About WheatonArts

Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center (“WheatonArts”), founded as Wheaton Village in 1968, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to engage artists and audiences in an evolving exploration of creativity. The mission is advanced through the interpretation of collections and exhibitions; education initiatives and culturally diverse public programs; residencies and other opportunities for artists. With a history spanning five decades, WheatonArts has earned regional, national, and international recognition for its unique collections and programs. Located in Millville, the center of the nation’s first glass industry, WheatonArts is one of only 10 museums in New Jersey to earn Accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums.

Located on approximately 45 acres, WheatonArts is home to the Museum of American Glass, housing the most comprehensive collection of glass produced in America, the Artist Studios, highlighted by the WheatonArts Glass Studio, and other studios housing ceramics, flamework glass, and glass fusing; and the Down Jersey Folklife Center, featuring close to 85 cultural communities since 1995. More information can be found at www.wheatonarts.org

 About the Folklife Program

Since 1995, the WheatonArts Folklife Program (known as the Down Jersey Folklife Center for many years) has operated with a mission to research, document, interpret, and present the various ethnic, religious, occupational, social, and geographically related traditional cultures in NJ’s southern eight counties. Programming, grounded in fieldwork, has included exhibitions, demonstrations by artists/tradition bearers, performances, festivals, classes, training for educators, lectures, and seminars. A small permanent collection representing the rich cultural diversity of our region further reflects many meaningful relationships built with artists and communities over the years.

The Folklife program is a member of the New Jersey Folklife Network Program (NJFN), an initiative created by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) over 30 years ago in collaboration with cultural specialists, folk artists, nonprofits, and leaders from diverse communities throughout the state. The regional folklife programs are supported by a NJSCA Cosponsored grant program that advances the NJSCA’s goals through the implementation of five key activities (recently identified as the “Five Pillars”). The implementation of the “Pillars” is relative to regional focus, cultural landscape, organizational mission, and local needs of each host organization. Informing the core work of the Folklife Program Manager, the “Pillars” currently include:

1. Ethnographic Fieldwork, including (but not limited to) site visits, formal and informal interviews with and documentation of artists in their working environments; photo/video logs, field notes, etc.

2. Artist-led “Arts Where You Are” programs providing folk arts-based experiences for individuals unable to travel or otherwise unable to easily access public programming.

3. Folk Arts in Education programs (FAIE), bringing folk artists into K-12 schools to undertake curriculum-aligned residencies and assembly programs.

4. Free Public Events such as exhibitions, presentations, performances, and workshops with compensated folk and traditional arts/artists and cultural practitioners

5. Artist Services: support to, and collaboration with, folk artists and cultural practitioners, including networking, professional development, providing space, opportunities, and technical assistance.

The WheatonArts Foklife Program Manager will report directly to the WheatonArts Director of Public Programs and Engagement, while working closely with the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. The Folklife Program Manager is also the primary liaison with the NJSCA Folklife Program Officer, working in partnership to advance the goals of the NJSCA and the NJ Folklife Network.