Residents can enjoy a range of free exhibitions and events promoted by the Middlesex County Arts Institute 

WHAT:  The Arts Institute of Middlesex County is presenting, promoting, and supporting a multitude of arts and culture events, exhibitions, and shows throughout the month of June. The month is packed with exciting programming primarily centered around celebrating Pride Month. These events are free to enjoy for all County residents and beyond.

June’s event highlights include:

• Every Wednesday @ 4:30 pm – This month we are celebrating Pride Month! Join the Civic League of Greater New Brunswick for our Art and Story Time series every Wednesday at 4:30 pm with a new reading and a DIY craft activity. All ages are welcome!
• June 1 @ 4:30 pm – Join the Civic League of Greater New Brunswick in a reading of Frog and Toad Are Friends written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel. Learn about the powerful meaning of friendship and how it comes in different shapes and colors. After learning about friendship, create your own animal sketches.
• June 8 @ 4:30 pm – Join the Civic League of Greater New Brunswick in a reading of Harriet Gets Carried Away written and illustrated by Jessie Sima. Discover the joy of remembering where you come from, no matter how far you roam, or what you are wearing when you get there. After our reading, get carried away making your own costumes!
•  June 15 @ 4:30 pm – Join the Civic League of Greater New Brunswick in a reading of The Colors of Us written and illustrated by Karen Katz. Through the eyes of a little girl who begins to see her familiar world in a new way, this book celebrates the differences and similarities that connect all people. After the reading, join us as we paint self-portraits and play with color mixing!
• June 22 @ 4:30 pm – Join the Civic League of Greater New Brunswick in a reading of Julian is a Mermaid written and illustrated by Jessica Love. Come ready to show off your best mermaid outfit!
• June 29 @ 4:30 pm – Join the Civic League of Greater New Brunswick in a reading of When You Look Out the Window: How Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin Built a Community written by Gayle E. Pitman and illustrated by Christopher Lyles. After our reading, join us as we imagine and draw our neighborhoods.
• NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITY – The Arts Institute of Middlesex County will support small to medium-sized nonprofit arts organizations with specific general operating support over a two-year grant period through a National Endowment for the Arts ― American Rescue Plan (NEA ARP) Grant. This special grant program is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts for subgranting to the nonprofit arts sector in response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant guidelines and applications open on May 31, 2022, with a deadline to apply by July 18, 2022. For full details, visit our grants homepage: https://middlesex.smapply.io/
• First Fridays with the Arts Institute – First Fridays is BACK in Monument Square, and we are celebrating Pride, Caribbean American Heritage Month, Juneteenth, and Black Music History Month! We will be collaborating with the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center for a happy hour filled with Caribbean music and more! We will also be collaborating with American Repertory Ballet for their show Movin’ + Groovin’. We will also continue the chalk art initiative collaboration with New Brunswick Public Schools’ high school art teacher Ms. Danielle Fleming and her student art club, “Art on the Block,” in celebration of Pride 2022!
• Feria de Sevilla – Join us for Feria de Sevilla at Parker Press Park on June 5 from 2:30 pm-6 pm. Enjoy an afternoon of colorful costumes, spontaneous dancing throughout the park of the traditional Sevillanas, and main stage flamenco dance performances by Alborada’s professional company joined by guest artist, guitarist Juan Pedro Jimenez directly from Cadiz, Spain. Enjoy an exhibition of Sevillanas dancing, joyous live music, clicking castanets, stomping feet, and delicious foods including paella and traditional Spanish items for sale.
• Celebrate Middlesex County – Join us for Celebrate Middlesex at Roosevelt Press Park on June 11 from 10 am-3 pm. Celebrate Middlesex County is a free, family-friendly event focused on showcasing the unique programs, services, and people of Middlesex County’s government. The annual celebration highlights County offices and partners with interactive booths and displays and illustrates all the County has to offer with fun offerings for the whole family to enjoy. Attractions include local food vendors, live music, games and activities, touch-a-truck, roller skating, arts and crafts, historical reenactors, and much more.
• Metro Gathering Mega Event – Join the world’s largest treasure hunt at the 2022 Metro Gathering Mega Event on June 18 at the East Jersey Old Town Village. Are you familiar with Pokémon Go? Geocaching is the original, reality-based treasure hunt using global positioning system (GPS). If you have a smartphone, you can geocache. Come to the event to learn more and meet George Washington. There’s fun, food, and games for the whole family!
• Juneteenth Festival – Join the Volcan Pioneers Firefighters of New Brunswick as they celebrate their annual Juneteenth parade followed by a festival in the newly renovated Recreation Park on June 18. There will be food and non-food vendors; children’s activities, prizes, and giveaways; and much more!

WHEN:  June 2022

WHERE:  Throughout the month of June, visit http://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/artsandculture for full details on all the events listed above and many more! Registration details and links to live stream events are available.