MARLTON, NJ – May 22, 2025 — Center for the Arts in Southern New Jersey (CFASNJ), a nonprofit organization that has served the artistic community for over four decades, has been notified by Evesham Township that it must fully vacate its longtime home in the historic Thomas and Mary Evans House by September 2025. The move raises serious questions about the future of the Center’s programs, operations, and presence in the community.
The township cited upcoming “significant work” on the building as the reason for the request, and instructed CFASNJ to remove all furnishings, supplies, and materials. Despite multiple inquiries by the CFASNJ Board of Directors, no detailed information on future relation or relocation support plan has been provided by the township or acting township manager Kevin Rijs.
The sudden request to vacate—without a contingency plan in place or future commitment—has placed the organization and its upcoming programs in jeopardy. CFASNJ remains committed to continuing its mission, and is actively seeking clarity from the township as well as community support to secure a path forward.
About the Center for the Arts in Southern New Jersey:
The Center has occupied the Evans House since 1999, after the township—then committed to preserving its cultural and historical assets—granted the organization use of the vacant and deteriorating structure. Built in 1785, the house originally belonged to Thomas and Mary Evans. It is a landmark of local heritage, with the initials “T,” “M,” and “E” still visible in the brickwork, along with the date “1785.” The home remained in the Evans family for 165 years before being sold to the Jaggard family and was eventually acquired by Evesham Township with New Jersey Green Acres funding in the mid-1950s.
Through a collaborative restoration effort, funded in part by the New Jersey Historic Trust and Evesham Township, the building was brought back to life. In October 1999, CFASNJ moved in, finally establishing a permanent home.
Since then, CFASNJ has used the Evans House to host art exhibitions, gallery shows, musical performances, educational programs, and children’s art camps. The organization’s mission is to foster a vibrant and inclusive community through visual arts education and appreciation. Its programs include up to ten gallery shows annually, free public exhibitions, juried competitions, and its widely celebrated Children’s Art Show each June.
The Center is calling on members of the public, patrons of the arts, and local leaders to stay informed and engaged as this situation develops.
For updates or to contact the Center, please visit www.cfasnj.com or email cfasnj@yahoo.com.
Center For the Arts in Southern New Jersey 