Art House was founded by Christine Goodman, current director for the Office of Cultural Affairs for the city of Jersey City, in 2001.[1] Following theSeptember 11, 2001 attack on theWorld Trade Center Twin Towers inNew York City, Goodman reportedly wanted to create a communityopen mic night for Jersey City artists, living directly across the Hudson River fromLower Manhattan, to be able to reflect on the events of the attack.[7][4] In 2017, Goodman stepped down and was succeeded by Meredith Burns. Art House Productions offers arts and culture programming, visual and performing arts exhibitions, festivals, theater productions, and during the pandemic Virtual Drag Bingo.[8][9][10][11][12]
In 2018, Art House established the 6th Borough Comedy Festival, a stand-up, sketch and improv festival featuring local and national comedians, withGilbert Gottfried headlining in 2018.[13][14] In 2019, the festival featured a roast of Jersey City MayorSteven Fulop.[15] In 2020, the festival was renamed the Jersey City Comedy Festival.[16]
The first Art House Productions offices, theater, and gallery space was located in the Jersey City neighborhood ofHamilton Park.[7] In 2014, the organization relocated its headquarters toJournal Square, and moved again in 2017 to the Cast Iron Lofts building in the Soho West district.[17][18][19]
In 2021, Art House Productions merged with Jersey Art Exchange (JAX), a nonprofit providing arts and media education programs for Jersey City youth.[20]
In 2023, Art House will move to a new, permanent home at 345 Marin Boulevard inJersey City, steps from the Grove Street PATH.
