Rest Fest Turns Newark Museum into Wellness Sanctuary
The Newark Museum of Art will transform into a wellness sanctuary on June 29, 2025, as it hosts “Rest Fest,” an innovative event celebrating rest as essential, mindfulness as lifestyle, and art as a healing power. Running from 11:00 AM into the evening, this revolutionary gathering offers visitors multiple pathways to relaxation and rejuvenation amid New Jersey’s largest art collection, according to North to Shore Festival organizers.
Curated by Newark’s Glambassador Lauren LeBeaux Craig and cultural curator Marcy DePina, the event features experiences ranging from power naps and meditation to yoga and aromatherapy, culminating in a high-frequency dance party where rest and movement achieve perfect balance.
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Cultural Leaders Bring Vision to Life
The collaboration between Lauren LeBeaux Craig and Marcy DePina brings together two of Newark’s most influential cultural voices. Craig, officially recognized as Newark’s “Glambassador” by Mayor Ras J. Baraka, brings her expertise as both Executive Director of Newark Arts and a certified yoga teacher and energy healer to the project, according to STEAM Urban.
After pivoting from a ten-year legal career, Craig has established herself as a creative force in Newark’s cultural landscape, producing arts festivals and curating exhibitions that highlight the city’s vibrant creative community. Her approach to Rest Fest reflects her interest in holistic wellness practices that complement artistic expression.
DePina contributes her extensive experience as a cultural curator and event producer, informed by her background in ethnomusicology and her current role as Executive Director of Newark Riverfront Revival. As New Jersey Business Magazine reports, the collaboration between these two creative leaders has been central to Newark’s growing reputation as a “City of the Arts” through their work with Newark Arts.
Art and Wellness Intersect
Rest Fest’s location at The Newark Museum of Art creates a unique opportunity for participants to experience how art appreciation can enhance mindfulness practices. The museum’s extensive collection provides a stimulating yet calming backdrop for the wellness activities planned throughout the day.
Attendees will have access to serene spaces for journaling and affirmations, nurturing corners for massage, reiki, and cupping treatments, and creative havens for art-making and herbal tea blending. Each experience is specifically designed to calm the nervous system and replenish the spirit.
This integration of wellness practices within a cultural institution exemplifies the growing recognition of museums as spaces for holistic well-being rather than solely intellectual or aesthetic appreciation. The approach creates new pathways for engaging with art collections while addressing the increasingly recognized need for deliberate rest in contemporary life.
From Stillness to Movement
One of Rest Fest’s distinctive features is its evolution throughout the day, culminating in a high-frequency dance party led by DJ MD. This progression illustrates the curators’ understanding that true restoration involves balance between stillness and movement, solitude and community engagement.
The dance element represents the culmination of the day’s restorative practices, offering participants an opportunity to express joy through movement after releasing tension through various wellness modalities. This approach reflects current thinking in wellness circles that recognizes the importance of communal celebration in maintaining emotional and physical health.
The event’s structure provides multiple entry points for participants with different comfort levels and interests, from those seeking quiet contemplation to those energized by music and movement. This inclusivity makes Rest Fest accessible to visitors with varying wellness backgrounds and preferences.
Newark’s Growing Wellness Community
Rest Fest represents the continued evolution of Newark’s wellness community, which has grown alongside its arts and cultural renaissance. The event builds on existing initiatives that position the city as a center for holistic approaches to health and well-being.
As Executive Director of Newark Arts, Craig has brought “healing-centered leadership” to her organization, integrating wellness principles into arts administration and programming. This approach recognizes the connections between creative expression, community building, and personal well-being.
The event exemplifies how Newark’s cultural institutions are expanding their traditional roles to address broader community needs, including the growing recognition of rest and wellness as essential in counterbalancing the stresses of urban life and digital connectivity.
Part of Broader Festival Programming
As a concluding event in the Prudential North to Shore Festival, Rest Fest provides a restorative finale to the month-long celebration spanning Newark, Asbury Park, and Atlantic City. Its timing on the final Sunday of the festival period positions it as an opportunity for reflection and rejuvenation after weeks of cultural experiences.
The event’s inclusion in the festival lineup highlights the organizers’ commitment to showcasing diverse forms of creative expression, from traditional performing arts to innovative wellness practices that enhance quality of life.
Located at 49 Washington Street in downtown Newark, The Newark Museum of Art provides an ideal setting that combines accessibility with the rich cultural resources necessary for a truly transformative wellness experience.
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