The Monmouth Arts launches updated County Arts Plan, Awards $100,000 to Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation and celebrates how ArtHelps our communities
(Asbury Park, NJ) – The Monmouth County Arts Council’s Annual Meeting was held at the new location of The Showroom in Asbury Park on Wednesday, January 16 with more than 70 artists and arts organizations attending. The Monmouth County Arts Council is a nonprofit organization and the official County Arts Agency formed in 1971 to enrich the community by inspiring and fostering the arts. The vision of Monmouth Arts is a vibrant arts community that enhances the quality of life throughout the county. Monmouth Arts supports artists and arts groups through networking and resources, the Monmouth County Teen Arts Festival, the Local Arts Grant Program and the Teen Arts Connection and by highlighting arts performances and exhibitions throughoutMonmouthCounty in X.it Artzine and Monmoutharts.org. Monmouth Arts’ programs and the groups it supports serve over 700,000 people each year and bring over 2,600 arts events toMonmouthCounty.
The Showroom’s Debbie Boenig, Operations Manager and Heather Preyer, Marketing Director welcomed the group to their beautiful new multi-screen movie theater. The ShowRoom presents relevant and provocative movies and events that engage the audience for a memorable experience. The ShowRoom brings an important selection of films — critically-acclaimed foreign, festival winners, family, independent, local and shorts — to Asbury Park’s downtown, giving movies a permanent home again after a 30 year hiatus.
In addition to being a salon for the film community, The ShowRoom is an intimate space for live performances and community events. By encouraging creative presentations and developing joint ventures with galleries, retail establishments and restaurants, the goal of The ShowRoom is to be a cultural crossroads and the destination for both the occasional movie-goer and cinephile alike
During a short business meeting outgoing Board Members Lynn Reich, Chair and George Feldman, Treasurer were recognized for their extraordinary commitment and contributions over their more than 9 years of service to Monmouth Arts. They were presented with original artwork by Monmouth artists Michael Miller, Visions Photography Workshop and kinetic artist, Andrea Rosenfeld.
Board Development Chair Gail Van Winkle introduced the 2013-2016 Board slate to be voted on by the member arts groups. The slate included returning Board Member Jody Calendar, Calendar Communications, Kathy Donnelly, Beauregard Gallery and Peter Kent, most recently founder and Managing Partner at Eladian Partners. All were voted on unanimously. Gail also announced the new officers for 2013, Kim Honecker will be the new Chair, Pam Marvin Vice Chair and Peter Kent the new Treasurer, Gail Van Winkle will remain as Vice Chair and Sarah Fischell as Secretary. Kim Honecker is an Art Teacher atManalapanHigh Schooland has experience as an art director and graphic artist. Peter Kent has over 35 years of experience in financial services and has held a variety of executive positions in securities firms and investment banks.
Monmouth Arts Executive Director, Mary Eileen Fouratt spoke of the response of the arts community to Superstorm Sandy and the many ways that ArtHelps. Monmouth Arts and Two River Theater became recharging stations for both people and electronics. Monmouth Arts started ArtHelps an effort to connect resources and information to artists and arts groups dealing with the aftermath of the storm and documenting how the arts community was helping. ArtHelps includes an Indiegogo campaign to raise money to continue this effort and to bring artists and arts groups to communities hardest hit by Sandy. Go to www.Indiegogo.com/arthelps to contribute to this effort.
Arts Partner Colorest opened their studio space to artists who needed space. Belmar Arts Council suspended their programs and jumped in to help their town when their space was taken over for a relief staging area. Belmar then asked their Arts Council to paint the concrete barriers alongOcean Ave.to brighten them up. MiddletownArtsCentergave respite to out of school students (and their parents) with a place for creative activities. Atlantic Highlands Arts Council quickly changed an upcoming concert into a benefit for their town. The Ministry of Artistic Intent brought over 40 local musicians, poets, artists and comedians together to benefit the Monmouth Arts’ and the Union Beach Middle School’s Band. And the Asbury Park Musical Heritage decided this was the time to take on an exhibition/ performance space to give people another reason to visitAsbury Park.
Ms. Fouratt presented the new County Arts Plan, Imagine, Envision, Create. The plan builds on the success of the original award winning Blueprint for the Arts and identifies challenges for the future. Ms. Fouratt said, “Superstorm Sandy has brought new challenges as communities rebuild their boardwalks, businesses and homes. The arts can help with both the emotional and economic impact. The arts community can give those working to restore their lives respite from this hard work; we can enliven downtowns with performances and exhibitions even if the beaches and boardwalks aren’t open yet; artists can help those traumatized by the storm to express their loss and hope for the future; and the arts community can be part of community and economic planning taking place through our towns, the county and Long Term Recovery.”
In 2006 the Monmouth County Arts Council was a recipient of funds from Bruce Springsteen’s Seeger Session rehearsal concerts. Over $167,000 went immediately to supportAsbury Parkarts groups and the high school’s arts programs. But $100,000 was designated to support the development of an arts center inAsbury Park. At the time Monmouth Arts andAsbury Parkhad done a feasibility study of theKinmonthBuildingwhich was being looked at as a potential cultural center. The cost of that project was too high and over the years several potential projects were considered but never came through.
Ms. Fouratt announced “We are excited tonight to be able to announce that the Monmouth County Arts Council is awarding the Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation $100,000 over 3 years to help support their new exhibition and performance space at708 Cookman Avenueacross the street at the old Showroom location.
The Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation’s mission is to preserve, exhibit and promote the City ofAsbury Park’s rich musical heritage – past, present and future – and to contribute to the City’s revitalization by securingAsbury Parkas a musical destination.
The Board of the Monmouth Arts feels strongly that this grant is in keeping with the intent of the original donation to develop an arts center, one that recognizes the importance of music to both the past and the present ofAsbury Park. The timing of the Musical Heritage Foundation taking on a space for musical education programming, concerts, lecture series, film and exhibits is no accident but is intended to be a boost to the local economy, bringing in local, national and international visitors toAsbury Park. We anticipate that this major grant will leverage other investment in the project and will benefit the entire region economically and artistically.”
Tom Gilmour, Board Chair and Susan Pelligrini, Executive Director of the Foundation accepted the award with thanks to the Monmouth County Arts Council for the significant impact the council and the arts community has had on the revival ofAsbury Park.
The meeting adjourned for a tour of The Showroom and a reception at the Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation to preview their photo and memorabilia exhibition.
Photos
More than 75 people attended the Monmouth County Arts Council’s Annual Meeting held at The Showroom with a reception at the Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation inAsbury Park.
Mark Fleming with some of Premiere Theatre Company’s actors. L-R. Susan Moroney, Mark Fleming, Deni Sobotka, Carole Malik and Joe Malik
Monmouth County Arts Council presents $100,000 grant to the Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation. L-R. Mary Eileen Fouratt, Monmouth Arts Executive Director, Tom Gilmour, Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation Chair, Susan Pelligrini, Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation Executive Director, Kim Honecker, Monmouth Arts Chair
The Monmouth Arts Annual meeting ended with a reception at the new space of the Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation and a sneak peek of their inaugural exhibition.
Monmouth County Arts Council Board Chair Lynn Reich and Mary Eileen Fouratt, Executive Director preside over the Annual Meeting with over 75 artists and arts organization representatives at the Showroom inAsbury Park.
L-R. Lynn Reich, Monmouth Arts Board Chair, Pat Hassenkamp, Financial Director, Gail Van Winkle, Board Development Chair looking over the ballots for the Board Slate.
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This program is made possible through funding from the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, through the County Historical Commission, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.
