Jeffrey L. Nissen Arts Education & Development Fund

04/17/2026

Next week, the incomparable Paul Canaan will spend a day in the classroom with SUNY New Paltz Theatre — culminating in a free public community lecture exploring the evolution of music theatre dance through the work of iconic choreographers, and a Q&A focused on careers in the arts.

At its core, our On Deck program is designed to connect working professionals with emerging artists — creating real access, real conversations, and meaningful pathways forward.

We hope you’ll join us next Saturday at SUNY New Paltz. Reserve your spot for the free lecture via the link below. 💚

with Paul Canaan

03/16/2026

Celebrating the incredible artists behind , the all-female rock musical by !

Earlier this year, members of the team attended the industry presentation at and were blown away by the powerful music, undeniable energy, and electrifying storytelling. 🤘🏼

Thank you for sharing this thrilling new work with us. We’re honored to be a small part of your journey. 💚

📸: 1-7

12/02/2025

We’re thrilled to announce that playwright Sarah Goeke () has been selected as the first recipient of our Playwriting Residency Grant, presented in partnership with the Hudson Valley Writers Residency ().

This fully funded month-long residency will support Sarah as she develops her adaptation of FORKED () this January. We can’t wait to see how her time in the space helps bring this new piece to life.

Welcome to the Hudson Valley, Sarah! 🌲

10/07/2025

We’re proud to announce the Jeffrey L. Nissen Playwriting Residency Grant, created in partnership between the Jeffrey L. Nissen Arts Education & Development Fund and the Hudson Valley Writers Residency.

Beginning in 2026, two playwrights each year will receive a fully funded, month-long residency in the Hudson Valley — complete with housing, a grocery stipend, and travel support. These grants are designed to give playwrights the gift of time, space, and community: a chance to step away from the day-to-day and focus fully on their work in a setting that’s peaceful, inspiring, and artist-centered.

Applications for the January 2026 residency are now open. Learn more and apply at www.jlnarts.org/hvwr

06/04/2025

Introducing the 2025 Recipient of the annual Jeffrey L. Nissen Arts Education Advancement Scholarship: TRINITY LYN JACKSON! Trinity is a recent graduate of the program and is spending the summer in New York City for a hands-on internship experience. She’ll be working closely with fellow Penn State alumni to explore producing and marketing on Broadway and beyond. We’re so excited to follow Trinity’s journey and share more about her experience in the months ahead. 🎉

12/03/2024

This year, we proudly celebrated the first full year of , our 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for emerging artists and empowering them to reach their full potential.

Thanks to your generosity, we’ve made incredible progress. In partnership with , we launched the Spark Grant Program, awarding five space grants to support the development of inspiring new works.

We also celebrated our first Arts Education Advancement Scholarship recipient, who pursued a transformative internship in London, gaining hands-on experience in producing for the West End and Broadway.

As we look ahead, this , we’re aiming to raise $5,000 to expand the Spark Grant Program and launch the On Deck Program. This new initiative will connect students with industry professionals through masterclasses, talkbacks, and educational experiences, offering them invaluable career insights, enhanced skills, and lasting connections. Our goal is to pilot this program next spring.

Here’s how you can help us make a difference today:
- Make a tax-deductible donation through our GiveButter campaign [Link in bio]
- Consider supporting our Instagram fundraiser linked to this post
- Visit www.jlnarts.org to contribute directly
- Follow us on social media and share this post to spread the word

Your support is vital in empowering the next generation of artists. Thank you for considering our organization this Giving Tuesday and for helping us honor JLN’s legacy by building a stronger, more vibrant arts community. 💚

11/27/2024

Exciting news from Spark Grant recipient Gianfranco Lentini -- his new play, OCEAN WALK, will have its first industry presentation next Thursday at Open Jar Studios!

Congratulations Gianfranco on this huge milestone! We're honored to be a small part of your journey. 💚

Broadway's Telly Leung, best known for his roles in Aladdin, Allegiance, and Glee, steps into the role of producer by presenting the debut industry reading of OCEAN WALK, a powerful and timely new play by up-and-coming q***r playwright Gianfranco Lentini.

08/06/2024

We're thrilled to announce that the Spark Grant Program application is now OPEN! A special thank you to our program partner, Open Jar Studios, for their excitement about this grant and continued support. Visit www.jlnarts.org/spark-grant to learn more and apply!

06/28/2024

And speaking of the Spark Grant Program… we’re beyond excited to share our partnership with Open Jar Studios!

With applications opening this summer, this rolling grant program will award studio space to artists looking to develop new work - aiming to support a wide variety of performance artists with projects at any stage in the developmental process. To learn more about the program, check out our website and stay tuned for the official announcement in the coming weeks! 🎉

www.jlnarts.org

06/28/2024

We’re 1 and have oh so much to celebrate! 🥳

Thanks to your generous support, we awarded our first Arts Education Advancement Scholarship and have made significant progress in the development of more impactful initiatives, including our Spark Grant Program!

We are so appreciative and look forward to seeing all we can accomplish together in the years to come. Cheers! 🎉

04/26/2024

Introducing the 2024 Recipient of the annual Jeffrey L. Nissen Arts Education Advancement Scholarship: MATTHEW FEINSTEIN!

Matthew is a rising second-year Penn State School of Theatre student who is pursuing a summer internship opportunity in London. During this time, Matthew will be taking classes and learning all about the inner workings of producing on the West End and on Broadway! We’re so thrilled for Matthew and can’t wait to hear more about his experience across the pond! 🎉