Cultural & Heritage

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Kaitlin Bundy, Manager

Phone:          908-231-7021
Fax:                908-707-1749
Mail:              20 Grove Street, P.O. Box 3000, Somerville, NJ 08876
Email:           CulturalHeritage@somersetcountynj.gov

The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission (SCC&HC) was formally created on August 3, 1983, to cultivate interest in the preservation of the county’s historic sites, history and heritage, arts organizations and activities, and talented resident artists.

Program and Services Overview

Administers 3 annual grant programs for Somerset County: the County History Partnership Program Grant; SC Historic Preservation Grant Program; and the Local Arts Program Grant.
Plans and administers the annual Somerset County Teen Arts Festival, an arts education program offering professionally-led master classes and critique sessions in 7 artistic disciplines benefitting over 1,000 teens.
Plans and promotes Somerset County's Journey Through the Past, an annual countywide collaborative heritage tourism program.
Initiated and administers Gallery 24/7: Art on Traffic Control Boxes, a public art project to expand the reach of the arts to broaden and diversify public exposure, interest in, and access to the arts; expand exhibition opportunities for New Jersey visual artists; and welcome tourism to Somerset County.
Plans and sponsors a biennial Excellence in the Arts Awards Program to celebrate and publicly recognize leadership and vision of those who have increased the visibility and viability of the Fine & Performing Arts in Somerset County.
Plans and presents a biennial Historic Preservation & History Awards Program to increase public awareness of historic preservation, and publicly recognize and commend individuals and organizations for their contributions in preserving our County's sense of history.
Maintains a comprehensive survey of all historic sites in Somerset County.
Maintains and updates public resource directories: Guide to Somerset County Fine & Performing Arts Organizations, as well as, Guide to Somerset County History & Preservation Organizations.
Plans and presents professionally-led workshops, periodic conferences and roundtable sessions to provide technical assistance, professional development & networking opportunities to benefit cultural organizations' staff and board members, as well as individual artists.
Coordinates and provides public gallery exhibition space for county artists in the Cultural & Heritage Gallery and 3-D display cases offering various public exhibitions yearly; Initiates and plans special initiative exhibitions, as well.
Plans and presents Arts Outreach Programs.
Coordinates projects that effect historic sites with appropriate federal and state agencies; Reviews County projects for historic impact, and cooperates with other County government divisions on projects of mutual interest.
Provides information, suggestions, & referrals in response to public inquiries; Maintains a reference library of cultural resources available for loan or in-house use to local non-profit organizations.
Represents Somerset County at the State level in matters involving arts, history and preservation.
Partners with the Friends of Somerset County Culture & Heritage, a separate non-profit organization, on activities to increase the Commission's capacity to benefit cultural development in Somerset County.

The SCC&HC is committed to facilitating equal access to programs, services and resources for all people without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical disability.

If you require assistive services, please advise our office 2 weeks in advance.

Made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the New Jersey Historical Commission.

Somerset County

Cultural & Heritage

Kaitlin Bundy, Manager

Docent Training Program

250th Celebration

Awards

Commission

Gallery

Grant Programs

Meetings

Programs

Resources

Teen Arts Festival

Weekend Journey

Workshops

The SCC&HC is committed to facilitating equal access to programs, services and resources for all people without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical disability.