Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

1. Through studio school classes and workshops, the Visual Arts Center of New Jerseyserves over 1,100 students every semester. The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey'sstudio school is the largest non-university arts program in the state. Students ofpre-school age to octogenarians enroll each semester. A renowned faculty ofprofessional teaching artists offer classes and workshops in drawing, painting,ceramics, photography, digital media, printmaking, sculpture, jewelry design andmore. The Art Center's studio school calendar is divided into three ten-weeksemesters, fall, winter and spring and a shorter six-week summer semester. Summersemester includes a children's art summer camp program serving nearly 1,000 studentsages 4-18.2. The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is a leading institution of contemporary artin the tristate region. Its museum exhibition program presents artistically andculturally diverse contemporary art exhibitions to over 8,600 visitors annually. Toaddress an increasingly global society, the Art Center features artists from near and far. Many are from New Jersey and nearby New York, from across the US and from around the world. In conjunction with each season of exhibitions, the Art Center presents a variety of exhibition related programming to provide unique and invaluable opportunities for visitors to experience art in new and exciting ways. Approximately 34 volunteers support exhibitions and program implementation, including the Art Center Docent program which leads tours that serve almost 600 people per year.3. The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey's community engagement programs are closelyaligned with our mission of bringing art and people together and our commitment tomaking art accessible to all audiences. These programs serve over 1,000 individualsannually, make educational visual arts experiences available to under-served,economically disadvantaged, and marginalized audiences. These audiences includeat-risk youth, the elderly, people with disabilities, children from dual workingparent households, and low-income households. We serve the community of Summit andsurrounding areas including people living in Hudson, Union, Essex, Sussex andSomerset counties. Programs include providing arts education for formerly homelesswomen attending Kenmore High School in Jersey City; "Arts Alive" a program forElizabeth High School and 8th grade students from throughout the Elizabeth district;and The Arts from the Heart Partnership with Sage Elder-care for people suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's.