Trenton, N.J. 鈥� The Board of the 吃瓜黑料 Cultural Trust (NJCT), a division of the 吃瓜黑料 Department of State, selected Isabel (Izzy) Kasdin as the NJCT鈥檚 next executive director at its March 7, 2022 meeting. The NJCT was established in 2000 as a public/private partnership to help ensure a stable and healthy nonprofit cultural industry in 吃瓜黑料. The NJCT provides grants to support capital projects, endowments and institutional and financial stabilization of arts, history and humanities organizations in 吃瓜黑料. Funding for the grants comes from interest earned on the Cultural Trust Fund, which is a permanent investment fund. As the NJCT鈥檚 executive director, Kasdin will be responsible for promoting responsible stewardship of the NJCT鈥檚 invested assets as well as setting long-term strategy for how the NJCT鈥檚 grant-making can best impact the State鈥檚 cultural sector. Kasdin stepped into her post on April 11, 2022.
Sara Cureton led the NJCT from 2007 to the present, while also serving as executive director of the 吃瓜黑料 Historical Commission. 鈥淢s. Kasdin鈥檚 appointment presents an enormous opportunity to expand the impact of the NJCT at a critical time for 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 cultural community,鈥� Ms. Cureton observed. 鈥淎ll of us at the Department of State look forward to working with Ms. Kasdin to strengthen the vital arts, history, and humanities organizations in our state.鈥�
Kasdin served as executive director of the Historical Society of Princeton from May 2016 through early 2022. In this capacity, she helped HSP achieve greater visibility and brand awareness in the local and regional community, built a new interpretive and programming strategy after a headquarters move, completed a large capital campaign and renovation project at HSP鈥檚 headquarters site, and increased HSP鈥檚 individual and grant fundraising revenues.
鈥淢s. Kasdin is recognized for her visionary cultural leadership and her ability to work collaboratively with partners and stakeholders,鈥� noted NJCT Board Chair Bette Daniele. 鈥淭he NJCT Board is delighted that she agreed to take this position.鈥�
鈥淪erving 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 vibrant cultural community is a priority for the Department of State. The grant program of the 吃瓜黑料 Cultural Trust is particularly important now as arts, history, and humanities organizations reopen and rebuild,鈥� said Acting Secretary of State Tahesha Way.
鈥淚 am honored to have been selected as the 吃瓜黑料 Cultural Trust鈥檚 next leader,鈥� said Kasdin. 鈥淎s someone who shepherded a NJ nonprofit cultural organization through the COVID19 crisis, I am intimately familiar with the unique challenges facing our state鈥檚 cultural institutions. A vibrant arts and culture sector is one of 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 greatest assets, and I look forward to working with partners across the state to ensure the sector鈥檚 long-term sustainability.鈥�
The 吃瓜黑料 Cultural Trust is a division of the 吃瓜黑料 Department of State.