From Rutgers University–Newark:
The Rutgers University Board of Governors has approved a plan to develop artistic expression locally by facilitating public scholarship and community interaction among Rutgers University–Newark faculty, staff, and students with the residents of Greater Newark. The plan is titled “Express Newark: A University–Community Collaboratory.” The program will utilize a collaborate programming style through a wide range of arts and humanities-based uses.
The focus is to create collaborative academic and research programs, support public scholarship, invest in places that engage the world, and cultivate civic dialogue. “Express Newark” addresses concerns which were addressed in the Rutgers University–Newark Strategic Plan (RU-N Strategic Plan), which was released in September 2014. This project is helping Rutgers fulfill it’s function as essential institution in Greater Newark.
“Express Yourself,” which is located in a section of the former Hahne & Company department store in downton Newark, will bring Rutgers University–Newark studio artists, printmakers, photographers, theater director-producers, journalists, authors, and humanists together with community arts and culture organizations and local schools to organize new talent. Further collaborators include the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Gallery Aferro, Newark Print Shop, Aljira Gallery, Hycide Magazine, Newark First, and the Edison National Historical Park.
The Board of Governors allowed Rutgers to spend up to $25 million on the new project. This is a multi-year project, which is already underway. The location of “Express Newark” is ideal because it faces Military Park, which connects Rutgers to the city of Newark. This building will become an important connection to the business-related Broad Street area and the blossoming arts district along Halsey Street.
The media contact for further information regarding the project is Peter Englot, 973-353-5541; peter.englot@rutgers.edu.
You can download the full PDF of the “Express Newark” Visionary Plan here.