The Division of Engagement & Community Development ensures equitable access to arts, culture, and history by identifying underserved communities and building inclusive, community-driven partnerships. The Division advances equity by leading outreach efforts, capacity-building initiatives and programs that elevate cultural representation across communities and address systemic causes of inequity. 

• Build partnerships with County departments, municipalities, and external organizations to advance inclusive engagement strategies.
• Establish and strengthen relationships with underserved communities to reduce barriers and expand participation in cultural life.
• Provide training, equipment, and ADA expertise to grantees and partners in collaboration with the designated State ADA Officer to improve accessibility across programs and sites.
• We serve as a Regional Folklife Center in partnership with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, supporting cultural preservation and documentation.

Folklife refers to art and culture reflective of traditional knowledge and connection to community, often described as “the art of everyday life.” As one of the most diverse counties in New Jersey and the nation, Middlesex County leaders and residents take pride in our multicultural heritage as a pillar of social and economic vitality. Our enduring commitment of over 25 years to free and accessible folklife programming strengthens connections between our region’s diverse communities. It ensures the preservation of our rich traditions, art forms, and lifeways that bridge our past with our present. We support over 100 regional cultural groups, artists, and tradition-bearers. We are proud to serve as a Regional Folklife Center – a project of the Arts Institute of Middlesex County and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

To learn more about the Regional Folklife Center and to engage in folklife events and programming across Middlesex County, visit MiddlesexCountyCulture.com. 

Folklife and cultural Heritage Programs are projects of the Arts Institute of Middlesex County and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.