Jersey City Theater Center

JCTC in collaboration with International Cultural Institutions expanded its International Theatre Festival, Voices, to showcase artists as well as theatre and dance companies from various countries including Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Indonesia, South Africa, Spain, Romania, Afghanistan, and Canada. Additionally, the Global Arts Music Series established cultural exchange programs to promote artistic collaboration and understanding between different nations and people.JCTC in partnership with Broadway artists produced The Last Match, an award-winning show that received 11 Broadway World Awards. This production not only garnered critical acclaim but also expanded the organization's audience base, reaching well beyond Jersey City and our usual audience.JCTC focused on underprivileged communities, particularly in the neighborhood of Greenville, where the majority of residents are African American and Latino. To achieve this, the organization partnered with the Jersey City Library to present free events and invite artists and speakers. Topics such as mental health and social justice were addressed, demonstrating JCTC's commitment to addressing important issues within the community.JCTC extended its outreach to local youth by offering educational programs in collaboration with a local community after-school program (100KIDS), the Global Arts Programming and Workshops to Jersey City Public Schools in partnership with I Love Greenville Partnership, Hudson County Educational Program, and Hudson County Schools of Technology (HCST). Olga Levina was selected to serve on HCST's Advisory Board on Theatre and Performing Arts committee. She also received an Empowered Woman Award for her dedication to Arts Education from the Community Schools. These initiatives not only enriched the lives of young community members but also fostered a love for the arts. JCTC played a pivotal role in co-presenting the first Creative Placemaking Conference in partnership with American for the Arts and the City of Jersey City in Jersey City, NJ. By doing so, the organization helped local creatives expand their workshops into the Greenville neighborhood, emphasizing the importance of the arts in economic development. This initiative aimed to educate leaders and members of all communities about the positive impact of the arts on the local economy.