Uploaded February 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Born in Canada, Jacque Rubel moved to New Brunswick when she got married and became a key figure in the development of the arts. Early on, Rubel got involved in arts-related programs for youth in Griggstown. When the State Arts Council was forming, she established the New Jersey State Teen Arts Program. Working with Bernie Busch, the longtime director of the Historical Commission, and Byron Kelly, Rubel helped found the County Cultural Heritage Commissions and served as one of the first commissioners of the Middlesex County Cultural Heritage Commission. In the interview, Rubel discusses how she and others envisioned New Brunswick as a cultural center. Over the years, she helped establish Opera Works, a non-profit organization, and organized workshops and conferences, including “Arts Come of Age” in conjunction with Rutgers. Rubel describes tensions surrounding the development of the George Street Playhouse and the creative commitment of those who ran the Crossroads Theater. She also discusses key figures in redevelopment, the role Rutgers played and missed opportunities. Rubel currently heads the Aging in Place Partnership.
The Rutgers Oral History Archives is part of the Department of History at Rutgers University. Learn more at https://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/new-brunswick-redevelopment-oral-histories
Born in Canada, Jacque Rubel moved to New Brunswick when she got married and became a key figure in the development of the arts. Early on, Rubel got involved in arts-related programs for youth in Griggstown. When the State Arts Council was forming, she established the New Jersey State Teen Arts Program. Working with Bernie Busch, the longtime director of the Historical Commission, and Byron Kelly, Rubel helped found the County Cultural Heritage Commissions and served as one of the first commissioners of the Middlesex County Cultural Heritage Commission. In the interview, Rubel discusses how she and others envisioned New Brunswick as a cultural center. Over the years, she helped establish Opera Works, a non-profit organization, and organized workshops and conferences, including “Arts Come of Age” in conjunction with Rutgers. Rubel describes tensions surrounding the development of the George Street Playhouse and the creative commitment of those who ran the Crossroads Theater. She also discusses key figures in redevelopment, the role Rutgers played and missed opportunities. Rubel currently heads the Aging in Place Partnership.
The Rutgers Oral History Archives is part of the Department of History at Rutgers University. Learn more at https://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/new-brunswick-redevelopment-oral-histories
