NEW OPEN CALLS for DRAWING ROOMS EXHIBITS! see more​

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Join us Sat. 9/19/26, 6-8p at Torn / Solo Project Space Exhibits to Celebrate Victory Hall/Drawing Rooms 25th Anniversary!

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99 Cents Exhibit at Victory Hall 2007

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OUR HISTORY

2001-2007 Victory Hall Cultural Center on Grand St. JC

We started in 2001 as a community-driven non-profit, in an old Elks Club building in downtown Jersey City as our neighborhood was shaken by the events of 911. We soon became a gathering place for hundreds weekly, building a popular multi-cultural arts center that served our community with art exhibits, dance, film, theater and classes for 6 years. During this time, many programs started at our center: Art House Productions, Cobra Fencing, Japanese Swordsmanship, Rise-up Productions/Sprit of Life Ensemble, Sumisibol Filipino youth group, and others.

Fish Out of Land, Harborside 3 Artium 2008

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When we lost this space in 2007, we took the Arts into the community, providing programming for public schools, the Jersey City Museum, lobbies and atriums. We also worked with city government and businesses creating major public art projects that engaged high-school students in diverse neighborhoods.

Drawing Rooms at the convent 2013

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In October 2012, Victory Hall Inc. opened Drawing Rooms in the former OLC convent building on Grand St. in Jersey City. One month later, Hurricane Sandy damage forced a seven-month closing. We restored the building and reopened in May of 2013. We produced seven exhibitions per year, showing hundreds of artists in nine gallery rooms. We also had a gallery shop, and developed an Artist Workspace Studio Program.

Rainbow Thursdays Artists at Windmill Center, Bayonne

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During this same time, we began both our Rainbow Thursdays Artists program for adults with disabilities and The Art Project, a partnership with Dvora/Shuster Management, creating solo-artist exhibits throughout all their residential buildings.

Drawing Rooms at Topps, Let Me Tell You a Story exhibit, 2019

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In 2018, Drawing Rooms moved to the Topps Building, renovated a new space and continued producing exhibitions until COVID caused a temporary closing to the public in 2020.

Drawing Rooms front entrance with Prayers for the Pandemic Flags

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We responded to the crisis in new ways, reaching thousands of people locally and connecting artists across the nation through meaningful public art projects, publications and online presentations that engaged their own communities.

Dvora Gallery 2021, Scot Wittman Exhibit
From 2020-22, we partnered with Dvora/Shuster Management on a ground floor, highly visible gallery space at 160 1st St in the Powerhouse Arts District called Dvora Pop-Up Gallery.

In 2022, with the support of a New Jersey State Council on the Arts Grant, we re-opened and expanded Drawing Rooms, renovating new gallery spaces at The Topps Building!

We renewed our active exhibition seasons with group and multiple solo exhibits running simultaneously. We now exhibit hundreds of artists each year at Drawing Rooms, and have consistent senior art classes in the community, working with JC Public Libraries and Sunflower Center, Bayonne.

Thanks for your support in helping us continue on!

See Our New Exhibits!

Gallery hours Th/Fri 4-7p, Sat/Sun 2-6p,

ABOUT US​
Drawing Rooms is a project of Victory Hall Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization producing exhibitions and classes in the NY/NJ area since 2001.
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James Pustorino, Executive Director

Anne Trauben, Exhibitions Director / Curator
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Drawing Rooms
​Topps Building
​926 Newark Ave #T101
Jersey City, NJ 07306

Enter on Newark Ave

​www.drawingrooms.org​

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This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts /Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, administered by the Hudson County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, Craig Guy, County Executive, and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

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SUPPORTED BY PUBLIC FUNDS FROM THE JERSEY CITY ARTS AND CULTURE TRUST FUND.