Report finds arts council still lacking
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno faulted it before, and visits to groups are still limited.
TRENTON - A new report finds the New Jersey State Council on the Arts has not been making good on a promise to visit more of the organizations it funds.
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno criticized the organization in July for asking for permission to receive more than one free ticket to performances and for rarely visiting out-of-the-way organizations. The request for more tickets was denied by the State Ethics Commission, and Guadagno instructed the council to attend a refresher course on the ethics code.
Council members said they would change, and in August they adopted a supplemental ethics code that addressed the council's ticketing issues. The group also modified its site-visit form to request more information about the event.
But a review of records by the Star-Ledger of Newark found that only 11 of the council's 17 members had visited any organizations in the last six months of 2010. And those who did frequented mostly the same groups and made only four visits to events in southern New Jersey and four to small arts groups.
Site-visit records show council members attended more theater performances than any other offerings. Of the 35 visits reported since last June, 20 were made to theater companies - including nine to Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn and seven to the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in Madison.
Council chairwoman Sharon Burton Turner attended the most number of events, making nine visits.
Steve Runk, the executive director, said members were busy with committee meetings this fall but should now be able to get to more venues. The visits are meant to help them learn about the various organizations they support.
"They are making the effort to get to as many groups as they can," he told the newspaper. "You'll see a lot more activity in the next six months."
Council members volunteer their time and are appointed by the governor and approved by the Legislature for three-year terms. Gov. Christie has nominated six members since taking office, but the Senate has taken action on just one. An additional member's term is up, but no appointment has been made.