Performing Arts Presentation
Presenting theater, dance, music, musical theater, puppetry, and the literary arts for community and institutional audiences.
- Newark Symphony Hall
- New Jersey Performing Arts Center
- Carter G. Woodson Foundation
Paperback • 216 Pages
Newark’s Arts Impresario
An Iconic Career in a City of Culture
A compelling account of Philip S. Thomas’s thirty-year career shaping performing arts programming, arts education, and cultural institutions in Newark, New Jersey.
$27.00
The Book
A Life Dedicated to Art, Education, and Community
An account of cultural leadership rooted in Newark’s artistic energy and civic life.
Philip S. Thomas was a visionary in Newark’s arts community. Newark’s Arts Impresario chronicles his professional career from 1982 through 2012, offering an insider’s view of the work required to bring meaningful performing arts experiences to a city and its people.
His leadership spanned institutions central to Newark’s cultural life, including Newark Symphony Hall, the Carter G. Woodson Foundation, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Across these roles, he developed and presented programs that served children, families, educators, artists, and community audiences.
More than a career retrospective, the book offers guidance and encouragement to students, arts administrators, cultural entrepreneurs, and performing arts presenters who seek to build lasting cultural institutions and expand access to the arts.
Career Highlights
Institutions, Programs, and Cultural Leadership
A career spanning arts administration, education, and community presentation across New Jersey.
- Greater Paterson Arts Council
- New Jersey State Council on the Arts
- Newark Symphony Hall
- Carter G. Woodson Foundation
- New Jersey Performing Arts Center
- Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival
Arts Education
Developing programs that trained young people in the performing arts and brought cultural education into elementary and high school settings.
- New Jersey Performing Arts Center
- Carter G. Woodson Foundation
Cultural Leadership
Providing leadership across statewide and local arts organizations dedicated to strengthening New Jersey’s cultural infrastructure.
- Greater Paterson Arts Council
- New Jersey State Council on the Arts
Community Programming
Building community-based performing arts programming that connected artists, families, educators, and neighborhood audiences.
- Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival
- Carter G. Woodson Foundation
Institutional Development
Helping shape the capacity and cultural reach of major Newark institutions through programming, partnerships, and sustained leadership.
- Newark Symphony Hall
- New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Mentorship and Advocacy
Mentoring arts professionals and advocating for resources, opportunity, and sustained support for students and the arts community.
- New Jersey Performing Arts Center
- New Jersey State Council on the Arts
Praise
A Legacy Recognized Across New Jersey
Leaders in government, education, and civic life reflect on Philip S. Thomas’s impact.
“Mr. Thomas masterminded one of the most extraordinary arts education programs in the nation as vice president of arts education for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. His passion for the arts and the need for robust advocacy and sustained support for students was powerfully and successfully conveyed.”
Nina Mitchell Wells, Esq.
Former Secretary of State of New Jersey
Author Portrait Placeholder
Philip S. Thomas
A reserved space for a future author photograph or archival portrait.
About Philip
Arts Administrator, Educator, and Civic Cultural Leader
A performing arts presenter and administrator whose career helped shape Newark’s cultural life, Philip S. Thomas also led arts education programs that opened doors for students, families, and community audiences. He holds a BA in Theater from Montclair State College and an MA in Arts Administration from Winthrop University. A United States Army veteran and Vietnam veteran, he is a Purple Heart recipient and received two Bronze Stars for Valor. He and his wife live in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he continues to support the arts in retirement.
Purchase
Discover the Story Behind a Cultural Legacy
Paperback • 216 pages • 7" × 10" • ISBN 979-8-9989099-0-0
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$27.00