Press
Venue Change Announced
TAPintoAsbury Park
Your Neighborhood News Online - By Alissa Deleo
Venue change announced for the APin3 Film Challenge premier event to the Jersey Shore Arts Center
Showcasing films from top finalists, and entries from two community groups nurturing Asbury Park's future filmmakers
ASBURY PARK, NJ – The Asbury Park Arts Council (APAC) is pleased to present the APin3 Premier Screening Event on Sunday, October 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the Jersey Shore Arts Center, 66 S. Main St. Ocean Grove.
This Premier Screening Event will showcase the finalists of this year’s APin3 Film Challenge, as well as entries from two community groups nurturing Asbury Park’s future filmmakers – the Boys and Girls Club and Inspire Life, Inc. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Filmmakers submitted three-minute films shot in Asbury Park over the course of three weeks this summer with the hopes of winning the top three awards and the acknowledgment of their peers.
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The audience at the screening participates in the night’s ceremony by nominating their favorite film for a special Audience Award.
Filmmakers in the finalist category, in alphabetical order, include Alissa Deleo, Tom Cavanaugh, Kevin Clark, Chloe Evangelista and Noah Falco, Patrick Greene, Mat Hale, Elden Harris, Paul Kaplan, Thomas Louis, Jennifer Suwak and Caryn Whitman.
Mike Sodano, Board President of APAC and filmmaker, said about this year’s event, “As the only filmMAKING event held in Asbury Park, we are excited about the creativity of this year’s entries. Filmmaking is flourishing in our city, and this Challenge supports our local talent and celebrates film as an art form in Asbury Park.”
Nancy Sabino, Executive Director of the APin3, commented, “Asbury Park is the star in these films, and the variety of the submissions always serves to humble us as we rate the finished films for the event. These filmmakers are creative, and their work is evocative, and we are pleased to acknowledge their efforts on the big screen.”
Carrie Turner, Executive Director, APAC, offered the big picture, “APAC works to help pave the way for more art and culture to grow in the city.
The recently adopted Asbury Park Arts and Culture Plan has identified that the community wants more opportunities
for artistic engagement, and we are doing our best to act as champions for that request.”
Filmmakers, their fans and the public are invited to this free event.
Tickets can be reserved online at AsburyParkArtsCouncil.org. Whatever tickets are not pre-reserved
will be offered on a first-come, first served basis at the door that night.
Donations can be made to APAC online and at the event so that even more events like this can be
produced in the future.
This year’s APin3 Film Challenge is made possible by support from Monmouth County, Manasquan Bank Charitable Foundation and the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce.
The Asbury Park Arts Council is a 501c3 group formed to advocate for and promote arts and culture initiatives in the City.
A Love Letter to Asbury Park
Discover Jersey Arts - A Love Letter to Asbury Park: The APin3 Film Challenge
Asbury Park, NJ, a modest-sized, historic city of sixteen thousand with a rich tapestry of history, “punches above its weight” artistically and culturally. Founded as a premier seaside resort destination and connected to New York City (and the world) by rail, it drew countless visitors to its boardwalk and beaches even before the age of the automobile. The city faced significant economic challenges during the latter half of the 20th century, leading to urban decline and disinvestment. But, the resilient spirit of its community has been evident in its recent revival, as major efforts have been made to rejuvenate its cultural attractions, restore historic sites, and foster economic development, all while navigating the complexities of gentrification and maintaining the city’s unique character.
Sponsored by the Asbury Park Arts Council (APAC), the APin3 Film Challenge is not so much a “film festival” as a community filmmaking challenge in which budding directors and filmmaking teams create a 3-minute short film highlighting aspects of, and shot entirely within, the city of Asbury Park. The challenge asks filmmakers to include a supplied theme and line of dialogue, a prop native to Asbury Park, and one specific location within the city – the prompt keeps all the contestants on a level playing field. With its rich history and coastal allure, the city provides ample material for gripping narratives and documentaries. In essence, the APin3 Film Challenge aligns perfectly with Asbury Park’s artistic legacy and the potential for cultural celebrations that use the film short in unforgettable ways.
APAC president Mike Sodano said: “Last year was our first year, and we set up the auditorium for about, oh, 40-50 chairs. We got close to 100 people to attend! The reception was overwhelming. It was so much fun and very heartwarming. When the filmmakers get up and give their one-minute pitch as to why they did what they did, it’s an insight into the filmmaking process that audiences don’t really get a chance to hear very often. Each story becomes a different kind of love letter to Asbury Park. It’s a different perspective on the city. Filmmakers manage to find locations in the city and document them on film – places that a lot of people never even knew existed. You go ‘gee whiz! Where is that? I’ve never seen that from that angle.’ It’s a unique interpretation of the city. Seeing Asbury as illustrated in a 3-minute film really opens the eyes of the audience. It’s incredibly enjoyable.
“The goal of the challenge is really to elevate filmmaking in Asbury Park. The city is known obviously for music. Bruce Springsteen, and all the groups that came out of it, and it’s known for other visual arts. But we’re trying to give the art of filmmaking in Asbury Park a focus and a spotlight. We give the filmmakers a theme, a line of dialogue, a prop that must be included in the film. The film has to be no more than 3 minutes long and shot over the course of the three-week challenge.”
We asked APin3 organizer Nancy Sabino what makes the perfect APin3 entry: “I think it’s a combination of addressing the theme, getting in all the elements, and doing it in the most clever way possible,” she said. “It’s the use of the techniques and filmmaking that really sings to me personally. The use of exceptional editing techniques and a variety of storytelling- that’s how you get your 3-minute story across. I think it’s a great opportunity for filmmakers who never tried their hand at making a film to venture into this world and team together and play with film.
“Everybody who we’ve talked to who’s entered past or present has said it’s a lot of fun, and they really enjoy doing it. We think it’s a great match between our love of Asbury Park and filmmaking. Filmmakers who may not have experienced that yet get to put the city they love on screen. It’s a combination of texture, community and opportunity,” continued Sabino. “It’s an incredibly welcoming city. You’re able to walk the streets and go into shops and just start talking to people. You get an incredible sense of community. If you have an idea, Asbury Park is a great place for growing that idea because you get immediate feedback, whether it’s good, bad, or indifferent! It’s an incredible breeding ground for creativity and opportunity.
“The judging is sort of like a casting session. You know you know it when you see it, and it hits you over the head as being one of the best. This year, we were very fortunate, and we got a lot of great selections that were really clever and creative. For us, that’s humbling. To know that so many people could get it right and do it differently because each selection has a different slant to it.
“We are looking forward to welcoming the entire community into this event. Everyone can come. It’s a free event, and tickets will be available soon. Come meet the storytellers of the future and those that are applying their trade currently. It’s a wonderful thing to see Asbury Park interpreted in so many different ways on the big screen, and we hope to continue the challenge with the support of our amazing community.”
The films will be screened at the House of Independents on October 22. The event is free, but reservations are required. The top three winners, and an audience favorite entry chosen by the assembled audience on the premier night, will be given prizes. It will also be a networking event for local filmmakers, a test of creative skill, and a source of feedback for filmmakers. If you’re a filmmaker, sound tech, actor, director, or simply love film, don’t miss it.
From Drab Walls to Color, Creativity
The Coaster
Area artists painted these murals on the Asbury Park Sewage Treatment Plant - by WILLIAM CLARK
Area artists painted these murals on the Asbury Park Sewage Treatment Plant.
The Coaster, Aug 9, 2023
What began as just the drab, brown bricks of the Asbury Park Wastewater Treatment Facility became four vibrant murals for beachgoers and those driving along Kingsley Street.
The continuation of the collaboration between the city’s Public Arts Commission and the Asbury Park Arts Council has brought murals from artists Judith Hull, Chloe Evangelista, Jude Harzer and Zachary Manning to the east side of the building, as part of a project that started last year.
“In the fall we opened up submissions for the four panels that face the water,” Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn said. “We received over 75 submissions from artists and we picked four, including two local arts.”
The goal, according to Quinn, is to one day have the entire building covered in artistic works.
The project is funded by the city’s Public Arts Commission but received help from the Arts Council when it came to choose submissions that would grace the walls for residents and visitors. The Arts Council also provided financial assistance to bridge the gap for part of the project.
Jenn Hampton, chair of the Public Arts Commission, said that the members of the commission each picked their top 10 which didn’t provide much overlap.
“Barely any of them matched,” Hampton admitted.
As the process moved forward, they took special care to give priority to local artists from the city itself.
In the end, Hampton was thrilled with the choices the commission made.
“This year was interesting because we chose different skill sets, backgrounds and aesthetics,” Hampton said.
Evangelista of Ocean Township chose to show the activity of the boardwalk from a different perspective, creating a mural of different legs and feet as they pass by.
Hampton, an admitted extrovert, appreciated how another person may see the world a bit differently.
The youngest of the muralists, Evangelista impressed Hampton as she saw her move through the work putting the piece together.
“Watching her excel so well will give her the confidence boost to do it again,” Hampton said. “I think she’s really good.”
This project was the second time Hull worked with the art commission. Last year Hull, provided a timely piece on Ukraine. This year she focused on the ocean creating a striking blue fish surrounded by colorful sea plants.
“It’s a motif we are all really familiar with,” Hampton said.
Harzer, an art teacher from Brick Memorial High School, made her contribution to the wall after helping students fill the halls of the school with their murals.
Harzer was also a second time participant of the project.
“She was also more confident and excited,” Hampton said.
Hampton said that Harzer, a Brick Township resident, has one of the only programs within a school that helps support student muralists.
Finally, mixing art and science is Manning’s piece.
“He had an online quiz where he would ask you five questions asking you rate how you feel about certain things,” Hampton said. “He took all the responses and created an algorithm to create the design.”
Hampton appreciates the participatory nature of Manning’s piece which is titled Life in Color.
“It’s a beautiful color palette and really nice to see something different in terms of an artist’s process,” Hampton said.
Manning also lives in Asbury Park.
The Wastewater Treatment Facility is located along the oceanfront north of Convention Hall.
APAC Hosts Filmmakers Meetup
TAPintoAsbury Park
Your Neighborhood News Online - By Alissa Deleo
The APin3 film challenge kicks off August 7
ASBURY PARK, NJ — The Asbury Park Arts Council (APAC) hosted a first-of-its-kind filmmakers meetup on July 27 at the Parlor Gallery.
The event was an opportunity for creatives to engage with each other and with the APAC on ways to increase awareness and advocacy of film, videography and photography in Asbury Park and the surrounding areas.
The meetup was well-attended, with over 25 people stopping by to share conversation about thier passion of filmmaking.
Michael Sodano, APAC Board President said that the arts council plans to continue to host these meet-ups every other month.
“Everyone was thrilled to meet and share ideas,” Sodano said, adding, “It really all goes back to the mission of the arts council which is to advocate, promote and support the arts in Asbury Park.”
Several updates about the arts council’s current endeavors were shared.
The APAC is working with the City to have Asbury Park registered with the NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission in their Film Ready New Jersey program, a five-step certification and marketing program that educates municipalities on the basics of motion picture and television production.
The program enables cities and towns to effectively accommodate on-location filming and market their communities as filming destinations for movies, television and commercials.
The program also sets basic standards for attracting filmmaking and positions the state as a top production destination, according to the NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission.
The APAC is helping the City create a photo catalog of locations throughout Asbury Park as well as a database of services (production, support, stages, etc) in the area that are available to production companies when they scout a location.
The arts council is encouraging members of the public to help by sharing photos of the City, and if they know of any production services in the area (including their own) to add to the database by emailing mike@asburyparkartscouncil.org.
The APin3 Film Challenge, the only filmmaking event in Asbury Park begins on August 7.
Participants will have three weeks to produce a three-minute film set in Asbury Park including a prop, line of dialog and location chosen by the arts council.
All entries to the challenge must be submitted by August 27.
Each of the entries will then be reviewed and the top ten films will be chosen by a panel of local judges. Finalists will be screened to an audience at Asbury Park’s House of Independents Theater on October 22.
The online submission platform, Film Freeway, will be utilized for the challenge, which is now accepting applicants.
There is a $25 entry fee, but no one should feel that the cost is a barrier as there are discounts and sponsorships available for qualified applicants to help with the entry cost.
The Asbury Park Arts Council is a 501c3 group formed to advocate for and promote arts and culture initiatives in the City.
See Hear Now Donates for Auction to Benefit Asbury Non Profits
TriCityNews
Local weekly paper covering regional news and events
See Hear Now Auction
TriCity News May 18, 2023
We’re all about helping out our friends who in turn are helping out others. The most important part of this gig is blowing up events that deserve the press.
And the good folks at Sea.Hear.Now, that multi-day music, art, and surf festival thats brought big beach music back to the beachfront, has donated some artworks for an auction with proceeds to ben-efit three local nonprofit organizations that we’re big fans of: the Asbury Park Arts Council (APAC), the Asbury Park African American Music Project (AP-AMP) and KYDS (Konscious Youth Development & Service).
We’ve proudly given lots of ink to all these organiza-tions over the years. So why not a little more.
The online auction organized by APAC will launch on Monday, May 22 and run through Monday, June 19. Get the wallets out and consider throwing in some bids.
Works included in the auction are by Danny Clinch x Cey Adams, Robert Siliato x George Bates, and Charles Mencel Surfboards x Lana Macchiaverna (LLUNACY). Rock and roll photographer and festival co-founder, Danny Clinch and renowned New York City-based visual artist, Cey Adams collaborated on a piece of musician, Gary Clark, Jr. Monmouth County-based surf photographer, Robert Siliato and Asbury Park-based artist George\ Bates, col-laborated on a piece blending surf imagery and music lyrics, and Charles Mencel and Lana Mac-chiaverna created a beautiful custom made surf-board for the band Green Day, who asked that it be donated for charitable purposes.
“Sea.Hear.Now has a history of both working with local artists and giving back to local nonprofit orga-nizations. We could not be more excited that they have chosen us to be one of the beneficiaries of the auction of these wonderfully unique works that have the same special feel as the festival itself” said Carrie Turner, Executive Director of the Asbury Park Arts Council, an organization that advocates for and promotes art initiatives in the city.
“This auction helps bring attention and resources to groups doing valuable work in and around As-bury Park. The online fundraising platform we se-lected also allows for direct donations outside of the auction itself, so we are hopeful for a nice show of support,” Turner added.
The Asbury Park African American Music Project (AP-AMP) celebrates the cultural heritage of Spring-wood Avenue on Asbury Park’s West Side through oral histories, research, writing, and community programs. AP-AMP is currently raising funds to renovate the legendary Turf Club, the last remaining structure that housed one of Springwood Avenue’s celebrated music spots, to transform it into a com-munity venue for music and culture.
Konscious Youth Development & Service (KYDS) is a youth development organization pri-marily focused on holistic wellness programming for kids in elementary through high school. KYDS partners with schools in Asbury Park and beyond teaching mindfulness through meditation, yo-ga-based movement and creative expression, help-ing young people better manage their emotions, which has a host of benefits including helping them resist negative influences. KYDS offerings have ex-panded to serve educators, parents and commu-nity members to reinforce and support the youth programming.
The link to the auction is https://givebutter.com/c/KYP9UC.
For more information: Sea.Hear.Now: https://www. seahearnowfestival.com; @seahearnow Asbury Park Arts Council: https://asburyparkartscouncil. org/mission-statement/; @asburyartscouncil. As-bury Park African American Music Project: https://www.asburyamp.org/mission/; @asbury_amp, Konscious Youth Development & Service (KYDS): https://www.konscious.org/what-we-do; @kyds_nj
Asbury Park Arts Council is a Powerful Cultural force
TriCityNews
Local weekly paper covering regional news and events covers APAC APin# 2023
Next up is their second annual “APin3” film contest
TriCity News May 18, 2023
Asbury Park’s role as a powerful cultural engine for the triCity region of eastern Monmouth stems from its variety of creative and artistic forces.
This involves people, businesses, the city government, redevelopers and non-profit organizations. In the past couple decades, all stakeholders have bought in. And that united front is our best defense against the forces of conformity that an eco-nomic boom inevitably brings.
A key factor in all this is the non-profit Asbury Park Arts Council (APAC). It’s led by a Board of Trustees who are some of the most effective arts and cultural leaders in our city: Parlor Gallery owner Jenn Hampton, former ShowRoom owner Mike Sodano, Paul McEvily from Interfaith Neighbors, Paranormal Books owner Kathy Kelly, attorney and arts activist Bob Ellis, and Carrie Turner, formerly the General Manager of Madison Marquette’s boardwalk project.
And the group’s mission is parallel to this newspaper’s:
“To support, advocate and promote arts-centric initiatives, businesses and devel-opment. Our primary goal is to ensure the arts are considered in municipal poli-cy-making via the creation and implementation of an Arts and Culture plan within the Asbury Park Master Plan. APAC was formed to be a bridge between the local arts community and the City of Asbury Park, fostering the understanding that arts are the economic engine of the City.” [Asbury Park Arts Council Mission Statement]
That Arts and Culture plan has been submitted to the city’s Planning Board to be adopted and then guide the city government in promotion of the arts and culture in our city. That’s a big deal. But APAC does more than that with its own arts pro-gramming and promotion.
And the next big one is its second annual “APin3” to take place in August.
This three-minute film challenge is open to anyone who thrives on the fun of film-making within the parameters of a deadline and is ready to shoot their short in Asbury Park. The top ten short films, as judged by a panel of independent cre-atives, will be screened before a live audience on Sunday, October 22. Prizes will be awarded.
“We had such a great turnout last year at our contest screening, we expect more entries this year, vying for the recognition of their peers and, of course, the prizes.” said APAC Board member Sodano.
Those who apply will be required to write, shoot and edit a 3 minute short film set in Asbury Park during a three-week period in August, utilizing a specific line of dia-logue and incorporating a designated prop and location.
“We believe Asbury Park has a variety of compelling locations, easily making it a layered backdrop and key element in any short subject,” said Nancy Sabino who will coordinate the contest. (With her husband Sodano, Sabino was the founder and original owner of the ShowRoom Cinema in downtown Asbury Park.)
The online submission platform, Film Freeway, will be utilized for the challenge and a link can be found at the top of the homepage of APAC’s website asburyp-arkartscouncil.org. There is a $25 entry fee. However, no one should feel that the cost is a barrier as there are discounts and sponsorships available for qualified applicants to help with the entry fee.
The filming timeframe will start on August 7th when filmmaker kits will be sent via email to all applicants and will end on August 27th. Registration for the Challenge is open now.“We’ve reached out to a number of organizations this year and expect to have more participation with the longer, 3-week completion timeline. The concepts showcase the city and to see our streets alive with video artists capturing its magic Is won-derful,” said Carrie Turner, an APAC board member who also serves as Executive Director.
The Arts and Culture Plan is APAC’s biggest commitment. But with a $200,000 county grant awarded last year, and other smaller grants, APAC has embarked on other arts-centric projects. Those activities include financial support for public mu-ral projects, financial support for the Inspire Life program that provides a fine arts and technology camp for city youth, and the AP in 3 film challenge.
2023 APin3 film challenge Announced
TAPintoAsbury Park
Your Neighborhood News Online - By Alissa Deleo
Asbury Park Arts Council announces 2023 APin3 film challenge
Contestants must create a 3-minute short, themed film highlighting an aspect of and shot entirely within the city
ASBURY PARK, NJ – By Alissa Deleo — Attention all creators, the Asbury Park Arts Council (APAC) is bringing back its APin3 film challenge in August.
This three-minute video challenge is open to anyone who thrives on the fun of filmmaking within the parameters of a deadline and is ready to shoot their short film in Asbury Park.
All the entries will be reviewed and the top ten will be chosen by a panel of local judges. Finalists will be screened to an audience at Asbury Park’s House of Independents Theater on October 22.
The top three winners, and an audience favorite entry chosen by the assembled audience on premier night will win prizes that can be used in future filmmaking endeavors.
“We had such a great turnout last year at our contest screening. We expect more entries this year, vying for the recognition of their peers and, of course, the prizes,” Mike Sodano, one of the founding members of APAC, said.
Applicants will be required to write, shoot and edit a three-minute short film set in Asbury Park during a three-week period in August, utilizing a specific line of dialogue and incorporating a designated prop and location.
Executive Director of the film challenge, Nancy Sabino remarked, “We believe Asbury Park has a variety of compelling locations, easily making it a layered backdrop and key element in any short subject.”
The APin3 is a storytelling activity for filmmakers to engage with the community in a positive light, and use imagination, teamwork and video technology.
The online submission platform, Film Freeway, will be utilized for the challenge, which is now accepting applicants.
There is a $25 entry fee, but no one should feel that the cost is a barrier as there are discounts and sponsorships available for qualified applicants to help with the entry cost.
The filming timeframe will start on August 7, when filmmaker kits will be sent via email to all applicants, and will end on August 27.
“We’ve reached out to a number of organizations this year and expect to have more participation with the longer, three-week completion timeline,” Carrie Turner, Executive Director of APAC, said, adding, “The concepts showcase the city and to see our streets alive with video artists capturing its magic is wonderful.”
The Asbury Park Arts Council is a 501c3 group formed to advocate for and promote arts and culture initiatives in the city.
2023 APin3 Film Challenge Press Release
The Asbury Park Arts Council (APAC) is pleased to announce its second annual ‘APin3’, to take place in August. This three-minute film challenge is open to anyone who thrives on the fun of filmmaking within the parameters of a deadline and is ready to shoot their short in Asbury Park. The top ten short films, as judged by a panel of independent creatives, will be screened before a live audience on Sunday, October 22nd. Prizes will be awarded.
“We had such a great turnout last year at our contest screening, we expect more entries this year, vying for the recognition of their peers and, of course, the prizes.” said Mike Sodano, one of the founding members of APAC. Those who apply will be required to write, shoot and edit a 3 minute short film set in Asbury Park during a three-week period in August, utilizing a specific line of dialogue and incorporating a designated prop and location.
Nancy Sabino, Executive Director of the Challenge remarked, “We believe Asbury Park has a variety of compelling locations, easily making it a layered backdrop and key element in any short subject.”
The online submission platform, Film Freeway, will be utilized for the challenge and a link can be found through APAC’s website: asburyparkartscouncil.org. There is a $25 entry fee, but no one should feel that the cost is a barrier as there are discounts and sponsorships available for qualified applicants to help with the entry fee. The filming timeframe will start on August 7th when filmmaker kits will be sent via email to all applicants and will end on August 27th.Registration for the Challenge is open now.
Carrie Turner, Executive Director of APAC said, “We’ve reached out to a number of organizations this year and expect to have more participation with the longer, 3-week completion timeline. The concepts showcase the city and to see our streets alive with video artists capturing its magic Is wonderful.” The Asbury Park Arts Council is a 501c3 group formed to advocate for and promote arts and culture initiatives in the city. For more information on APAC: www.asburyparkartscouncil.org
Start thinking about how you’d like to tell your story in Asbury Park and apply now to be a part of this year’s ‘APin3’. Mark your calendar and come see the finalists on the big screen.
For more information contact:
Michael Sodano:
mike@asburyparkartscouncil.org
Asbury Park Arts Council Announces 2023 APin3 Film Challenge – May 8, 2023 – For Immediate Release
APAC Presentation
TAPintoAsbury Park
Your Neighborhood News Online - By Alissa Deleo
Asbury Park Arts Council to host presentation about proposed Arts and Culture plan March 30 at 6 p.m. at the Asbury Park Library
ASBURY PARK, NJ — A public presentation on the city’s proposed Arts and Culture plan will be made by the Asbury Park Arts Council on Thursday, March 30, at 6 p.m. at the Asbury Park Public Library, located at 500 First Ave.
Details about the plan, the arts council’s findings and its major recommendations for the community will be discussed.
The Asbury Park Arts and Culture Plan is an endeavor undertaken by the city in conjunction with the Asbury Park Arts Council, Monmouth Arts, the Monmouth County Department of Planning and the New Jersey State Council of the Arts.
All funding for the arts and culture plan is being provided by Monmouth Arts and Monmouth County’s COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program for non-profit organizations.
Throughout the past eight months, its planning process has been guided by a steering committee comprised of representatives from the city council, the planning and zoning boards, the department of planning and redevelopment, the Asbury Park Arts Council, Monmouth County Department of Planning and New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
During this period, the steering committee received regular updates on the research, data gathering and community engagement opportunities of the planning team, with the community being consistently involved in the creation of the plan.
The City Council unanimously approved a resolution referring the Arts and Culture Plan to the planning board for review and adoption as an amendment to the city’s master plan during its March 22 meeting.
Arts & Culture Plan Presented to City of Asbury Park Council
TriCityNews
Local weekly paper covering regional news and events covers the Arts & Culture Plan presented to the AP City Council
A Potential to Multiply the Cultural Power of Our City
Independent Asbury Park Arts Council Leads The Initiative - TriCity News March 16, 2023
ASBURY PARK — A group of some of the most effective arts and cultural leaders in the city are moving forward with the creation of an Arts and Culture plan for Asbury Park.
This plan has the potential to multiply the cultural power of our city. Funded by a recent county grant, the Asbury Park Arts Council (APAC) — an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization — put together the draft plan and presented it to the City Council just before our deadline.
The next step is referral to the Planning Board, who’d then adopt the Arts and Culture Plan as an amendment to the city’s master plan. That would give it legal authority. Before that, however, APAC will provide a public presentation of the draft plan at the Asbury Park Public Library on March 30 at 6 pm. The Planning Board would have their own public hearings on the plan.
This newspaper understands the value of this project. A detailed Arts and Cul-ture Plan can lead to more grant awards. It becomes a guide for policy deci-sions, including zoning decisions. The plan identifies various underutilized as-sets and determines how the city can maximize their effectiveness for the arts. And the plan makes recommendations for arts and culture activities in various parts of the city, which may have different needs to serve.
“The Asbury Park Arts Council (APAC) works to support, advocate and pro-mote arts-centric initiatives, businesses and development,” states the group’s mission statement. “Our primary goal is to ensure the arts are considered in municipal policy-making via the creation and implementation of an Arts and Culture plan within the Asbury Park Master Plan.”
The Arts Council compiled a ton of data to develop the draft plan. A survey it developed was answered by 153 people. Twenty-three interviews were conduct-ed with leading policymakers and arts stakeholders. Five focus groups were conducted, along with one public open house.
The information gathering led to some important results. For example, 48 per-cent of survey respondents indicated that the cost of arts events and programs limit their participation. Another finding was that 71 percent of survey respon-dents indicated they don’t learn about arts activities in time. (Sounds like the city government should start advertising all the offerings in the triCityNews!)
The Arts Council also did an inventory of what our 1.75 square mile city offers. The group counted 180 creators and contributors; 80 venues, places and facilities for arts and culture; and 60 regular events and programs. That’s pretty wild.
Those figures also confirm what we’ve always said about our tiny city — based on its size and population, we are indeed a powerful center for arts and culture. (And the data of the Arts Council doesn’t even measure Asbury Park’s impact on the areas around it in terms of building the arts and culture. That makes the city even more powerful.)
For example, compare the Asbury Park Arts Council’s data for Asbury Park to Austin, Texas. Austin has 965,000 people compared to 15,000 for Asbury Park. That’s 65 times as many people. Multiplying what Asbury offers by 65 to com-pare to Austin gives these result: 11,700 creators and contributors; 480 ven-ues, places and facilities for arts and culture; and 3,900 regular events and programs.
How impressive is that? The data shows how remarkable Asbury Park remains in terms of its cultural power and influence.
Implementing an Arts and Culture plan as a matter of law by including it in the master plan will multiply and preserve all this. For example, the draft plan lists several action items, two of which are particularly noteworthy: establishing a funding stream for arts and culture, and a community culture center.
The funding stream can be a modest dedicated art tax that taxpayers probably wouldn’t even notice, but could generate a low six figure revenue for art. Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn is for that, and we predict one day relatively soon it will be on the ballot for voter approval. The community culture center may indeed come about once it’s recognized as a city-wide priority as per the Arts and Culture plan.
Also noteworthy is who’s doing all this. It’s a great representation of several of our city’s arts leaders.
Here’s the Asbury Park Arts Council board: Parlor Gallery owner Jenn Hampton, former ShowRoom owner Mike Sodano, Paul McEvily from Interfaith Neighbors, Paranormal Books owner Kathy Kelly, attorney and arts activist Bob Ellis, and Carrie Turner, formerly the General Manager of Madison Marquette’s boardwalk project. Turner also serves as acting Executive Director and coordinated the development of the APAC’s plan. Another recognized talent local to Asbury Park — planner Eric Galipo, who grew up in the city — served as the planning professional working with Turner to lead the development of the plan.