Passaic County Cultural and Heritage Council (PCCHC)

The Passaic County Cultural & Heritage Council (PCCHC) at Passaic County Community College (PCCC) is responsible for encouraging arts development in all areas of Passaic County, for presenting arts programs, providing technical assistance, and for awarding grants for arts and cultural programs to organizations throughout the county.

In addition to building community awareness, appreciation and enjoyment of the arts, PCCHC strives to reflect the diversity and preserve the ethnic traditions and cultures within our community. To achieve this goal, PCCHC offers a variety of programs and services and collaborations.

The PCCHC administers the Local Arts Program grants of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, which provides state funds to be granted to Passaic County organizations for arts and cultural projects.

PCCHC received a Citation of Excellence from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for excellence in artistic quality, programming and public service in the arts. State Arts Council leadership held an awards reception on January 25 in Trenton to recognize the importance of the work of PCCHC. This award, the State Arts Council’s most prestigious mark of distinction, is designated based on grant application review and conferred upon PCCHC for the duration of the grant period for which funding is received.

The PCCHC, established in 1980, is located in the historic and elegantly restored Hamilton Club Building of Passaic County Community College in Paterson. The building, a former gentlemen's club at 32 Church Street, was established in 1890 by Garret Hobart, a Paterson lawyer and later the 24th Vice President of the United States, and other prominent citizens of Paterson.

The PCCHC strives to maintain a barrier-free facility including complete access for patrons using wheelchairs, large print programs, sign-interpreted performances, FM listening systems and "at select performances" open-captioning.