Imagine 2026
A $15 Million Campaign
Imagine 2026! is the most ambitious undertaking in our 20year history as we build a state-of-the-art cultural campus for young people. Help us set the stage for a new era of innovation, community development and arts education.
We Believe
Youth are filled with imagination and inspiration
Economics and deep systemic barriers rob them of equal opportunities for creative expression and personal development
Access to high-quality creative outlets sets them on the path to success
I am blessed with four amazingly talented children, and they have found a space at the Institute of Music for Children to express their gifts, explore new avenues of expression and challenge their artistic skills. The Institute has been a refuge during a time of social isolation and family disruption.
Claire Sashi Institute Parent
Our Mission
Who We Are
For more than 20 years, the Institute of Music for Children has provided a unique model of urban arts education rooted in a deep love and respect for the arts and for our artists.
The Institute serves children and families by oIering group classes and private lessons in more than 30 art forms, as well as arts residencies in a variety of settings. We pay a living wage to our faculty, staI and youth leaders - who are the foundation of our work.
We now serve more than 1,000 young people each year as a hub for cultural activities that enrich community life.
We engage children and youth in artistic expression and the creative process. Guided by our vision of HARMONY*, the Institute is building a community of high-achieving citizens who are arts lovers and arts makers through professional instruction, mentorship, and family engagement.
*Helping Achieve Responsible, Motivated, Optimistic Neighborhood Youth
As a BIPOC-led organization, our unyielding commitment to equity creates a culture of belonging, safety, and support, qualities that form the cornerstone of our work. The Institute transcends conventional arts education, oIering a holistic platform for personal and artistic growth.
With a rich diversity of families from around the world, more than a third speak exclusively Spanish at home. Our students are primarily low-to-moderate income. We welcome students who have special learning or social needs and each one finds a home within the Institute community.
The Institute never turns a child away because of financial barriers.
The Institute of Music for Children is growing for the community
Upon taking ownership of our three-acre campus, we began a Master Plan to expand our facilities and develop an arts and cultural campus.
We are now laying the groundwork for a transformative leap forward. By expanding our facilities, creating purpose-built spaces, and fostering strategic partnerships, we are not just meeting our basic needs; we are setting the stage for a new era of innovation, impact, and community development.
Students at the Institute are often confronted with limited resources and systemic barriers. Our expanded facility will serve as a gateway to a world of opportunities.
This ambitious project will:
Expand our student population and grow wider audiences for their creative works
Diversify the range and scope of our arts initiatives by oIering new equipment, facilities, and increased advanced professional training
Integrate more cultural activities into community life by deepening our partnerships throughout the state and region
Develop human capital through our highly qualified teaching artists, with a special focus on artists of color
Cement our values by ensuring ADA accessibility and limiting our environmental impact through our building materials, and by maintaining our green space
THEINSTITUTEOFMUSICFO
Fund a brighter future for music and the arts
USSET THE STAGE
Our new campus will be a vibrant hub where arts and community intertwine and every child feels seen, heard and valued.
A 1,000 square-foot Acting Studio with space for lighting rig and dividers for flexibility.
Two
Expanded Administrative OHces will include private and shared space, a break room and a tech-equipped conference room.
ADA restrooms and an elevator will ensure our spaces are accessible to everyone.
Dance
A 1,000 square-foot Dance Studio (with partially-sprung floor and changing room) will house our diverse dance portfolio - from ballet to hip hop to African dance.
Dedicated Drum Room will provide space for a variety of percussion instruments, from full kits to djembes.
Four Practice Rooms enable the Institute to expand our private lessons and small creative collaborations.
A 1,000 square-foot Band Room is acoustically engineered and doubles as performance space.
This fully equipped Recording Studio oIers an
Booth, a Control Booth and a Live Room.
Dedicated Strings Room for guitar and violin doubles as an extra space for our Recording Suite.
A 1,000
and ample storage for two- and threedimensional
forms and a variety of crafts.
THEINSTITUTEOFMUSICFO
Fund a brighter future for music and the arts
THE STAGE
R C NERDLIH
I never want to leave because my teachers let me be creative and I can do whatever my imagination says.
Andres Guerra Institute Student
The Institute of Music is indeed the best kept secret in the State of New Jersey, there is no doubt about it.
Sheila Oliver
Former Lieutenant Governor
Without the Institute, I wouldn’t be the brave and courageous man I am today.
Amahl Adams | Youth Leader
The Institute’s work continues to instill a sense of pride in the progress and achievements of our young people.
Mayor J. Christian Bollwage
The Institute has been wonderful, even for us as a family.
Orlando Aguilar | Institute Parent
The vibrant community of diverse students showcases extraordinary talent, weaving together melodies from every corner of the world and transcending boundaries.
Jennifer Costa
Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce
This campaign is a call to dream big. It is a call for a space that will be a catalyst for the hopes and dreams of its young artists, and a call for a new and better world envisioned through the arts.
Hector Morales | Teaching Artist
The Institute of Music for Children is our city’s biggest cultural asset.
Bill O’Dea
Elizabeth Development Company
Be Part of Our Village
