Report To The Community 2021

Rosa returned and sold more
tickets here than he’d ever
sold before — and finally,
Los Tigres del Norte arrived
and sold out to the rafters.”
During those months,
every show was a reunion,
an emotional regrouping
between audiences and
the artists they love.
Which is not to say that
the transition back to live
performances was entirely
smooth. Some audiences
questioned safety procedures
as too strict — while others
saw them as too lenient. And in
mid-summer, the Delta variant
of the coronavirus “hit like
a rock,” Tranquada recalls,
throwing some performances
into doubt and delaying the
Arts Center’s planned return of
its staff to their offices. (Later,
the Omicron variant — a more
transmissible but milder version
of the disease — would have
a similar impact.) And staffing
shortages that were endemic in
2021 did not spare NJPAC either,
prompting some members of
senior management to moonlight
as ushers and ticket takers at
especially busy performances.
But overall, the trend was
toward more and more
successful performances, with
larger and larger audiences,
and more of NJPAC’s programs
returning as in-person
gatherings. The Community
Engagement department
spent late summer and fall
activating Newark’s parks
with outdoor, in-person
performances and classes,
presented in conjunction
with the Newark City Parks
Foundation. By September,
students returned to in-person
Saturday arts trainings,
reformulated as smaller,
staggered classes to minimize
crowding in NJPAC’s Center
for Arts Education.
In October, Arts Center staff
officially returned to their offices
after working from home for
more than 18 months. The staff
reunion was cautious but giddy,
with everyone from producers
to programmers to fundraisers
gathering for a masked
welcome back party in the
Prudential Hall lobby. For some
“NJPAC never
stopped. We did
virtual, we did
outdoor events,
we did socially
distanced
performances.
We never
missed a
beat. We
kept the arts
alive when
people needed
them most.”
– Kitab Rollins
staff hired during 2020 or 2021,
it was their first opportunity to
meet their colleagues in person.
“What was so great about that
day was seeing everyone’s
expressions, how happy they
were to reunite with their
colleagues,” says Beth Silver,
Vice President and Chief
People Officer. “That was the
moment I felt that we were really
back — not necessarily to 100%,
but we were on the path.”
As the season continued,
more NJPAC traditions
returned: The TD James
Moody Jazz Festival marked
its 10th anniversary season
with a nearly month-long
celebration of “America’s
classical music.” Rutgers
University-Newark graduation
ceremonies returned, as did
the Mars Wrigley Halloween
Treat Truck Tour giveaway.
December’s calendar filled up
with holiday-themed shows
by pop, jazz and classical
performers. Non-performance
nights welcomed the return
of corporate celebrations,
including a particularly
memorable one for which
Fort Lee’s Cross River Bank
created a tented Middle
Eastern bazaar on the Betty
Wold Johnson stage.
“I love having people in the
building again, and I even love
the crazy hours,” says Austin
Cleary, Assistant Vice President
of Sales and Planning. “For that
Cross River Bank event, I was
here for 17 hours one day —
but it was great. I was running
around the building and I
realized — Hey, we’re back!”
While audience numbers hadn’t
quite reached pre-pandemic
levels by the end of 2021, and
resurgences of the virus and its
variants continued to disrupt
some events, by the start of
2022, NJPAC was nearing the
level of in-person activity it
sustained before the crisis.
Most importantly, though,
NJPAC continued to provide
the solace and joy of the
performing arts to the many
people who look to the
Arts Center for inspiration,
connection and community.
“NJPAC never stopped,” Rollins
adds. “We did virtual, we did
outdoor events, we did socially
distanced performances. We
never missed a beat. We kept
the arts alive when people
needed them most.” •
virtual offerings continue to evolve
Virtual Realities (top to bottom): A still from Ailey,
a documentary streamed by NJPAC as part of a nationwide
watch; participation actually increased when educators
were invited to convene online for NJPAC’s 2021 professional
development trainings; acclaimed jazz violinist Regina
Carter (top left) took the Geri Allen Jazz Camp online.
Virtual events have continued to
be a part of NJPAC’s offerings, even
as in-person events returned.
The Arts Center’s Standing in Solidarity
social justice programming — including
a nationwide watch of the documentary
Ailey, about the founder of Alvin Ailey
American Dance Theater, in January of
2022 — continued to provide online discussion
and context around important issues.
NJPAC’s professional development trainings
for teachers remained virtual in 2021, as did
the Arts Education department’s mentoring
program. Summer camps, including the
Geri Allen Jazz Camp for young female
and nonbinary performers, also remained
a virtual offering but continues to draw
participants from around the globe.
“For the virtual professional development
events, we actually had a higher attendance
from local participants,” explains Jennifer
Tsukayama, Vice President of Arts Education.
“That makes perfect sense: Teachers don’t
have to find a babysitter, or drive here and
home again. As for student offerings — once
we went virtual, we drew students from all
over. We want to continue to be there for
them, and we’re still refining how we do that.”
Meanwhile, NJPAC also began experimenting
with making some high-demand concerts
both virtual and live events, simultaneously.
For example, an Eddie Vedder concert set
for February 2022 (which sold out almost
immediately) will be offered as a virtual
experience as well as a live concert.
“There will always be a place for virtual
events, and we’re exploring strategic
partnerships with online companies that will
capitalize on the reach of programs we’re
already offering on stage,” says Evan White,
Assistant Vice President of Programming.
“One of the things we realized over the course
of the pandemic is that NJPAC offers truly
unique, engaging, entertaining content,”
David Rodriguez, Executive Vice President and
Executive Producer. “Content with a real pointof-view,
content that embraces and celebrates
diversity. Sharing that content, in all the ways
we can — including virtually — will always
be part of our mission going forward.” •
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