- ◾Open Call for N.J. Artist Ideas for a new performance series, Revolutionary Acts.
- ◾Artists who live or work in New Jersey are invited to submit ideas for performance-based work. Artists of a variety of visual and performance backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
- ◾Submission deadline is Monday, June 16.
As the country marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775, to Sept. 3, 1783), New Jersey artists are being called to help reshape how people remember the war, according to RevolutionNJ.
Monument Lab, in collaboration with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the New Jersey Historical Commission, and RevolutionNJ, has launched an open call for performance-based art ideas that explore Revolutionary War history in a fresh, public-facing way. One of the featured locations? Fort Lee, known for its pivotal role in George Washington’s retreat across New Jersey.
Revolutionary Acts
The project, titled Revolutionary Acts, will fund a new performance series leading up to 2026. Artists who live or work in the state are encouraged to propose creative ways to share stories of the Revolution at three historically significant sites: Fort Lee, Trenton, and Camden.
The RevolutionaryActs project expands upon conventional forms of performance, public art, and public history. Artists of a variety of visual and performance backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Each of the three approved artists will receive $2,500 for the project, plus $30,000 in recognition of their creative efforts.
“This is a chance for artists to interpret our state’s legacy in an engaging and memorable way,” said New Jersey Lt. Governor Tahesha Way, who oversees both the State Arts Council and Historical Commission. “It’s about connecting people through shared history.”
The selected artist will collaborate with community partners to create site-specific performances that reflect New Jersey’s complex history and evolving identity. Submissions are due by Monday, June 16, 2025.
Paul Farber, director of Monument Lab, said the organization is excited to expand its longstanding partnership with the state.
“Artists are keepers of vital history,” says Paul Farber, Director of Monument Lab. “We are honored to work with the State of New Jersey to engage artists and local constituencies. This partnership began in 2019, and we have since learned with and been inspired by many New Jersey-based artists, public historians, and stewards of place. We hope this monumental performance series will offer reflection and connection.”
Revolutionary Acts is just one of many efforts underway as part of RevolutionNJ, a multi-year campaign to mark 250 years, the Semiquincentennial. The initiative seeks to highlight diverse Revolutionary voices, challenge traditional narratives, and encourage public engagement with history in new, creative ways.
Programs Underway Include:
- ◾Tavern Talks: These interactive conversations led by reenactors use historical prompts to spark modern-day dialogue around community, freedom, and change.
- ◾History Pinned: As part of Civic Season, visitors to select historic sites can collect a series of exclusive buttons. Those who collect all five earn a “History Hero” badge.
- ◾Traveling Exhibit: A portable exhibit showcasing key moments and figures in New Jersey’s Revolutionary history will tour the state, offering access to people in every region.
- ◾History Happened Here: This educational toolkit will give teachers classroom resources, professional development, and digital videos to better integrate NJ’s Revolutionary heritage into their curriculum.
- ◾Public Arts Program: In partnership with the NJ State Council on the Arts and Monument Lab, temporary public art installations will pop up across the state—each one designed by local artists and shaped through community collaboration.
- ◾Genealogy Pop-Ups: Hosted at county fairs, food festivals, and street events, these mobile booths—developed with the NJ State Library and State Archives—help residents explore their own family histories.
- ◾Podcasts: A new podcast series called “History Mysteries” will delve into untold or lesser-known stories from New Jersey’s past, hosted by public historians and tied to RevolutionNJ themes.
- ◾Revolutionary Runs: Expect a series of themed 5K races that mix exercise with education about local history.
Not Just 1776
While the focus is on the American Revolution, RevolutionNJ is also shining a light on how the ideas of freedom, democracy, and justice have evolved over the past 250 years. Civic engagement, education, and inclusive storytelling are core pillars of the effort
Whether through school programs, public events, or heritage tourism, organizers want to spark conversations that recognize the full scope of New Jersey’s history—acknowledging both its triumphs and the people left out of the founding narrative, organizers said.
The goal is clear: make history feel relevant, alive, and accessible to everyone in the state.
“It’s not just about the past,” organizers say. “It’s about how we move forward together by understanding where we’ve been.”
For updates on events, artist calls, or ways to get involved, visit RevNJ.org.
Artists with backgrounds in performance, visual art, or interdisciplinary work are encouraged to apply. Full details about the call for ideas, submission process, and timeline can be found online here.
Revolutionary Acts is one of many statewide initiatives underway to commemorate the 250th. Through this series, the partners will showcase cutting-edge artistry, highlighting an expansive group of Revolutionary voices.
The project aims to demonstrate that the remembrance of history and memory is a collective and personal endeavor, and everyone can actively participate, RevNJ said.
Guided by the selected artists and the public art experts at Monument Lab, the public will explore the complex layers of history found in New Jersey’s cities, towns, and landscapes.
To apply, or more information about the project, the process for artist selection, and the timeline, click here to go to the online form.
About the Partners
Monument Lab is a nonprofit public art, history, and design studio that is a leading voice in how monuments live among people in public spaces. As a team of artists, curators, and researchers, Monument Lab engages the country’s inherited symbols in order to unearth the next generation of monuments that elevate stories and systems of belonging.
The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, created in 1966, is a division of the New Jersey Department of State and a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Arts Council was established to support, encourage, and foster public interest in the arts, enlarge public and private resources devoted to the arts, promote freedom of expression in the arts, and facilitate the inclusion of art in every public building in New Jersey.
The New Jersey Historical Commission is a state agency dedicated to the advancement of public knowledge and preservation of New Jersey history. Established in 1967, its work is founded on the fundamental belief that an understanding of New Jersey’s shared heritage is essential to sustaining a cohesive and robust democracy. Learn more at nj.gov/state/historical.
RevolutionNJ is a partnership between the New Jersey Historical Commission and the nonprofit Crossroads of the American Revolution Association to plan the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in New Jersey.
It advances the role that history plays in public discourse, community engagement, education, tourism, and scholarship in New Jersey. Through a series of initiatives that explore the history of the American Revolution, its context, and its legacy, RevolutionNJ galvanizes diverse audiences statewide into embracing the enduring value and relevance of history.
