UNION COUNTY ARTS CENTER, INC. SECURES NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ART PHASE II GRANT

Rahway nonprofit one of 39 recipients across the state to receive funding for community placemaking efforts.

RAHWAY, NJ – Union County Arts Center, Inc. has been awarded $497,500 through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (NJEDA)  Activation, Revitalization, and Transformation (A.R.T.) Phase II Program.

Union County Arts Center, Inc. (doing business as the Union County Performing Arts Center – UCPAC) was one of 39 organizations selected from 109 applicants statewide in eligible municipalities. The award reaffirms the importance of Rahway’s arts district and UCPAC’s role as a cultural hub for Union County.

The funding will support an expanded phase of UCPAC’s Inclusion in Action programming including interactive workshops and educational and cultural programming for all ages and backgrounds. Programming supported by this grant will take place at both venues operated by UCPAC: the historic Main Stage theatre located at 1601 Irving Street, and Hamilton Stage, located at 360 Hamilton Street in downtown Rahway.

Grant-funded initiatives include:

1. Youth-focused performances and programs designed around four areas identified through community feedback—STEM learning, social-emotional development, artistic training, and exposure to diverse art forms;
2. Increased sensory-friendly theater opportunities that welcome neurodiverse and neurotypical children and families to enjoy performances together;
3. Educational workshops and presentations for teens and adults exploring a wide range of artistic styles and disciplines; and
4. Expanded Legacy Arts Programs programming for seniors ages 55+, encouraging creativity, social connection, and lifelong learning.

“As Board President, I am incredibly proud of the work UCPAC continues to deliver for Rahway and the broader region,” said Ed Oatman, President of the UCPAC Board of Directors. “This grant strengthens our ability to expand programming, welcome new audiences, and ensure that our stages remain vibrant spaces for creativity, education, and community connection.”

“We see both of our venues as civic centers for the arts, where creativity, education, and community come together,” said Danni Newbury, Executive Director of UCPAC. “We are deeply grateful for this support and excited about what it makes possible. This grant strengthens our ability to expand performances and educational programs, welcome people of all backgrounds, and invite the community to experience everything downtown Rahway has to offer.” Phase II of the A.R.T. program expanded to include 31 municipalities across New Jersey, including Rahway. The A.R.T. Phase II program aims to catalyze community placemaking efforts by leveraging New Jersey’s arts and cultural sector as a creative force for change, and by supporting non-profit organizations focused on public art installations and arts-based initiatives.

Union County Arts Center, Inc. (dba Union County Performing Arts Center) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating the historic Main Stage theatre, built in 1928 and listed in both the State and National Register of Historic Places, located at 1601 Irving St., and the modern and intimate Hamilton Stage, located at 360 Hamilton St., in the heart of Rahway, New Jersey’s Arts District. To learn more and see a list of all upcoming events, visit ucpac.org.

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