The Jersey City Independent"

As Art House Productions prepares to begin its 10th year of work this fall, founder Christine Goodman — a staple of Jersey City’s cultural scene — will finally be coming on board full-time as the organization’s first official staff member, beginning August 1.

“I believe that every step toward formalization taken by every Jersey City arts organization — forming a board, paying artists, getting nonprofit status, hiring staff — is a cause for celebration,” she says. “It takes a lot of time and hard work, but we all benefit when groups make the commitment and rise to the challenge. It is a strong statement of ‘we are here, and we are staying.’”

That statement certainly applies to Goodman, who has served as Art House’s executive director — on a volunteer basis — since she founded the group in 2001, putting together JC Fridays four times a year, as well as the organization’s countless other plays, exhibitions and special events.

What’s more, for the past 6 years, she’s done it all while working full-time as a program coordinator at the Everybody Wins! Foundation, a literacy and mentoring organization that brings corporate volunteers into public schools to read with children.

She says the work of the organization’s Board of Trustees led her to finally be able to give up the day job.

“The growth of Art House’s internal structure is what made this change possible,” Goodman says, adding that the board is filled with “intelligent, committed, and passionate individuals who believe in Art House as much as I do.”

(Currently, that board is made up of Alicia Kurzer, Kate Kaiser, Alexandra Levin, Jack Halpin, Donovan Bezer, Esq, Michael Flinck, Stephanie Lubalin, Patrick Mirucki, Kris Van Nest, and Megan Wagner. Goodman also credits the previous board with fostering Art House’s growth.)

Securing the funding Art House needs to cover the essentials — program expansion, stipends, functional computers, operational costs, and space improvements — will be Goodman’s top priority as she guides the organization into its future. After all, as she points out, the group’s entire budget, including her new salary, is less than $60,000 a year.

Even with such a tiny budget, Goodman says Art House is set to grow in the next 5 years, with plans to develop programming focused on children and youth, expand JC Fridays, offer classes in video and new media, expand co-sponsored programs with other organizations and grow its theatrical season to include an additional offerings.

And in case the aforementioned budget figure wasn’t a dead giveaway, she says the ability to hire an employee wasn’t the result of one big-time grant or a special source of one-time funding.

Instead, she notes, “the bulk of our funding comes from people who want art in their neighborhood, people who want to walk down the street and find events that educate, inspire and encourage artistic growth.” Goodman invites anyone who is interested to reach out and get involved, or just let her know what they’d like to see Art House doing.

She also says the support of developers Eric and Paul Silverman, who’ve provided space for Art House in 1 McWilliams Place, has been essential, as has help from other local businesses.

“Our sponsors — those who provide major support for our programs, those who donate goods and services, those who spread awareness and buy program ads — they are mostly local businesses who face the same day-to-day challenges that we do. I cannot thank them enough for their support,” Goodman says. “A vibrant arts community can only be achieved by working together.”

A cocktail reception celebrating the milestone for Christine Goodman and Art House Productions is scheduled for Monday, August 9 from 6 to 9 pm at LITM (140 Newark Ave.). The $20 donation includes 1 free drink and appetizers.