Village rec receives state funding again, but SOPAC was denied

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer

The South Orange Performing Arts Center was turned down for a second consecutive year in its bid for funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
About $15.5 million in grants released last week did not include the local nonprofit arts center; however, the South Orange Recreation Department received funding for a second straight year.
SOPAC Executive Director Ondine Landa Abramson said her organization had applied for 25 percent of its operating budget, the maximum amount allotted.
“We knew it was a longshot,” she said of the $125,000 request.
In a prepared statement last week, Steve Runk, executive director of the council, said all submitted applications “go through a rigorous, merit-based peer panel process during which they are assessed by independent, discipline-specific experts using uniform, published evaluation criteria that stresses objectivity and transparency.
“While the council was not able to fund the South Orange Performing Arts Center this year, “ he continued, “we encourage them to review the panel’s assessment of their application, to be in touch with the council with any questions and to apply again next year.”
Village President Douglas C. Newman said he was disappointed with the decision. As a member of SOPAC’s Board of Governors, he said he felt the council’s funding process is “skewed” to supporting organizations it has helped in the past. He called that “understandable,” though he said it makes it difficult for newer arts organizations “to receive much needed funding.”
Anthony Leitner, chairman of SOPAC’s Board of Governors, did not return a phone call seeking comment.
On Aug. 17, the Council on the Arts voted to award $15.54 million in state and federal funds to arts organizations around the state. Of that amount, $4.5 million went to groups in Essex County.
The two largest grants to Essex County-based organizations went to the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, $1.17 million, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, $1.12 million.
The village’s Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department received $9,929, the only arts group in either Maplewood or South Orange to get funding.
Director Kate Schmidt said the money would be used to support programs and exhibitions at the Pierro Gallery.
Philip Sean Curran can be reached at 908-686-7700, ext. 116, or at newsrecord@thelocalsource.com.