Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Playwrights Theatre Receives State Arts Award


Playwrights Theatre has been designated a Major Arts Organization by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for demonstrating a solid history of artistic excellence, substantial programming, leadership, and broad public service, receiving superior review through the Council’s peer panel grant review process. Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno along with State Arts Council leadership held an awards reception on January 25, 2011 in Trenton to recognize the importance of the work of Playwrights Theatre.

“Major Arts Organization designation from the Arts Council is a very prestigious award,” said John Pietrowski, Artistic Director. “We are very grateful that the panel has recognized Playwrights in this manner, and are proud to be amongst the other New Jersey theatres chosen.”

This award, the State Arts Council’s most prestigious mark of distinction, is designated based on grant application review and conferred upon Playwrights Theatre for the duration of the grant period for which funding is received.

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts is a division of the NJ Department of State. It receives funding in direct appropriations from the State of New Jersey through a dedicated Hotel/Motel Occupancy fee and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. Since 1966, its volunteer members and professional staff have worked to improve the quality of life in New Jersey by helping the arts to flourish. For more information about the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, visit http://www.njartscouncil.org/.

Pictured (left to right): Elizabeth Mattson, Council Member, NJ State Council on the Arts; Sharon Burton Turner, Chair, NJ State Council on the Arts; Rebecca Fields, Board Member, Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey; John Pietrowski, Artistic Director, Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey; Kim Guadagno, NJ Lieutenant Governor/Secretary of State; Germaine B. Trabert, Council Member, NJ State Council on the Arts; Steve Runk, Executive Director, NJ State Council on the Arts.