On September 25, the West Windsor Arts Council made history as it moved into its new home at the West Windsor Arts Center. This was no ordinary occupation of a building. Rather than have a ribbon cutting, our Grand Opening ceremony began as a flash mob-style dance from the Princeton Junction train station: First ribbon dancers gracefully made their way to the street, joining hip-hop dancers, then Flamenco dancers on Alexander Road, closed to traffic.
They were joined by Indian and Middle Eastern dancers, passing by a trombone quartet, and then finally joining a drumming circle in the parking lot of the new building.
More than 800 people came to enjoy our Block Party and see the new space, with its performance area, gallery walls, and Florence Bell Hillier Visual Arts Studio.
Margaret Mead may have said “A small group of thoughtful people could change the world,” but we also know that it takes a village. Eighty volunteers worked tirelessly to make this event a success.
We also want to thank our sister arts organizations who offered hands-on activities: Arts Council of Princeton, Dance Vision, McCarter Theater, Opera NJ, Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Princeton University Art Museum, Westminster Choir College, Princeton University Lewis Center for the Arts, Millstone River Morris & Handsome Molly, Sinfonietta Nova, Kelsey Theatre, Josh Robinson Drum Circle, Marie Alonzo Snyder and her dancers, Musikgarten, WW Historical Society WW-P High School South Art and Middle School World Languages, Leos Club, Timeless Music, Garden State Slide Ensemble, Berrien City Neighborhood Association, WW-P High School South Saxophone and String Quartets, WW-P High School South String Quartet, High School North’s Out of the Blue and Alex DeSimine.
Thanks to our speakers: Congressman Rush Holt, State Senator Tom Goodwin, State Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, NJ State Council on the Arts Chairwoman Sharon Burton Turner, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh, West Windsor Council, and our own Executive Director Eduardo Garcia.
Also thanks to West Windsor Township Police and Traffic Safety, Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Department, Brother’s Pizza, East Windsor Rita’s Ice and Dunkin Donuts of East Windsor.
For those who missed the Grand Opening, we are offering several Open Houses where you can take a tour of the new building and participate in free arts workshops appropriate for all ages. There will be workshops October 10 and 13.
We are ready to launch our inaugural season of music, theater, dance, and live performances. And don’t forget our 5-Alarm Firehouse Fling Saturday, October 16. Tickets can be purchased at www.westwindsorarts.org. Come often: it’s your community arts center.
Grand-Opening Event Chairs
Vice-President Lisa Weil
Holly Singer-Eland
President Ilene Dube
Heidi Kleinman
