Talia Young, President & CEO, Newark Symphony Hall

Talia Young, president and CEO of Newark Symphony Hall, talked to Invest: about its major $98 million restoration project, with $24 million raised so far. The hall, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, aims to balance history and future impact, with an art service business model and community programs.

What were the main highlights and achievements of the Newark Symphony Hall in the past year?

Newark Symphony Hall is undergoing a $98 million restoration, with $24 million raised so far. Phase one, completed last summer, included the terrace ballroom, health and safety upgrades, and roof repairs. Now entering phase two, this will restore and activate one-third of the 200,000-square-foot building. Beyond preserving the structure, the project aims to revitalize Newark’s Southern District, supporting arts, education, and the Lincoln Park community. More than just a building upgrade, it’s a community-focused initiative, opening doors for greater engagement and impact.

What technological enhancements have you implemented with the renovation?

Energy efficiency is a priority, helping to modernize the building while reducing costs and operational overhead. One key upgrade is an integrated security and sound system, which is managed from a central hub. We’re also installing digital touchscreens in event spaces, programmable by both our team and facility users. When the arts and education space opens, it will include two large communal touchscreens for summits, classes and more. As part of phase three, the third floor will feature a 40-seat screening room and a TV station with editing capabilities. Artists can film in our Black Box theater, edit their work upstairs and showcase it within the hall—creating a full artistic ecosystem for learning, teaching, producing, and presenting. By making these resources affordable and accessible, we’re empowering creatives at every stage of their journey.

Besides the renovation, what will be the main focus of Symphony Hall’s 100th-anniversary celebration?

This September marks Newark Symphony Hall’s 100th anniversary, launching a year of events and programming. The goal is to honor its rich history as Newark’s first stage, while driving future growth. The hall has long been a hub for diverse artists, genres, and cultures, and that legacy continues. This milestone celebrates its restoration as a historic gem, thanks to Gov. Phil Murphy and Mayor Ras Baraka for their state and municipal support. As the largest Black arts institution in New Jersey, this investment not only supports the community but also underscores the importance of Black creatives and their contributions.

Symphony Hall is the oldest and largest art venue in New Jersey. What marketing strategies are you using to highlight its legacy?

We’re refining our strategic plan to align our voice, tone, and overall messaging. This two-pronged approach ensures our team, board, and stakeholders understand our core strengths while effectively communicating them to the broader community. Our campaign, “The Art Is Now,” highlights three key verticals: artist service, artist impact, and venue operations. As a nonprofit, we raise capital to serve the community while generating revenue through venue rentals, programs, partnerships, and activations. As we restore the hall and strengthen our role as a community anchor, our impact will grow. True success comes when people realize a deep connection to our mission.

What other community initiatives are you promoting, and how do they directly contribute to community growth?

Many may not realize that Newark Symphony Hall is a union building, and unions in the entertainment industry can be difficult to access. We’ve strategically focused on stage, engineering, and film actor unions to create a diverse talent pipeline that reflects and supports our community. Our goal is to provide hands-on opportunities in lighting, sound, film and theater, helping individuals gain the necessary experience to enter unions—whether as a first job, a career shift or a new opportunity. 

Now in its second year, our Production Assistant Program pairs participants with union professionals for year-round training, offering a free certificate-based pathway to employment. The city and state also help connect participants to film, lighting and sound roles. More than just training, this initiative leverages our business operations to provide real access and career opportunities. Union jobs offer stability and career progression, and we’re committed to being a gateway for underrepresented talent. This initiative isn’t just about workforce development; it’s about long-term equity, diversity, and transforming the arts industry by opening doors for those who have always aspired to work in entertainment.

Given Newark Symphony Hall’s significance in the entertainment scene, how are you ensuring it remains an attractive historical venue?

Newark Symphony Hall is an important historic venue; our efforts will revitalize this cultural hub and bring even more engagement to the stage. Right now, we’re limited in capacity because we’re growing and stabilizing the organization. We aim to partner with other organizations, cultural promoters, and artists to bring them into our building. It’s about opening our doors for other entities to showcase their work and produce work for fundraising or revenue purposes. It’s interesting because, while we don’t always highlight it, these rentals bring a lot of diversity. One day we might host a Yiddish play, the next a Bollywood show, a Philippines pageant or a hip-hop concert with a DJ.

As we develop our marketing strategy and tone, this will become clearer in the year ahead, especially with the anniversary celebration. Our building is open to the community, and we’re making it affordable and accessible.

With New Jersey’s growing diversity across generations, how have demographic shifts influenced the demands and priorities for Symphony Hall?

Our approach is intentional. Newark has two universities, and we actively engage with them. We’re also engaging with local talent. For example, we hosted a “Cocktails and Creatives Takeover” in partnership with TikTok, where local creatives take over the space to produce diverse content, followed by a Q&A session. We invite students to participate and connect with industry professionals. A few weeks later, we featured a quilting conversation and film screening on Black quilting history, appealing to a more mature audience. Shortly after, we hosted a house music DJ show with Byron Stingily, a renowned artist in the genre. The goal is inclusivity—attracting diverse demographics and experiences to the hall. Restoring the building isn’t just about preservation; it’s about making it a dynamic, multi-use space that drives engagement and activity.