The Jersey City Art & Studio Tour (JCAST) will feature over 1,000 artists over four days between the end of this month and the beginning of October.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“This year, we’re excited to bring back the fully immersive in-person Art and Studio Tour experience, which has become the region’s premier arts and cultural event,” Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement.
“From JCAST to our Arts and Culture Trust Fund grants to attracting key investments that boost our local community and economy, we have seen significant progress through our efforts to revive arts and culture in Jersey City. JCAST is an unprecedented event to further support and showcase our talented local artists and arts organizations.”
Starting September 29, the four-day festival will have artists on display at more than 140 locations throughout the city.
JCAST 2022 will also feature a live outdoor community painting project for the first time. The community mural looks to encourage resident participation alongside more than a dozen professional artists.
The mural will help clean, beautify, and enliven a large stretch of St. Paul’s Avenue just off Route 139.
The community mural event will include an interactive stencil area where community members can make various stencils and apply them to the wall.
Residents can show up and participate on Saturday, October 1, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, October 2, between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.
“Since its humble and organic beginnings in 1990, JCAST has become a yearly highlight and important bridge for connecting artists and the wonderful art loving community that is Jersey City!,” added Mollie Thonneson, of Pro Arts Jersey City.
Fulop will kick off JCAST 2022 with an opening reception that is free and open to the public from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on September 29th at JCAST Headquarters in the Marion section of Jersey City.
This event will include pop-up art experiences extending from Dey Street to Newark Avenue, including Canco Park and surrounding storefronts.
The festival will also feature food trucks, live DJs, and original artist merchandise for sale.
“There are so many diverse up-and-coming artists with raw talent that need a platform like JCAST to put the spotlight on their work and talent,” noted Melida Rodas, a Multimedia Artist/Poet and JCAST Greenville Organizer.
“For the upcoming Arts and Studio Tour, we are creating a pathway connecting one side of Greenville to the other to allow people to walk through the neighborhood and enjoy works of art created by their neighbors. If successful, we hope to establish a more permanent Greenville Arts Crossroads.”
Discover artists by medium (murals, photography, ceramics, etc.) through our easy-to-search artist profiles on the JCAST website. Additionally, information stations will be easily accessible throughout the City, with locations listed here.
“Every year, more artists participate in JCAST and bigger crowds attend. We’ve created an interactive experience like no other that spans all areas of Jersey City and offers free guided tours that are free and open to the public,” explained Office of Cultural Affairs Director Christine Goodman.
“We encourage everyone attending to take advantage of the free bike and walking tours offered on Saturday and Sunday.”
