of Middlesex County is among the arts organizations nationwide that are using the arts as a source of strength, a path to well-being, and providing access and opportunity for people to connect and find joy through the arts.”

The Share Your Foodways program combines the efforts of REPLENISH with the Arts Institute of Middlesex County, to give back to the community in a fun and inventive way. Through this program, local chefs have partnered with the Arts Institute of Middlesex County to explore the ways in which food, culture, and family histories intersect. The goal of this program is to not just celebrate the culinary traditions of County residents, but to help reduce food insecurity and to destigmatize the use of food pantries.

Please note, this $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts is awarded to the Arts Institute of Middlesex County for a period of two years — the calendar years 2022 and 2023.

This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov. 

Middlesex County is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies, three universities, 19 park systems, and world-class healthcare and research facilities making it one of the nation’s most dynamic regions and a leader in technology, transportation, the arts, and food innovation. As one of the most diverse populations in the country, Middlesex County is home to over 832,000 residents living throughout 25 municipalities. Ranked #1 in the state for best schools, the County offers an award-winning vocational school system, a county college, and workforce development creating a unique ecosystem in which opportunities abound. Conveniently located between New York and Philadelphia, Middlesex County is a leading destination for businesses and residents alike to live, work, and play – and has been since the 17th century.