An initiative called Second Saturdays to spur access to the arts while boosting local businesses in Burlington City launched this month.

Created by Arts Guild New Jersey and funded by a $500,000 grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), the six-month program is aimed at increasing foot traffic, visitor spend, and familiarity with what all Burlington City’s business improvement district has to offer.

All Second Saturday events are free and open to the public.

Like its name, arts-related events take place on the second Saturday of each month in Burlington City. On that day, $10 gift cards will be handed out to patrons to spend at participating local businesses, including restaurants and shops.

Burlington City Mayor Barry Conaway said the Activation, Revitalization, and Transformation [ART] Program grant from the NJEDA to support Second Saturdays can have a huge impact on his municipality. His wish: Transform Burlington City into a regional arts destination.

“As a NJ Designated Transit Village, a grant like this brings life into downtowns like Burlington City by hosting cultural events for the young and young at heart,” Conaway said. “The partnerships with local arts groups and businesses should be long lasting and will be one tool of a multi-layered approach to support small, distinct downtowns like Burlington.”

The program launched last Saturday, May 9, with free arts classes offered to children on the autism spectrum, as well as a creative arts workshop for women recovering from trauma.

Tomorrow, May 16, the city is offering an off-Second Saturday event at the Burlington Quaker Meeting House, where New Jersey’s critical role in the national abolitionist movement will be examined. “Faith, Friendship & Freedom: A Historical & Musical Tribute to the Underground Railroad” will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 340 High Street. 

The free public event will commemorate the legacy of the Underground Railroad by showcasing the Harriet Tubman Journey to Freedom Traveling Exhibition, told by expert local historians. Likewise, from Thursday to Saturday this week, the Journey to Freedom Statue by artist Wesley Wofford is on display on the front lawn of the Burlington Quaker Meeting House, featuring a nine-foot-tall, 2,200-pound bronze sculpture of Tubman.

Burlington Quaker Meeting House is one of several community partners involved with Second Saturdays. Others include Lyceum Hall Center for the Arts, The Dime, the Burlington City Historical Society, In FACT, Inc., Main Street, and Visit South Jersey.

“The New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s investment in Arts Guild New Jersey, alongside its continued support for arts organizations across our state, underscores a fundamental truth: the arts are not just cultural assets – they are powerful economic drivers,” state Sen. Troy Singleton, a Democrat who represents Burlington County in the New Jersey Senate, said at Tuesday’s announcement. “When we invest in the arts, we are investing in our downtowns and our small businesses.”

Singleton sponsored legislation expanding the [Urban Economic Zone] UEZ designation to Burlington City to aid in the downtown’s revitalization efforts.

“By pairing strategic economic tools like [a] UEZ designation with investments in the arts, we can create thriving, dynamic downtowns that attract visitors, support residents, and position our communities for long-term success,” added Singleton.

NJEDA CEO Evan Weiss said the [ART] Program Phase 2 grant of $500,000 for Second Saturdays was well worth the investment.

“Arts and culture offerings are an economic driver for communities throughout the state, bringing people into downtowns and main streets, boosting small businesses, and bolstering neighborhood vitality,” Weiss said on Tuesday. “The NJEDA is proud to support local cultural events like Second Saturdays, which will support Burlington City’s economic growth and advance Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s mission of creating environments where small businesses and entrepreneurs can thrive.”

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA], small businesses represent more than 44% of the nation’s gross domestic product.

The SBA was among the guest organizations at the May 12 press event announcing Second Saturdays, as was the Burlington County Bridge Commission’s County Office of Economic Development and the New Jersey Business Action Center, among others.

“Collaboration and partnerships by local leaders, stakeholders and state agencies to bolster the arts in Burlington City has been a dream of Arts Guild NJ and we could not make this dream a reality without the help of EDA,” Shanisha “Nisha” Ray, President of the Board of Directors for Arts Guild New Jersey, said on Tuesday. Established in 1998, the non-profit center for the arts is located in the Downtown Arts District in Burlington City.

“Being able to take the River Line to Burlington City, immerse yourself in the arts and patronize local businesses is an ideal way to spend your Saturday and help us organically support and grow our community, and most importantly, give a stage for some the region’s most talented artists,” added Ray.

Main Street and all the businesses on it will also benefit from Second Saturdays, said Seigha Omuso, President of the Board of Main Street Burlington.

“I believe the arts are more than culture — they are a catalyst for economic growth, community vitality, and long-term investment,” Omuso said. “When we support local artists, creative entrepreneurs, and cultural programming, we create the kind of vibrant downtown that attracts businesses, inspires visitors, and encourages people to live, work, and invest here.”

Burlington County Commissioner Randy Brolo said Second Saturdays — which will go through Oct. 10, 2026 — will provide a showcase for local and regional artists and highlight Burlington City’s rich history, culture, restaurant scene, shopping, and galleries.

“We believe this initiative will create a model for other communities to replicate,” said Brolo.

For more information about the work of Arts Guild New Jersey or Second Saturdays, visit its website at https://artsguildnj.org/ or the group’s social media pages.

Original Article