The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, by celebrating diversity, shall be America's foremost urban presenter of arts and entertainment, a creative and effective leader in arts education for children, a convener of useful and enlightening civic engagement events, and a catalyst for economic development in its home city of Newark. Since its opening night on October 18, 1997, NJPAC has welcomed to its stages renowned artists, cultural icons, the best of New Jersey's performers and companies, and many of the world's most cherished orchestral, dance and theatrical works. More than 10 million visitors, including over 1.5 million children, have enjoyed live entertainment or participated in special events at the Arts Center.