ART FOR EVERYONE: Young participants in the Arts Council of Princeton’s inaugural “ART OF” series last year attended a session called “ART OF Play.” The series returns starting Sunday, January 14 with an event geared to crossword puzzle aficionados. A variety of topics follow throughout the spring.

By Anne Levin

For many years, the Arts Council of Princeton’s (ACP) annual fall fundraiser served as a key source of support for the exhibits, classes, and special events held at the nonprofit throughout the year. But admission to these festive events wasn’t cheap, which excluded many of the artists and community members who take part in its programs.

Things changed last year with the new ART OF series of events encompassing a wide range of topics. Instead of one gala party at a steep price tag, there were several — allowing more diverse offerings and lower entrance fees.

ART OF was a success. The Arts Council will unveil a second round of the series on Sunday, with a sold-out session on the world of American crossword puzzles featuring renowned puzzle-maker Mangesh Ghogre. An eclectic list of topics are scheduled throughout the spring, at entrance prices ranging from $55 to $75. A few are free.

“In the spring of 2022, we were really working hard to update our diversity, equity, access, and inclusion statement, to make it more personal and meaningful to us,” said Liza Peck, ACP’s development director. “We were simultaneously planning the fall fundraiser, which was getting more extremely exclusive. I suggested taking out ‘Dining by Design’ and replacing it with this. It was a big leap of faith. But Adam Welch, who is our wonderful director, said ‘Let’s give it a shot.’ He understood why we were doing it, and knew it was an important time for the Arts Council to be a more adaptive community. We want to make sure we are actively including the whole community in our programming.”

The sessions in the series are curated by “cultural connoisseurs,” according to the ACP website. “These all-inclusive events require no supplies or commitment. Just call your friends and we’ll do the rest! Funds raised from this series allow us to continue offering free, high-quality community events and outreach programs.”

Next in the lineup is Mixology with 3BR Distillery on January 23, Chocolate (BYOB) on February 8, Herbs for Winter Wellness on February 23, Contemplating Spirituality and Art on March 3, the family edition of Chocolate Making on March 10, Paul Muldoon and Rogue Oliphant on March 16, Gratitude Journaling on April 14, and Indian Music on May 9. Still to be scheduled is Salsa and Bachata, which was a popular event last year.

“We’re bringing that back, along with an event for HomeFront,” said Peck. “After the first year, we felt very sure this is the right direction. The only problem is that there are so many ideas, so many topics.”

The lower ticket prices allow ACP to allocate its resources more efficiently. A portion of every ticket still goes to fundraising, but the wider range and more affordable prices are more inclusive. Spreading out these smaller events also makes sense from a sustainability standpoint.

“We’re not doing these big décor initiatives, which makes a difference,” Peck said. “And those big fundraisers really take a huge toll on our small staff. These are much more manageable.”

Many of the participants attend one event; others buy tickets for several. “We have this incredible community of talent and passion here in Princeton, and we are trying to highlight that as much as possible,” said Peck. “This is a really curious community. They love to have something where they can learn.”

For details, times, and prices, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org.