Support for Arts Access

“Okaloni Palace” by Cheryl Chapin, part of the “Access-ABILITY” exhibit at the Morris Museum in Morristown, NJ.

Matheny’s Arts Access Program, which empowers individuals with disabilities to create art without boundaries, received a $34,267 grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. The grant was among several awarded at the Arts Council’s annual meeting held July 29 in Trenton.

“Today’s actions,” said Elizabeth Mattson, NJSCA chair, “mean invaluable organizations, programs and individuals across New Jersey will have the means to do what they do best through the arts – shape communities and change lives.” Arts Access director Eileen Murray expressed her gratitude to the Arts Council “for their support and belief in the Arts Access Program. With their generosity, we continue to fulfill our mission of bringing artistic freedom and creative expression to people with disabilities.”

Arts Access was also one of 33 organizations receiving a Citation of Excellence, presented by the Arts Council to honor “New Jersey arts organizations, programs and projects that receive the highest possible assessment of their Council grant applications by esteemed, independent panels of their peers.”

Untitled by Michael Martin, part of the Arts Access exhibit at the Collaborative Art Exhibition at Rutgers University New Jersey Medical School in Newark.

Congratulations from our state senator

State Senator Michael J. Doherty.

New Jersey State Senator Michael J. Doherty (R-23rd District) has congratulated Matheny’s Arts Access Program for receiving a $31,152 grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. In a letter to Matheny president Steve Proctor, Senator Doherty said, “I commend you for your efforts in maintaining and preserving our cultural heritage while using innovative means to finance these ventures.”

Arts Access enables people with disabilities to create fine art, assisted by professional artist-facilitators. The NJSCA grant was given for “general program support.” It was one of nearly 800 grants given to arts organizations throughout the state in July.