Establishes "Art in Storefronts" initiative within the "Main Street New Jersey" program.

A4123

ASSEMBLY, No. 4123

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Quijano

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes �Art in Storefronts� initiative within
the �Main Street New Jersey� program.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

establishing an �Art in Storefronts� initiative
within the �Main Street New Jersey� program and supplementing
P.L.2001, c.238 (C.52:27D-452 et seq.).

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.�� The commissioner
shall establish an �Art in Storefronts� initiative within the �Main Street New
Jersey� program.� Under the �Art in Storefronts� initiative, the commissioner
shall offer each municipality that is participating in the �Main Street New
Jersey� program technical assistance and information to help the municipality
facilitate arrangements between artists and property owners for the temporary
placement of original artwork in downtown vacant storefront windows.

���� b.��� In developing the �Art
in Storefronts� initiative, the commissioner may consult and coordinate efforts
with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, colleges and universities,
economic development nonprofit organizations, and private investors. The commissioner
shall encourage municipalities interested in participating in the �Art in
Storefronts� initiative to provide opportunities for local artists or New
Jersey artists to display artwork.

���� c.��� The commissioner shall
provide each municipality that is participating in the �Main Street New Jersey�
program that is interested in participating in the �Art in Storefronts�
initiative with technical support and guidance, including but not limited to:
recruitment of property owners and artists, liability issues, selection
processes, budgeting, and contracting.� The commissioner shall produce a sample
artist agreement and a sample property owner agreement.

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill would require the
Commissioner of Community Affairs to establish the �Art in Storefronts�
initiative within the �Main Street New Jersey� program, providing local New
Jersey artists opportunities to display their artwork in windows of vacant
storefronts.� This initiative would promote local art while providing Main
Street municipalities seeking to reinvigorate their downtowns with a new
economic development tool.� The economic downtown has caused commercial
vacancies in many Main Street business districts.� This initiative would turn
those vacancies into a focal point of interest and draw shoppers into downtown
business districts.

���� The bill encourages the
commissioner, in developing the �Art in Storefronts� initiative, to consult and
coordinate efforts with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, colleges and
universities, economic development nonprofit organizations, and private
investors.� The commissioner would provide Main Street municipalities that are
interested in participating in the �Art in Storefronts� initiative with
technical support and guidance, including but not limited to: recruitment of
property owners and artists, liability issues, selection processes, budgeting,
and contracting.