JERSEY CITY, NJ – Meredith Burns, the Executive Artistic Director of Art House Productions and a fourth-generation Jersey City resident, has launched her campaign for an At-Large seat on the Jersey City Municipal Council.
Burns, a statement said, will run on a slate headed by mayoral candidate Jim McGreevey.
She brings over 15 years of experience as an executive leader in cultural and nonprofit organizations and a lifelong commitment to public service, the statement said, touting that in her role with Art House Productions she has spearheaded major initiatives, including growing Art House’s revenues by 150% since 2017 and securing a state-of-the-art Performing and Visual Arts Center on a twenty-year lease for $10 per year. She played a key role in passing Jersey City Municipal Question #1, establishing New Jersey’s first Municipal Arts Trust Fund.
The statement went on to list several awards Burns, who also serves as a trustee on the board of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance has received in past years including:
- NJCU Leadership Award in the Arts (2019)
- Jersey City Arts Council Leadership Award (2020)
- New Jersey State Council on the Arts Cultural Access Network Leadership Award (2021)
- Women of Action Award from Councilman James Solomon (2022)
“For too long, Jersey City has been operating without a strategic plan, and the unspoken strategy seems to be catering to those who see our city as a temporary stop—either on their way into Manhattan or out to the suburbs. This needs to change. Jersey City must stand on its own and invest in the people and places that make our city special,” Burns said, adding that Jersey City needs “bold, forward-thinking programs that foster civic pride, keep our streets safe and clean, create more affordable housing for the people who have shaped Jersey City for generations—including artists—uplift our small businesses and nonprofits, and strengthen our Special Improvement Districts so they can better support local entrepreneurs and commercial corridors. We must invest in infrastructure that supports families, build quality educational programs for our children, and ensure our local economy is strong. It’s time for leadership that prioritizes our residents’ long-term success and strengthens our community’s foundation.”
Burns’ deep roots in Jersey City shape her vision for the city, the statement said, noting that her great-grandparents on both sides immigrated from Ireland and built their lives here. Her mother was a nurse at Christ Hospital, her father served as a Deputy Chief in the Jersey City Fire Department before becoming Director of the Hudson County Office of Emergency Management, and her brother continues this legacy as a Captain in the Jersey City Fire Department.
Before transitioning to arts leadership, Burns worked as an actor, performing Off-Broadway and regionally. She co-founded and managed Glass Bandits Theater Company in Brooklyn and from 2014 to 2017, she designed and implemented a comprehensive after-school program at New Voices Middle School in Brooklyn, serving over 200 students daily.
She holds a BFA in Acting from SUNY Purchase (Cum Laude) and is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA and lives in Jersey City with her husband, Mike, their son, Conrad, and their Yorkshire Terrier, Maddie.
“Meredith’s diverse skill set includes strategic leadership, team building, event planning, financial management, and fundraising,” McGreevey said. “She is an asset to Jersey City as we work to reduce municipal government spending, build affordable housing, increase public safety, and improve Jersey City Public Schools.”
By Al Sullivan
