The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) has been named “Favorite Small Performing Arts Center” in the 2015 Annual JerseyArts.com People’s Choice Awards. Nearly 15,000 votes were cast for New Jersey arts organizations across 16 categories, according to a press release.
“The South Orange Performing Arts Center is thrilled to be named as the first-ever ‘Favorite Small Performing Arts Center’ in the Discover Jersey Arts Award,” said Mark Packer, SOPAC’s Executive Director. “This new category reflects the diversity of places throughout New Jersey where people can enjoy the arts. Small or large, gallery, festival or arts classes- New Jersey arts enrich and inspire us all! We thank all those who love and support SOPAC – a SMALL, and beautiful, theatre in downtown South Orange.”
SOPAC was one of more than 100 arts organizations and downtown arts districts nominated for this year’s awards, the largest number of nominees the since the awards were established in 2008. Nominees for the People’s Choice Awards were chosen by their peers through the Jersey Arts Marketers network, which is made up of hundreds of nonprofit arts groups across the state.
“The People’s Choice Awards allows us to honor our state’s incomparable cultural community and highlight the passion of its supporters,” said Adam Perle, President & CEO of ArtPride New Jersey Foundation, the statewide 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.”
Public voting in the 2015 Annual JerseyArts.com People’s Choice Awards ran from January 8 to February 19, 2015. Winners will be honored at the New Jersey Conference on Tourism, held each year at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City.
See a full list of nominees and categories here.
Established in 2006, SOPAC is a premier performing arts center in the region, offering innovative artistic and cultural experiences for diverse audiences in an intimate, inviting environment. SOPAC has a partnership with the Juilliard School of Music to present Juilliard @ SOPAC—a series featuring upcoming musicians from the acclaimed conservatory. SOPAC is home for Seton Hall University Arts Council’s performances, including Classical Concert Series, Jazz N’ the Hall performances and Seton Hall Theatre productions. SOPAC also presents performances by its theater company in residence, Midtown Direct Rep, and its dance company in residence, Lydia Johnson Dance.
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.
