Mayor Solomon Honors Christine Goodman for 25 Years of Arts Leadership in Jersey City
Mayor Solomon Honors Christine Goodman for 25 Years of Arts Leadership in Jersey City
Mayor Solomon Names Kristel Mejia-Asqui Acting Director of Cultural Affairs, Launches Search for New Permanent Director
JERSEY CITY, NJ (August 28, 2026) — Mayor James Solomon today celebrated Christine Goodman for her 25 years of service to Jersey City's arts community on her final day as Director of the Office of Cultural Affairs. Deputy Chief of Staff Kristel Asqui-Mejia will serve as Acting Director of the Office of Cultural Affairs effective Monday, August 31.
Goodman's tenure reshaped the City's relationship with its artists. Under her leadership, the Office of Cultural Affairs grew from a small municipal office into a national model for how a city can invest in its creative community, through administering competitive grants, commissioning public art, shaping cultural policy, and coordinating more than 400 events, festivals, and performances each year.
"Christine Goodman built the arts infrastructure this city runs on,"
said Mayor James Solomon. "Before there was an Arts & Culture Trust Fund, before there was a Poet Laureate, before JC Fridays — there was Christine, making the case that Jersey City's artists deserved real investment and a real seat at the table. She won that argument, and every artist working in this city today is better off for it. On behalf of the entire city: thank you."
Her signature achievement is the Arts & Culture Trust Fund, the first municipal fund of its kind in New Jersey. Since its creation, the Fund has invested more than $5 million in over 500 artists and cultural organizations through competitive grants, arts education funding, general operating support, and individual artist fellowships.
"Twenty-five years ago, I believed Jersey City could be a place where artists could build a life, not just pass through,"
said Christine Goodman. "What I've watched happen since has exceeded anything I imagined. This work was made possible because of the artists, organizers, and neighbors who kept showing up. It has been the privilege of my career to serve them, and I leave knowing this work is in good hands."
Goodman also strengthened the City's cultural infrastructure through major institutional partnerships, including supporting the New Jersey Symphony's move to Jersey City and the restoration of the Loews Jersey Theatre. She helped bring Jersey City its first official Poet Laureate in partnership with the Jersey City Arts Council, and turned vacant space at the Journal Square PATH Station into the Commuter Gallery, a public arts venue seen by tens of thousands of riders. She advanced the City's long-term cultural strategy through a Cultural Asset Map developed with New Jersey City University, now Kean Jersey City. Most recently, she led Jersey City's first-ever citywide study of the nonprofit arts and culture sector, and produced the City's annual July 4th celebration alongside a full slate of cultural programming for the 2026 World Cup.
Mejia-Asqui has served as Deputy Chief of Staff since January 15, 2026, and she has been actively involved in supporting Director Goodman’s work. As Acting Director, she will oversee the Office's grantmaking, public art, and programming portfolio, including the City's 2026 World Cup cultural slate, while the administration conducts a search for a permanent director.
The application to apply for the role of director of the Office of Cultural Affairs can be
accessed here. The City is accepting applications beginning immediately.
—————————————————————
Nathaniel Styer
Communications Director, Jersey City
[email protected]
616-403-4693