(BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- Light Opera of New Jersey (LONJ) has announced it has been awarded a Challenge America grant of $10,000 by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to launch their Opera for All initiative. The grant supports LONJ’s new initiative to provide 10% of their total tickets at no cost to traditionally underserved communities in Central and Northern New Jersey. It will enable them to diversify their audience with a dedicated effort to remove the price barrier for those who may otherwise be unable to attend. This grant is one of 262 Challenge America awards totaling $2.62 million that were announced by the NEA as part of its first round of fiscal year 2023 grants.
“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support arts projects in communities nationwide,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “Projects such as this one with Light Opera of New Jersey strengthen arts and cultural ecosystems, provide equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, and contribute to the health of our communities and our economy.”
“Light Opera of New Jersey is thrilled to receive this grant and launch our Opera for All initiative,” said Board Chairman Heath Weisberg.
LONJ’s next production is a fully staged version of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Marriage, presented at the South Orange Performing Arts Center in South Orange on July 15, 16, 22 and 23.
Qualified organizations or individuals interested in tickets for this show must complete an application form: Click Here for Individuals or Click Here for Organizations. Applications will only be accepted through July 8. There are a very limited number of tickets available per performance and requests will be fulfilled in the order received.
