The 36th Annual Jersey City Art & Studio Tour (JCAST), the city’s signature arts festival and one of the region’s longest-running open studio events, returns this week, October 3-5.
Under the theme “Convergence: Art, Technology, Business, and Wellness,” JCAST brings together Jersey City’s diverse arts community to showcase the culture of New Jersey’s second-largest city across approximately 120 venues in all six wards, with more than 60 open artist studios, gallery exhibitions, two JCAST-curated shows, plus performance, music, poetry, and film.
The City of Jersey City is providing critical financial and logistical support for this year's program as the Fulop Administration continues its strong commitment to JCAST and the city’s vibrant arts community. “JCAST showcases what makes Jersey City special: world-class creativity in every ward and a community that celebrates its artists and small businesses,” said
Mayor Fulop. “We’re proud to support a weekend that transforms the entire city into a gallery and welcomes everyone to experience Jersey City’s creative spirit.”
Founded in 1990 as the Downtown Jersey City Artists’ Studio Tour, JCAST has evolved into a citywide festival, solidifying Jersey City’s place as a major cultural hub. The 2025 edition is expected to draw over 5,000 attendees to art locations and area businesses.
The 36th Annual JCAST is produced by
The Creative Side — led by its founder and director,
Atim Annette Oton, with
Donna Kessinger, Melissa Ulto, Judith Rahilly, and
Shantel Asante-Kissi.
Starting this Friday, JCAST opens as a three-day art extravaganza of painting, sculpture, photography, murals, digital art, performance, film, and interactive installations across the city. For participating galleries, studios, and hours of operation, visit
TheJCAST.com.
“This year’s JCAST centers our wonderful visual artists, while also welcoming artists of all stripes into the far-reaching corners of our city,” said Oton. “Art is a revitalizing economic engine and JCAST is a creative tourism model —an essential venture where artist and art lover alike wins.”
“Every October, JCAST brings the city to life through the beauty and energy of art,” said
Christine Goodman, Jersey City director of Cultural Affairs. “We encourage everyone to put on comfortable shoes and explore all that Jersey City’s creative community has to offer.”
Press previews (invited press only; request credentials at
[email protected]) will be held at noon and 1 p.m. respectively for JCAST’s special exhibitions “Convergence: Pivoting a Renaissance,” curated by Kessinger at JCAST Official Headquarters at
Eden Wood Realty, 150 Pacific Avenue, and “The Art of Convergence,” curated by Asante-Kissi at the Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center, 140 Martin Luther King Drive.
Corporate and small business communities will join artists on Friday at 3 p.m. at JCAST Official Headquarters for a business networking session together. At 4 p.m,. a VIP fundraiser with music by
Eldad Tarmu will be held. Tickets can be purchased online
here.
The official Kick-off Party and Exhibition Opening on Friday at 6 p.m. at JCAST Official Headquarters will see the presentation of JCAST Legend Awards to
Ernie Pannicioli by
Rocky Bucano, founder & chief executive officer of The Hip Hop Museum; and to the late
Ruth Moore, owner of Moore's Lounge, accepted by Mary Aiken and Shareef Harper, who will represent acclaimed jazz drummer
Winard Harper. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature the music of Moore’s Lounge jazz musicians
Larry Banks, Evan Wolrahbe, and
Brook Mulugeta.
“Convergence: Pivoting a Renaissance, one of two JCAST exhibitions exploring Jersey City’s intersections of culture, history, and transformation. It includes interpretations inspired by the city’s rich past, dynamic present, and creative future, as well as an exploration of how art converges with technology, business, and wellness.
On Saturday, a series of spirited JCAST Art Talks will be held at 12 p.m. at the Bethune Center and again at 4 p.m. at JCAST Headquarters. For a full list of Saturday events, please visit our event schedule webpage at
thejcast.com/events.
Bike JC will also offer a unique perspective from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday with a two-wheel art crawl of the city’s galleries, studios, and outdoor public art spaces in Bergen-Lafayette, Greenville, and West Side.
Please check Bike JC’s social media to catch them on their route. Other guided tours on Saturday include:
JCAST LGBTQ+ Artist Tour with Curator Catherine Hecht from noon to 3:30 p.m. and Women in the Arts Studio Tour with Alexa Lima from 4 to 7 p.m.
JCAST After Parties will start lighting up the city beginning at 9 p.m. with more networking opportunities at locations in Downtown at Skinner’s Loft, Bergen-Lafayette at 902 Brewing Company, McGinley Square’s The Wanderer, Greenville at Cherry’s Lounge, and an alcohol-free celebration at Incontro Caffè in Journal Square.
On Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Bike JC takes another artful spin around town to Downtown, JC Heights, and Journal Square/McGinley Square JCAST locations. At 6 p.m., the JCAST Closing Event at Magnum Opus at 86 Forrest Street promises live music, performances, exhibitions, art installations, and more.
Additional sponsors and partners include: Gardenship; Lefrak; Jackson Hill Special Improvement District; Historic Downtown Special Improvement District; Magnum Opus; Craig Guy, County Executive of Hudson County; Jersey City Arts Council; Jersey City Free Public Library; Jersey City Economic Development Corporation; RUMI; JC Families; BIKE JC; Hudson Chamber of Commerce; Out in Jersey Educational Arts Team; artpieces; and Bergen Hall.
Getting there: By train, use the PATH Train (to Exchange Place, Grove Street, or Journal Square), the Hudson-Bergen LightRail, or NJ Transit. For buses, use NJ Transit and JCAST buses at Journal Square and Grove Street Path Stations.
Register here for all JCAST official events. Visit thejcast.com for studio and gallery locations, hours, and events. Follow
@jc_artandstudiotour on Instagram and
@TheJCAST on Facebook.
For more about culture in Jersey City, visit
jerseycityculture.org or follow
@jculturalaffairs on social media.
All media inquiries should be directed to Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione at
[email protected].