The New Jersey State Council on the Arts handed out more than $200,000 to North Jersey arts groups to bring programs to South Jersey last year. At the same time, the arts council gave the back of its hand to South Jersey groups like Mainstage Center for the Arts.

Propped up by a $4,700 special projects grant from the arts council, Mainstage presented 86 performances that reached 59,616 children and adults last year. This year, the arts council turned down the Gloucester Township group' s grant request.

Arts council officials declined to discuss the reasons why individual groups' applications were rejected, but said the grants review and evaluation process was fair.

Mainstage Executive Director Edward Fiscella Jr. was disappointed at the council's decision. He grows angry when North Jersey groups are paid by the state arts council to put on programs in South Jersey - the same type of programs that Mainstage provides.

"It saddens me and makes me crazy," Fiscella says. "We take the free shows but I can't tell you the bitterness (I feel)."

Two weeks ago, Mainstage presented a touring theater production from Middlesex County's George Street Playhouse. The performance was free, but Mainstage ended up absorbing almost $1,000 in rental and technical expenses.

For two years, Mainstage presented African-American storyteller Lloyd Wilson in 16 school assemblies that reached 8,000 children in South Jersey.

This year, Fiscella's group didn't have enough money to pay Wilson's $3,500 fee.

"To do this kind of program, we need support," explains Fiscella. "The larger an organization, the (arts council's) assumption is everything they do is quality. I don't believe that is necessarily so.

"Small organizations are not taken as seriously, but the small organizations need the help."

State Sen. John Matheussen, R-Gloucester, takes his family to Mainstage performances. He voices concern over the arts council's refusal to support the center.

"As a subscriber, I know the quality of their work," explains Matheussen. "Here is a group that provides training to young people in all aspects of the arts. And they're doing it right here in our community."

In recent seasons, Mainstage has received small grants from Public Service Electric & Gas Co. ($1,500), PNC Bank ($ 1,000) and Bell-Atlantic Foundation ($7,000).

"People who come to see us see quality and give money," Fiscella says.

A "cold shoulder" is what the arts council gives to Mainstage, he says.

In rejecting Mainstage's application, the council's peer panel complained the programs lacked "a high level of quality," "diversity" and "artistic vision" and noted the board lacked "cultural diversity."

Fiscella finds the diversity charge galling. He points out the center's 16-member board has three women and two black members.

Mainstage makes a particular effort to include all races and children with disabilities in its programs.

Fiscella points to dance recitals that featured a ballerina with one arm, Broadway musicals that included wheelchair-bound children with multiple sclerosis as well as theater performances that employed a deaf youngster as the sound technician.

"We were the only South Jersey organization to be represented at an empowerment summit on diversity in Trenton two years ago," he says. "New Jersey Network repeatedly broadcast a program about how we incorporated all races and disabilities in our activities."

The council also complained Mainstage's "artistic and aesthetic decision-making seems to rest mainly with one individual" who "serves as president, CEO, program committee chair, marketing committee chair and artistic director."

That's true, Fiscella says. Lacking a staff, he is forced to do everything. For his year-round efforts, he draws a $ 600-a-month stipend for half the year.

"The arts council is saying to us we are not big enough, but they don't help us to grow," complains Fiscella.

"How does an organization like ours get the money to pay for the professional staff the arts council says we need to have to get arts council help?" he asks. "Without the help of the arts council, we can't afford to hire a $40,000-a- year executive director."

Fiscella makes a succinct plea to the arts council.

"Visit us!" he urges. "We have extended invitations but no one has ever come to see us.

"What the arts council sees on paper can in no way show what they would be able to see if they made a visit to our organization."