The Gateway Institute stresses cultural awareness by engaging in activities geared to broadening an understanding of diverse cultures, their history and the plight of immigrant experience. Significantly, these activities highlight the importance of these groups to regional development and growth as well as regional efforts to welcome and integrate new cultural groups. These projects include the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s (NJPAC) Artist-in-Residence workshops, cultural forums, exhibits and presentations.

The Gateway promoted participation in the Arts for the benefit of all people through the following activities:

• The Institute’s long standing collaboration with NJPAC has brought internationally acclaimed artists to Kean University such as Grammy award winner Babatunde Olatunji (Africa), the Taipei Folk Dance Theatre (Taiwan), Fred Ho (Asia) and Quasar-Brazilian Dance Company (South America).
• Brick City Blues was a workshop conducted by Tony award winner Reg E. Gaines of "Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk" with women from Newark, NJ. The goal was to have women develop poetic material about their lives where the emphasizes was not only on the spoken word but incorporating dramatic presentation of their poetry.

The Gateway Institute understands that the future success of the Arts depends on the active involvement of everyone in helping to shape them. Consequently, endorsing new innovations, promoting and marketing the Arts, and developing new public/private partnerships is a core mission for future Gateway programs.