New Jersey Performing Arts Center
A major multidisciplinary performing arts center in downtown Newark, New Jersey, combining large-scale performances with arts education, festivals, and community programs.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, commonly known as NJPAC, is a nonprofit performing arts institution in downtown Newark, New Jersey. It was conceived by the State of New Jersey during the 1980s as both a cultural venue and an instrument of urban revitalization. Newark was selected because of its regional population, proximity to New York City, highway and rail connections, and the opportunity to bring employment, visitors, and civic activity back to a part of the city that had experienced long-term disinvestment. The center occupies the former site of the Military Park Hotel and forms part of Newark’s cultural district near Military Park and Washington Park, alongside institutions including the Newark Museum, the New Jersey Historical Society, and the Newark Public Library. Planning emphasized integration with the surrounding city rather than the creation of an isolated cultural monument. A master plan by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill used plazas and pedestrian routes to connect the complex with nearby streets and public spaces. Architect Barton Myers led the building design, using brick, exposed steel, and glass to reference Newark’s industrial character. The project broke ground in October 1993, construction began in 1995, and the center opened to the public in October 1997. Its opening was reviewed favorably for both architectural character and concert-hall acoustics. Since opening, NJPAC has reported welcoming more than nine million visitors, including more than one million children. The principal performance spaces are Prudential Hall, a 2,800-seat hall used for symphonic, operatic, dance, Broadway, and popular music presentations; the 514-seat Victoria Theater, suited to theater, chamber music, jazz, dance, and experimental work; the 350-seat Chase Room, used for cabaret, spoken-word, and hip-hop programming; and the 88-seat Horizon Theater, a black-box venue. NJPAC is also the home venue of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s regular season, although the center presents programming by many other resident and visiting artists. Its program extends beyond ticketed performances. The Center for Arts Education provides classes, scholarships, school residencies, teacher professional development, practice facilities, and family programming across music, theater, dance, poetry, and related disciplines. The education operation is based in the adjacent Cathedral House, a former 1941 rectory with a history of civil-rights, social-justice, and community organizing activity. NJPAC has also hosted or partnered on jazz, poetry, speaker, outdoor music, and community events, including the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, Sounds of the City, the New Jersey Speaker Series, and the North to Shore festival. The center’s stages have hosted orchestras, ballet companies, theater productions, jazz and popular musicians, comedians, speakers, and family-oriented events. Examples cited in reference material include the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Yo-Yo Ma, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Sting, Audra McDonald, Jerry Seinfeld, Herbie Hancock, and many international ensembles. NJPAC has also supported activity outside Newark through a partnership with Madison Marquette in Asbury Park and through community and arts-education collaborations. NJPAC’s institutional role has made it a significant part of Newark’s redevelopment strategy, but it has also generated preservation and community disputes. The handling of historic public art on its grounds and proposals affecting Cathedral House have prompted opposition from preservationists and Newark residents. In parallel, the center has pursued campus expansion, including the ArtSide development plan announced in 2024, and a partnership with Great Point Studios connected to the proposed Lionsgate Newark Studios project. NJPAC therefore operates simultaneously as a performance presenter, an education provider, a civic redevelopment participant, and a regional cultural anchor.
History
New Jersey’s plan for a major performing arts center emerged in 1986, when Governor Thomas Kean appointed a committee to evaluate the state’s cultural needs and possible locations. Newark was chosen over competing sites because it offered access to a large surrounding population, convenient rail and highway connections, proximity to New York City, and an opportunity to use cultural investment as part of the city’s revitalization. The proposed institution was expected to attract visitors, create employment, and help reconnect downtown Newark with public life. The planning approach deliberately avoided the isolated monumental model associated with some large American cultural complexes. The master plan by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill emphasized streets, plazas, and pedestrian movement, with the center integrated into Newark’s existing urban fabric. Barton Myers was selected as lead architect after a competitive process. His design used brick, exposed steel, and glass to relate the building to Newark’s industrial history and to make the complex feel like part of the city rather than a self-contained monument. Gail L. Thompson was named vice president of design and construction in 1990, while Philip S. Thomas became vice president of arts education in 1992. Groundbreaking took place in October 1993, with speeches and performances including appearances by Kathleen Battle and the Newark Boys Chorus. During the construction bidding process, President and CEO Lawrence Goldman required substantial participation by local minority workers and businesses. The organization suspended a contractor in 1995 after determining that the participation requirement had not been met. Construction began that year and was completed in 1997. NJPAC opened in October 1997 on the former Military Park Hotel site, and architecture and acoustics attracted favorable critical attention. The completed complex included Prudential Hall, a 2,800-seat main hall; the 514-seat Victoria Theater; the 350-seat Chase Room; and the 88-seat Horizon Theater. These spaces allowed the institution to present symphonic music, opera, ballet, Broadway, theater, jazz, popular music, experimental productions, cabaret, spoken word, and dance. The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra became closely associated with the center and presents a regular season there. Before the official opening, singer Ronnie Spector performed a special event for construction workers and their families. Arts education became a central part of NJPAC’s institutional identity. Its programs include classes, scholarships, school residencies, teacher professional development, and family and children’s activities. The adjacent Cathedral House, originally built in 1941 as a rectory for Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral, was adapted for education use in 2001. It contains classrooms, studios, practice rooms, offices, and a theater. The building also carries a history of civil-rights and community activism, and its exterior super-graphics by Paula Scher became an identifiable part of the arts-education campus. NJPAC expanded its public role through festivals and civic programming. The TD James Moody Jazz Festival began in 2012 as a tribute to the Newark-born saxophonist and was presented as the city’s first major jazz festival in many years. The center has hosted editions of the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, the Newark Peace Education Summit, the New Jersey Speaker Series, and the free Sounds of the City summer concert series. It also hosted the seventh season of America’s Got Talent. In 2017, NJPAC announced a partnership with Madison Marquette to extend performances, education, and community events to Asbury Park. John Schreiber succeeded Lawrence Goldman as president and CEO in 2011. In later years NJPAC participated in broader Newark development initiatives. In 2022 it announced a partnership with Great Point Studios related to the proposed Lionsgate Newark Studios project. In 2024 it broke ground on ArtSide, a proposed $336 million campus development involving housing, retail, and an arts hub. The institution’s redevelopment role has also produced preservation controversies. A historic Borglum sculpture associated with Newark’s public-art heritage was removed and later demolished in 2022, reportedly without approval from the city landmarks commission. NJPAC’s proposal to demolish Cathedral House for truck parking generated further opposition because of the structure’s National Register status, its role in a historic district, and its connection to civil-rights and Black Power organizing. Although preservation was initially agreed upon, later proceedings described in reference material again placed the building’s future in dispute. These episodes illustrate the tension between NJPAC’s ambitions as a growing cultural and development institution and the preservation obligations and community expectations attached to its Newark campus.
- 2024
ArtSide development breaks ground
[1]The center began work on a proposed campus project combining housing, retail, and arts uses.
- 2022
Lionsgate Newark Studios partnership announced
[1]NJPAC partnered with Great Point Studios on community and public-relations work connected to a planned Newark film and television studio.
- 2017
Asbury Park partnership announced
[1]NJPAC and Madison Marquette agreed to collaborate on live performances, education, and community events in Asbury Park.
- 2012
James Moody Jazz Festival is inaugurated
[1]NJPAC launched the festival now known as the TD James Moody Jazz Festival in honor of the Newark-born musician.
- 2011
John Schreiber becomes president and CEO
[1]John Schreiber succeeded Lawrence P. Goldman as the institution’s president and chief executive.
- 2006
NJPAC/Center Street light-rail station opens
[1]Newark Light Rail service connected the center with Broad Street and Newark Penn Station.
- 2001
Receives the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence
[1]NJPAC received the award’s silver medal for its contribution to urban excellence.
- 2001
Cathedral House is adapted for arts education
[1]The adjacent former rectory was renovated to house classrooms, studios, practice rooms, offices, and other education facilities.
- 1997
NJPAC opens to the public
[1]The center opened in October on the former Military Park Hotel site and began presenting performances in its new halls.
- 1995
Construction begins and programming leadership is appointed
[1]Construction proceeded, and Stephanie Hughley was named vice president of programming.
Products and positioning
A major urban performing arts institution that combines nationally and internationally recognized performances with accessible education, community engagement, and Newark-focused civic revitalization.
Performance venue · 1997
Prudential Hall
NJPAC’s principal 2,800-seat hall is arranged in four horseshoe-shaped tiers with boxes and orchestra seating. It is designed for symphony orchestra, opera, ballet, Broadway, pop, and rock presentations. Concert towers can be installed for orchestral performances or removed for productions needing greater stage volume, while the orchestra pit can function as a stage extension or additional seating.
Performance venue · 1997
Victoria Theater
A 514-seat theater with orchestra-level and balcony seating. Its flexible acoustic treatment supports theatrical productions, chamber recitals, contemporary dance, jazz, popular music, and experimental theater. Extendable acoustic curtains allow the room’s reverberation to be adjusted for different performance formats.
Performance venue · 1997
Chase Room
A 350-seat room used for cabaret presentations, spoken-word events, and hip-hop programming. It provides a more intimate setting than NJPAC’s principal halls and is associated with recurring specialty series and festival activity.
Performance venue · 1997
Horizon Theater
An 88-seat black-box theater intended for small-scale, experimental, and flexible productions. Its compact format complements the larger halls and supports programming that requires close audience-performer interaction.
Arts education · 1992
Center for Arts Education
NJPAC’s education division offers classes, scholarships, school residencies, teacher professional development, family programming, and opportunities to work with professional artists. Activities cover music, theater, dance, poetry, and other creative disciplines, serving students, educators, and families.
Orchestral programming · 1997
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra season
NJPAC serves as the home venue for the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s regular season. The relationship anchors the center’s classical-music identity while the broader program includes visiting orchestras, soloists, opera, dance, and contemporary performance.
Controversies
2025
Contested landmarks-commission decision concerning Cathedral House
Reference material describes a later Newark landmarks-commission vote approving demolition despite an earlier preservation agreement and a 1993 memorandum of understanding. The decision was characterized as controversial because of alleged financial conflicts of interest and the building’s community significance.
2022
Demolition dispute involving First Landing Party of the Founders of Newark
A historic Gutzon Borglum public-art work associated with Newark was restored to NJPAC grounds in 2016 and later demolished in 2022. Reference material states that the demolition occurred without approval from Newark’s City Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission.
2022
Cathedral House preservation controversy
NJPAC proposed demolishing Cathedral House to create a surface parking area for diesel trucks. Community members and preservation advocates objected because of the building’s National Register status, historic-district role, and connections to civil-rights and Black Power activity. The institution subsequently agreed to preserve the structure at that point.
Marketing campaigns
- 2023North to Shore Festival
Newark · Asbury Park · Atlantic City · New Jersey
NJPAC co-produces the North to Shore festival across three New Jersey cities, linking performances and cultural events from the shore to Newark.
Outcome. The festival created a statewide multi-city platform for music, comedy, theater, and related cultural programming.
- 2017Madison Marquette Asbury Park partnership
Asbury Park · New Jersey
NJPAC partnered with Madison Marquette to produce performances, arts education, and community-engagement events in Asbury Park.
Outcome. The partnership extended NJPAC programming beyond Newark to major Asbury Park venues.
- 2012TD James Moody Jazz Festival
Newark · New Jersey
An annual jazz festival created in tribute to Newark-born saxophonist James Moody. The event expanded the city’s jazz profile through concerts and related programming.
Outcome. It became a recurring NJPAC festival and a prominent part of Newark’s cultural calendar.
- 2011Sounds of the City
Newark · New Jersey
A free outdoor summer music series presented in NJPAC’s Theater Square, with concerts typically scheduled on summer evenings.
Outcome. The series broadened public access to live music and activated the center’s surrounding public space.
- 2010Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival in Newark
Newark · New Jersey
NJPAC hosted the poetry festival and many of its events when the festival moved to Newark, with a further edition returning in 2012.
Outcome. The program brought a major literary event into Newark’s cultural district.
- 2001Center for Arts Education
Newark · New Jersey
NJPAC renovated adjacent Cathedral House for year-round arts classes, studios, practice rooms, and education administration.
Outcome. The facility became the physical base for one of the largest arts-education programs associated with an American performing arts center.
Brand decisions
2024
Begin the ArtSide campus expansionStrategyBackground
NJPAC pursued a larger mixed-use role for its Newark campus, combining cultural infrastructure with neighborhood development.
Action taken
The organization broke ground on ArtSide, a proposed development including housing, retail, and an arts hub.
Aftermath
The project positioned NJPAC as an anchor for a broader campus and surrounding-area redevelopment program.
announced project value. $336 million (2024 announcement)
2022
Partner with Great Point Studios on Lionsgate Newark StudiosM&ABackground
Newark sought additional creative-industry infrastructure, while Great Point Studios planned a film and television production complex.
Action taken
NJPAC announced a partnership with Great Point Studios involving public relations and community affairs for the proposed Lionsgate Newark Studios.
Aftermath
The initiative connected NJPAC with Newark’s emerging film and television production ambitions.
2017
Extend programming through the Madison Marquette partnershipM&ABackground
Madison Marquette was involved in Asbury Park’s arts and waterfront redevelopment.
Action taken
NJPAC agreed to produce live performances, education, and community events in Asbury Park.
Aftermath
The partnership expanded NJPAC’s geographic reach beyond its Newark campus.
2012
Launch the James Moody Jazz FestivalProduct launchBackground
Newark had lacked a major jazz festival for many years, and NJPAC wanted to honor the legacy of Newark-born saxophonist James Moody.
Action taken
NJPAC introduced an annual festival, later branded the TD James Moody Jazz Festival.
Aftermath
The festival became a recurring part of NJPAC’s signature programming.
2001
Expand into year-round arts educationStrategyBackground
NJPAC sought to make education and community participation a permanent part of its institutional work.
Action taken
The organization renovated Cathedral House as an education facility with classrooms, studios, practice rooms, and offices.
Aftermath
The Center for Arts Education became a major channel for classes, scholarships, residencies, professional development, and family programming.
1993
Prioritize local minority participation in constructionStrategyBackground
NJPAC leadership intended the construction project to deliver employment benefits to Newark and local communities.
Action taken
President and CEO Lawrence Goldman required substantial local minority participation in construction work and suspended a contractor for failing to meet the requirement.
Aftermath
The policy linked the center’s construction process to its broader civic-revitalization mission.
1986
Make Newark the home of a state-backed performing arts centerStrategyBackground
The state sought both a major cultural institution and a project that could contribute to the revitalization of New Jersey’s largest city.
Action taken
The planning committee selected a downtown Newark site and pursued a center integrated with streets, plazas, and nearby civic institutions.
Aftermath
The decision established NJPAC as a cultural and urban-development project rather than only a performance venue.
Recent events
- 2024
NJPAC breaks ground on the ArtSide campus plan[1]
Other
NJPAC broke ground on ArtSide, a proposed campus-area development combining housing, retail, and an arts hub.
- 2022
NJPAC announces Lionsgate Newark Studios partnership[1]
M&A · Other
NJPAC and Great Point Studios announced a proposed film and television production complex in Newark, with NJPAC expected to participate in public-relations and community-affairs work.
- 2017
NJPAC launches a partnership with Madison Marquette[1]
M&A · Other
NJPAC announced a partnership with Madison Marquette to present performances, education, and community events in Asbury Park, including activity at Convention Hall and the Paramount Theatre.
- 2006
Newark Light Rail opens NJPAC station[1]
Other
The NJPAC/Center Street light-rail station opened, linking the center with Broad Street Station and Newark Penn Station.
- 2001
NJPAC receives the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence[1]
Other
NJPAC received the silver medal of the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence in recognition of its contribution to urban development and civic life.
- 1997
NJPAC opens as a major Newark performing arts institution[1]
Other
The center opened in October 1997 after a state-backed planning and construction program intended to strengthen Newark’s cultural life and downtown redevelopment.
Sources2 sources
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