This March marks the kick off to the series of Teen Arts series Festivals occurring in New Jersey March through June leading up to the culminating event, the 2018 New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival which will take place May 30 through June 1 at Ocean County College in Toms River. All New Jersey students, ages 13-19, and teachers are invited to attend. The month of March is jam packed with County Teen Arts Festivals in 6 different counties; Burlington, Monmouth, Ocean, Sussex, Union and Warren. Please review the end of this article for the Full Teen Arts Calendar.
The New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival will include many of last year’s features, such as Student Showcases and displays in the literary, visual and performing arts by the top students selected from each county, Professional Development Workshops for teachers presented by Arts Ed Now and Appel Farm Arts & Music Center, Master Class Workshops for students taught by professional artists, College Fair comprised of top arts programs and Daily Guest Performances during lunch.
A New Jersey filled with youthful minds yearning to connect with others to communicate their personal perspectives is a New Jersey that will raise its youth to thrive as they grow to become the future world leaders. The individual connections made at the New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival will lead to the collective efforts that as a grand-all-inclusive community we can support arts education across the state.
Students desiring to showcase their creative talents must be nominated by their home County Teen Arts Festival in order to showcase for adjudication at the New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival. If a student’s county does not have a festival, he or she can be nominated through the New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival virtual nomination process.
All schools must complete and submit a school registration prior to attending the New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival. Registrations are now being accepted online at njteenarts.com and via postal mail. Registrations will be accepted on a rolling basis up until the first day of the festival on May 30th . However, it is recommended registrations are submitted early in order to get priority placement in the showcase, and adjudication scheduling.
Finally, Nominations for the Arts Educator of the Year award are still being accepted until March 30th. Nominations may be submitted online here: https://www.njteenarts.com/aey/
For more detailed information on festival registration, showcase/adjudication process or the New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival visit www.NJTeenArts.com, call 732-566-ARTS (2787) or email harrison@NJTeenArts.com.
Harrison H. Haney is the coordinator for New Jersey State Teen Arts. He can be reached at harrison@njteenarts.com.
2018 Teen Arts Festival Calendar
Warren County
Tue, Mar 13 & Wed, Mar 14 | Lackland Center at Centenary University 715 Grand Ave Hackettstwon, NJ 07840
Burlington County
Wed, Mar 14 & Thu, Mar 15 – Rowan College – 900 College Circle, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
Monmouth County
Thu, Mar 15 & Fri, Mar 16 | Brookdale Community College – 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, NJ 07738
Union County
Thu, Mar 15 & Fri, Mar 16 | Union County College – 1033 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, NJ, 07016
Sussex County
Tuesday, March 20 | Sussex County Community College – 1 College Hill Road, Newton, NJ, 07860
Ocean County
Tue, March 20 & Wed, March 21 | Ocean County College – 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ, 08753
Cape May County
Thursday, April 12 | Cape May Convention Hall, 714 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204
Cumberland County
Friday, April 13 | The Levoy Theatre – 126-130 N High St, Millville, NJ 08332
Gloucester & Salem County
Friday, April 20 | Appel Farm Arts and Music Center – 457 Shirley Rd, Elmer, NJ 08318
Atlantic County
Friday, April 27| Art District of Hammonton – 219 Bellevue Ave, Hammonton, NJ 08037
Somerset County
Wednesday, May 16 | Raritan Community College – 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg, NJ, 08876
Bergen County
Friday, May 18 | Bergen Community College – 400 Paramus Road, Paramus, NJ, 07652
Morris County
Friday, May 18 | County College of Morris – 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph, NJ, 0786
Mercer County
Friday, May 18 | Mercer County College – 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor Township, NJ, 08550
Hudson County
Tuesday, May 22 & Thursday, May 24 | NJ City University – 2039 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ, 07305
New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival
Wed. May 30, Thur. May 31 & Fri. June 1 | Ocean County College – 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ, 08753
Arts Ed NJ is a collective impact coalition of statewide partners that works to ensure that all New Jersey Prek-12 public school students participate in a high quality, sequential, equitable arts education that celebrates diverse lived experience and artistic expression and prepares the creative leaders of tomorrow.
Arts education for every child, every day, every year.