The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation’s ArtsBergen initiative, working with the City of Hackensack, announces the installation of the ‘Hackensack Is On The Rise’ poster project. Graphic designer and visual artist Poramit Thantapalit, a Hackensack resident, created a poster design illustrating the city’s resurgence and renaissance. The posters along Main Street business’ windows create a visually colorful, impactful display. This also communicates Hackensack’s rise as a vibrant destination. In addition, the installation beautifies the area and shines a visual message of hope and resiliency to the community.
“The arts can help build economic resiliency. Through the simple idea of putting up posters in a concentrated space, the pop of colorful imagery and a positive message punctuates the background of the pandemic and its hard-hitting effects on small businesses. This is also the power of the arts — to uplift and draw people out emotionally and physically,” explained Danielle De Laurentis, Associate Director, Northern NJ Community Foundation.
‘Hackensack Is On The Rise’ Partners
‘Hackensack Is On The Rise’ posters appear on Bergen Community College-The Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center’s windows in Hackensack.
Several partners collaborated in the project. These partners include The NNJCF’s ArtsBergen initiative and the Main Street Business Alliance. The Hackensack Creative Arts Team (CAT) and the City of Hackensack also partnered in the project. In addition, the collaboration uses creative placemaking to integrate arts and culture into the downtown redevelopment plans.
“The Alliance is thrilled to co-sponsor with NNJCF Arts Bergen, this amazing messaging announcing a new dawning on Main Street. It encapsulates perfectly the positive message for all who come to Hackensack that our communities’ best is just ahead of us. We are very excited about our poster project, Hackensack Is On The Rise,” said Patrice Foresman, Executive Director, Main Street Business Alliance.
The collaboration implements Creative Hackensack. This creative placemaking initiative seeks to achieve two goals. The first makes the City of Hackensack an arts destination. The second also encompasses creating a place where the arts thrive. Furthermore, Hackensack Is On The Rise’ is one of several projects realizing the ‘Creative Vision Statement’. This statement, developed in 2015, also involved input from various members and sectors of the community.
This program is made possible in part by a grant administered by the Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs (BCDHCA) from funds granted by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. For further information about this project, contact nnjcf@nnjcf.org or call 201-568-5608.
