Home | Departments and Services | Cultural and Heritage Commission
Updated 01/04/2010
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It is a county body that the Board of Chosen Freeholders created by resolution according to State Statute on January 1, 1971. Its responsibilities include the "development of programs to promote interest and participation in and understanding of local history, arts, cultural values and goals of the community and state by working directly with arts and historical organizations, schools, religious organizations, service clubs, municipal governments and other interested groups and individuals." It may establish museum and cultural programs, including fine and performing programs, undertake historical research, and architectural and genealogical research. Reports and directories may be published that help develop interest in historical and cultural matters. Its nine appointed members represent the entire county geographically, and have special interests and awareness in history, art and music. Each serves a five year term without compensation and may be reappointed. The Commission sponsors many county-wide events that involve every age group, children through senior citizens. Partial funding for these programs is sometimes provided through New Jersey State Council on the Arts and New Jersey Historical Commission grants. One of its most popular projects is Art Goes to School. Since the winter of 1992 trained volunteer presenters have been bringing the program to K - 4 classrooms throughout the county. At the request of educators, the program has also been presented to pre-kindergarten; special needs children; and in some middle schools. Volunteers are always needed. Senior citizens expand their cultural horizons through the Meet the Masters, an adult version of the program, and Bus to Culture, which, presented in partnership with the Department of Human Services, Division of Senior Services, provides lectures and trips to museums in the tri-state area. Also during the school year, Kids Kulture programs feature performances of great diversity. At no cost to the schools, all of the county's third, fifth and sixth grade students are invited to attend performances such as Three Cheers for America, staged by the Pushcart Players; Laura Ingalls Wilder: Growing Up on the Prairie, by Arts Power; and Dennis Kobray of Meet the Musicians, who appears in period costume as he brings alive the music and personality of legendary classical composers. Artists look forward to participating in the Commission-sponsored exhibitions. Hunterdon residents have a chance to view works of art by county artists at the County Justice Center. The Commission solicited and received more than 45 pieces -- paintings, pastels, prints and drawings -- for the public spaces in the building. In addition, there is a rotating exhibition of works by the Hunterdon Watercolor Society as well as the Commission's collection of pastels, "The Four Seasons of Hunterdon County" and a photographic collection by the Hunterdon Camera Club, "The Rich Heritage of Bridges in Hunterdon County," which documents the remaining iron and stone bridges. At the main entrance to the building, twin flagpoles stand as soldiers flanking a unique hand-crafted sundial dedicated on Tuesday, May 27, 1997. Stockton Borough resident Anthony Cordasco, who spent hundreds of hours designing, carving plaster and sawing metal to fashion his donation of the bronze, steel and copper sundial, also created the sundial sited in the Courthouse Park to commemorate the 2006 Rededication of the Historic Courthouse. In an effort to familiarize residents and visitors with the county's past, the Commission has continued its project of erecting signs at key historical sites. After reviewing information from municipalities and local historians, the Commission has placed signs at historic buildings, a covered bridge, stone mill, iron ore furnace, cemetery, lime kiln and three of of the county's parks. In addition, an inventory of county waterways has led to the installation of signs which now identify the proper name of all major rivers, creeks and brooks in the county. Corollary to the study completed in 1995 of 14 masonry culverts, the Commission continued a project to inventory and document the location, type and historical significance of 90 stone arch bridges, working with the departments of Planning and Roads, Bridges and Engineering. The Commission is the repository of the architectural survey of the county, as well as a collection of over 200 photographs of scenes of old Hunterdon County. Educators, historians and the general public are encouraged to use both collections. Some may now be seen in Building #1 at the Route 12 County Complex. To further students' appreciation of the importance of historic preservation, the Commission sponsors an annual essay contest for children in the third and fourth grades. Members of the Retired Teachers Association select winning entries for the contest, "The Most Historic Place In My Town." State and county-funded grants authorized by the Commission enrich the programs of many institutions and organizations in the county, among them the Hunterdon Museum of Art, Red Mill Museum Village, Raritan River Concerts, Hunterdon Musical Arts, Hunterdon County Teen Arts, and ShowKids Invitational Theatre. The Commission makes forms available to apply for funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, New Jersey Historical Commission, New Jersey Council for the Humanities, and the Hunterdon County Cultural and Heritage Commission. Special Projects Grant (county-funded) applications are available in August, with a September application deadline.
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