When in 1987 then-Gov. Tom Kean floated the idea of building a world-class arts and entertainment venue in Newark, many scoffed, believing the many problems plaguing the state's largest city -- notably safety concerns -- would ensure the failure of such a venture.

Twenty years since its 1997 unveiling, New Jersey Performing Arts Center continues to prove its critics wrong. The venue -- known as NJPAC to its friends -- is one of the busiest non-profit performing arts center in the country, welcoming more than 8.5 million visitors in the last two decades, said David Rodriguez, NJPAC's executive vice-president and executive producer.

In addition, its ever-growing art outreach program reaches about 80,000 students annually. The center has helped launch programs like The Hip Hop Nutcracker, which now tours annually. "American Songbook," the regional Emmy-nominated public television program NJPAC produces with NJTV, is now in its fourth season.

"NJPAC has something for everyone and hopefully a little bit more than what you expected," Rodriguez said. "One day you can see Yo Yo Ma, another day you can see 'Fantasia,' and the next day Stephen Colbert. NJPAC has become a home for many different communities, a forum that's safe and where diversity is celebrated, and that's really the nature of New Jersey."

Among those performing during NJPAC's Sept. 23 Spotlight Gala are Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which also performed in the center's first year; Grammy Award-winning singer Lisa Fischer; Tony Award-winner James Monroe Iglehart; and Newark-native award-winning tap dancer/choreographer Savion Glover, who is also involved with the center's education program.

Glover, who remembers when NJPAC was in its earliest planning days, said he's proud of how the art center has grown and how the city's changed with it.

"They wanted people to enjoy Newark, N.J., as if they were at the Met or Carnegie Hall," he said. "I've found a performance space that is also my home and that has given me the opportunity to develop programs and establish relationships with younger dancers, younger artist, younger visionaries. It's been wonderful."

Glover's most recent educational outreach was a tribue to John Coltrane and included an educational element -- many of the students hadn't heard of Coltrane -- as well as dance and singing. In a country with shrinking arts resources, Glover said he's thrilled to provide an outlet for students.

"There's nothing better than nourishing and watering and feeding a child's inspiration, to feed one's aspirations beyond what they think they're capable of," he said. "You have kids who come in and say, 'Im not a singer.' But then you fine tune that negativenity or uncertainty and they realize they can sing but n one had allowed them the opportunity to express themselves in that way. People who say they can't dance leave as dancers. People who say they can't sing take on solos."

Rodriguez said it's very satisfying to see young people find a voice -- or another skill -- through its programming. Yes, a few have gone on to professional careers, but that's not the most important thing, he said.

"Sometimes," he said, " It's not about making the next great artist but the next great person."

NJPAC@20 SPOTLIGHT GALA

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

1 Center St., Newark

Tickets: Prices start at $50, sponsorships are available. Find information online at www.njpac.org. Sept. 23.