2015 JerseyArts.com People's Choice Award Winners Announced

After another record-breaking year, the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2015 JerseyArts.com People's Choice Awards. The Awards, which takes place annually to honor the work of New Jersey's vital, vibrant and diverse arts community, saw the greatest number of nominees and voters since its inception in 2008.

"The People's Choice Awards allows us to honor our state's incomparable cultural community and highlight the passion of its supporters," says Adam Perle, President & CEO of ArtPride New Jersey Foundation, the state arts service organization that coordinates the annual awards. "The amazing amount of nominees and votes attests to the incredible impact the arts have on the daily lives of New Jerseyans."

The 2015 JerseyArts.com People's Choice Awards winners are:

Favorite Large Performing Arts Center: New Jersey Performing Arts Center - NJPAC (Newark)
Favorite Small Performing Arts Center: South Orange Performing Arts Center -SOPAC (South Orange)
Favorite Theater to See a Musical: Paper Mill Playhouse (Millburn)
Favorite Theater to See a Play: McCarter Theatre (Princeton)
Favorite Art Museum: Newark Museum (Newark)
Favorite Art Gallery: Grounds For Sculpture (Hamilton)
Favorite Symphony/Orchestra: New Jersey Symphony Orchestra- NJSO (Newark)
Favorite Choral Group: Newark Boys Chorus (Newark)
Favorite Dance Company: American Repertory Ballet (Princeton)
Favorite Opera Company: Opera at The Princeton Festival (Princeton)
Favorite Music Festival: Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Festival (Asbury Park, Long Branch, Point Pleasant)
Favorite Film Festival: Montclair Film Festival (Montclair)
Favorite Adult Art Class: Montclair Art Museum's Yard School of Art (Montclair)
Favorite Art Camp: Montclair Art Museum's SummerART Camp (Montclair)
Favorite Theater Camp: Paper Mill Players (Millburn)
Favorite Downtown Arts District: Red Bank

"Everyone at McCarter is extremely gratified to learn of this honor," says Timothy J. Shields, Managing Director of McCarter Theatre Center, a first-time winner. "It's particularly meaningful because it represents the voice of those who attend shows, and therefore is a great indication that our plays are being enjoyed by so many in the community. For a theater to be great, it needs a great audience. It's clear that here in Princeton we have a great audience."

More than 100 nonprofit arts groups and arts districts were nominated for the 2015 Awards by members of the arts community. From the nominations, the public chose their favorites in the 16 categories, with nearly 15,000 ballots cast for arts organizations statewide.

"The South Orange Performing Arts Center is thrilled to be named as the first 'Favorite Small Performing Arts Center' in the People's Choice Awards," says Mark Packer, Executive Director of SOPAC. "This new category reflects the diversity of places throughout the state where people can enjoy the arts. Small or large, gallery, festival or art class- New Jersey arts enrich and inspire us all! We thank all those who support our beautiful small theater."

Winners from the 2015 People's Choice Awards will be honored at the New Jersey Conference on Tourism, held March 12-13, 2015 at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City.

For detailed results and more information, visit JerseyArts.com/peopleschoice. The JerseyArts.com People's Choice Awards are coordinated through the Discover Jersey Arts program, a cosponsored project of the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts aimed at increasing the awareness of and participation in the arts.

About JerseyArts.com and Discovery Jersey Arts
JerseyArts.com is the official website of Discover Jersey Arts, a cosponsored project of the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State dedicated to increasing the awareness of and participation in the arts in New Jersey. The site features a comprehensive cultural event calendar and arts directory; feature stories and podcasts; details on Jersey Arts Membership, including discounts and exclusive member events; an online gallery of New Jersey artists; and other content about the state's cultural community.

About the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation
The ArtPride New Jersey Foundation is the programs and services arm of ArtPride New Jersey, Inc., a nonprofit coalition of organizations and individuals that advocates at local, state and national levels for funding, support and recognition of the arts as vital to New Jersey's economy, education and overall quality of life. For more information about ArtPride visit ArtPrideNJ.com.

To post a comment, you must register and login.