Atlantic City, N.J. — Stockton University got a head start on the preparations for the United States’ 250th anniversary as it hosted its Second Annual Arts and Culture Summit on Friday, April 4.

More than 140 people from about 40 different New Jersey organizations, artists, students and educators arrived at the university’s Atlantic City campus for a day-long event that featured breakout sessions on funding support for art and artists; art, culture and citizenship; art and our natural resources; technology and artistic expression; and art and community engagement. The 250th anniversary of the proclamation of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia is on July 4, 2026.

“There is no other event of its kind anywhere in this region, or as far as I’m aware, anywhere in New Jersey,” said Ian Marshall, the dean of Stockton’s School of Arts and Humanities. “Where else can students, artists and enthusiasts go specifically to hone their craft, learn about how to sustain what they do, and be in dialogue with one another?”

Stockton President Joe Bertolino started the summit a year ago as part of the celebration of his inauguration and to recognize the university’s role as an Anchor Institution in both Atlantic City and Atlantic County. He’s excited to make the summit an annual university tradition.

“We take seriously our role in creating a space for dialogue, reflection and growth,” he said. “This summit is one of the many ways we bring people together across sectors to imagine what’s possible when creativity and community meet.”

New Jersey Assemblyman Bill Moen, the chairman of the State Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee, said the summit proves that Stockton is truly a resource for the community. He also emphasized the university’s role as an Anchor Institution will continue to be a key part of the revitalization of Atlantic City

“We know that Stockton is serving as a leader in this space in this part of the state,” said the Fifth District assemblyman. “These kinds of events really give us an understanding, from the state’s perspective, of where we can be investing in the future and supporting the good work that’s being done.”

Bertolino added that the summit is a chance to reflect on the values that define creativity and culture, including innovation, imagination and inspiration.

“These are qualities that New Jersey’s artists, cultural leaders and organizations bring to life every day,” he said. “You are the heartbeat of our region’s cultural community, and I know you’ll play a vital role in marking this historic milestone.”

The summit’s keynote speaker was Indigenous artist Edgar Heap of Birds, who has had his work exhibited at some of the most renowned institutions in the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York; the Site Santa Fe Museum in New Mexico; and the Grand Palais in Paris. His art is also in the collections of many museums, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. Some of his work was on display in the Fannie Lou Hamer Event Room during the summit.

Some of the speakers in the summit’s breakout sessions include Sara Cureton, the executive director of the New Jersey Historical Commission; Ralph Hunter, the founder and president of the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey; Stockton Digital Studies and Art Professor MeeNa Ko; Stockton Assistant Professor of Microbiology Lauren Seyler; and Lynne Toye, the executive director of the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund. Click here for a complete list of the breakout sessions.

“Bringing together such a wide range of speakers and panelists from various disciplines and backgrounds not only enriches our conversations but also strengthens the connections between artists, organizations and community leaders,” said Michael Cagno, the executive director of the Noyes Museum of Stockton University.

Marshall hopes the summit can be a springboard for artists to express creativity to mark this prominent milestone for the country, especially in a state that is the site of numerous key Revolutionary War moments.

“It’s clear to me that we need the arts and interpretive lenses on culture now more than ever,” he said. “Artistic expression provides a way to bring people from multiple places and multiple points of view together.”

The summit provides a vital service by bringing different arts organizations together in one place, said Michael Atkins, the executive director of the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. The foundation works with established and emerging artists to promote public art installations throughout the city.

“It’s imperative that an institution of the scale and size of Stockton that has a footprint in Atlantic City do this work of bringing together people who aren’t just in this community but also within our broader art community,” he said. “This is a critical place to make some of those connections that will help us to elevate the arts locally and advance the careers of artist.”

Bertolino encouraged the summit’s attendees to think boldly about how arts and cultural organizations can collaborate and support each other.

“The arts help us understand one another, challenge us to grow, and inspire us to envision something better,” he said. “Let’s build on that momentum — elevate new voices, deepen our shared commitment to the arts, and keep creativity at the heart of South Jersey’s identity.”

-- Story by Mark Melhorn, photos by Lizzie Nealis