Jersey City Selects The Creative Side as New Producer of the Renowned Art & Studio Tour (JCAST)
Posted on 07/15/2025
Community-Led Process Ushers in a New Era for Jersey City’s Premier Arts Festival

Mayor Steven M. Fulop joins the Office of Cultural Affairs and the Jersey City Arts Council to proudly announce that The Creative Side has been selected to produce the 36th Annual Jersey City Art & Studio Tour (JCAST), the city’s signature arts festival, which takes place every October. The selection for the event, which runs this year from October 3-5, follows a deeply collaborative and transparent process that placed the voices of Jersey City’s arts community front and center.

“For more than three decades, JCAST has showcased the creative pulse of our city,” said Mayor Fulop. “This year, we are honoring that legacy with a fresh approach—one shaped by the people it serves most: our artists. The process was open, thoughtful, and built on shared vision, and I’m excited to see The Creative Side bring that vision to life.”

“This process was unlike any before,” said Christine Goodman, Director of Cultural Affairs. “We created an open forum where everyone could contribute ideas to help guide the selection of the next JCAST producer. It’s a true example of civic engagement and cultural planning done right.”

The Jersey City Art & Studio Tour is a major cultural event not just for artists but for the entire city. After a rigorous review of applications, interviews, and scoring, The Creative Side was selected by the advisory committee, which was open for all to participate.

The newly announced producer was chosen by the JCAST Advisory Committee for its proven track record, commitment to community, and innovative vision for the future of the Art & Studio Tour.

Under the leadership of Atim Annette Oton, The Creative Side will oversee the design, production, and execution of JCAST 2025. Oton will be working with Donna Kessinger, an experienced independent curator and artist rooted in New Jersey, who will focus on the signature exhibition and serve as the artists, gallery, and venue liaison. The duo brings an artist-centric, expansive approach to the table. The team is rounded out by veteran arts curators and organizers Melissa Ulto, Judith Rahilly, and Shantel Asante-Kissi, with Cheryl Duncan & Company, Inc. managing publicity. The Creative Side will also work with Gardenship, a nonprofit artist-run organization known for its community-based projects, for fundraising the tour.

“I am honored to lead JCAST into its next chapter,” said Oton, Founder and Director of The Creative Side. “This isn’t just about organizing an event—it’s about honoring a legacy, uplifting our local artists, and co-creating a cultural experience that belongs to everyone in Jersey City.”

To meet the new producers, the public is invited to attend the Jersey City Arts Council’s annual meeting on Tuesday, July 15. RSVP at jerseycityartscouncil.org.

Kessinger, who previously managed JCAST under the city’s operations, stated, “I’m honored to return to the Jersey City Art & Studio Tour with a dynamic team of experienced women who champion artist-led innovation, collectivity, and community. We are committed to uplifting the inclusive traditions that define Jersey City’s creative landscape—honoring the wide range of practices, mediums, and voices that make this community so powerful.”

While the producer role transitions, the City of Jersey City remains fully committed to supporting JCAST behind the scenes—providing essential resources like staff, event equipment, transportation, planning support, promotional assets, and more.

For over 35 years, JCAST has opened doors into Jersey City’s unique creative world, with hundreds of artists participating across studios, galleries, and public spaces. With a new producer and renewed vision, the city is building on that legacy to ensure the Jersey City Art & Studio Tour continues to evolve with the community it serves.

For updates on JCAST 2025, visit jerseycityculture.org or follow @jculturalaffairs on social media.

The Jersey City Art & Studio Tour
Advisory Committee members are:
• Catherine Hecht
• Lexie Levin
• Antonio Martez
• Dan Pieraccini
• Sylvia Riley

As expressed in a joint statement, the committee says, “We are proud to have volunteered our expertise and time to work in tandem with the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Jersey City Arts Council to create this new process and to have ultimately selected this year's Jersey City Art & Studio Tour producer. We were impressed by the inspiring applications we received and the commitment to the Jersey City arts community demonstrated by all the applicants and we congratulate The Creative Side on being selected as the producer for this year’s event! Their experience, creative vision, and thoughtful approach stood out throughout the application process. The committee looks forward to continuing to help shape an inspiring and dynamic art and studio tour for our entire community.”

For more information or to participate in JCAST 2025, visit thejcast.com. Follow @jc_artandstudiotour on Instagram and @TheJCAST on Facebook.

About the First-of-Its-Kind Community Visioning Process
The process to select a new producer began in January 2025 with a public visioning session at the Bethune Center, where artists, curators, and community members gathered to discuss the future of JCAST. Participation was open to all, and a volunteer advisory committee, comprised of members of Jersey City’s arts community, was formed to guide the search.

To maintain transparency and alignment with community priorities, the Jersey City Arts Council synthesized public feedback into a detailed report: The Future of JCAST: Community Feedback Report. This report served as a roadmap for evaluating producer candidates and preserving the event’s core values.

A Call for Letters of Interest was issued in April 2025, inviting experienced arts organizations and event producers to apply. The call emphasized JCAST’s long-standing role as a cornerstone of Jersey City’s cultural identity and outlined the producer’s responsibilities ranging from logistics and marketing to community engagement, sponsorship, accessibility, and more.

All media inquiries should be directed to Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione at [email protected].