2016 Student Art Project in Jersey City

Goldman Sachs recently celebrated its 12th season of the Student Art Project in Jersey City, New Jersey and showcased the artwork of 30 local students. Launched in 2005 with the Jersey City education, arts and nonprofit communities, the Student Art Project is a free arts and education program aimed to introduce students to new artistic mediums, environments and topical issues within their community.

In response to a recent survey, which found that Jersey City’s tree canopy is only 17 percent, in comparison to the national average of 40 percent for a midsized city, the City of Jersey City and the Jersey City Parks Coalition have partnered to plant 5,000 trees by 2020. Goldman Sachs served as the Education and Engagement Sponsor for a series of local programs aimed to raise awareness of the effort and connect residents with the cause by serving as tree stewards and volunteers. In support of this mission, Goldman Sachs chose City of Trees as the theme of the annual Student Art Project.

Throughout the summer, students participated in a series of workshops, some hosted by Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks, which included volunteer-led activities including yoga, hiking, painting, printing, and lessons to gain an in-depth understanding of the important role trees play in the community. These activities inspired the student artists to translate their experiences into creative works on exhibit along Jersey's waterfront esplanade through fall 2017.