News from the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners
Shanel Y. Robinson, Commissioner Director | Sara Sooy, Commissioner Deputy Director
Melonie Marano, Commissioner | Paul Drake, Commissioner | Doug Singleterry, Commissioner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2021
Somerset County Seeks Performance Artists for October Diversity Festival
Artistry Should Represent Cultural Diversity
SOMERVILLE, NJ – The Somerset County Diversity Festival Committee is seeking performance artists and community groups to showcase their artistry at the 2021 Somerset County Diversity Festival in October. Performers will be expected to entertain for 30- to 45-minutes, and their performances should have a diversity-related theme or reflect the diverse cultures that exist in Somerset County.
Preference will be given to performance artists/groups that are based in Somerset County and have demonstrated experience with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, State Teen Arts Festival, a neighboring County Cultural & Heritage Commission, an established non-profit arts organization, or be a qualified professional performance artist in their field of expertise.
Date, Time, Location
The Somerset County Diversity Festival will be held on Oct. 9 from 12 to 4 p.m. in Somerville, NJ. Performances will be scheduled during festival hours at several locations in Somerville including the Show Mobile on Main Street, Veterans’ Plaza adjacent to the county administration building, on the county courthouse lawn, and on Grove Street between Main and High streets. Six performance slots will be available.
Payment Rate
There is a fixed payment rate of $150 per musician with a cap of $900 for a musical artist or band performing on the Show Mobile. A flat rate of $200 will be given to all other artists/performers.
July 9 Deadline
Performers should contact Paul Grzella at Grzella@co.somerset.nj.us, or call 908-203-6044 for a copy of the Request For Artists, or to submit a proposal for consideration, which is due on July 9.
History of the Somerset County Diversity Festival
The first annual Diversity Festival was launched in 2019 to honor Global Diversity Awareness Month, and was also part of a broader Somerset County government initiative to bring greater awareness about diversity to employees and residents, show support for the county’s multi-cultural communities, and to embrace, and celebrate diversity. The 2019 Diversity Festival attracted more than 500 attendees. In 2020, the festival was featured online due to the pandemic, but in 2021, the festival will be held in Somerville and attendance is expected to surpass that of the 2019 Diversity Festival.
Diversity in Somerset County
The Somerset County Board of Commissioners embraces and commits to a philosophy of inclusion that respects the cultural norms of the county’s citizens and taxpayers, the current employees, and the future of Somerset County Government as a place of employment. This commitment is crucial to the services the county provides, its mission, and to continue to make vibrant connections.
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