Annual Report 2013-2014July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014

From the ChairwomanIt seems like yesterday that the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey was just a small community of artists and a handful of dedicated volunteers working together with a common vision to create, enrich and inspire. I have served in many roles and capacities with the Art Center over the years and I believe the true essence of this vision is still alive through our dedicated volunteers and Art Center Ambassadors that continue to support us.

It has been an honor to serve as the Board Chair this year and watch the Art Center continue to strive towards excellence in provid-ing acclaimed exhibitions, enriching community programs, and a top notch studio art faculty. The winter exhibition, Women Choose Women Again, showcased the power of artist collaboration and was a headlining feature in NJN’s State of the Arts. During this past year, we expanded our public programming offering by debuting two new series: Shakespeare in the Garden, with performances by The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s Next Stage Ensemble, and the Talking Pictures Film Series, hosted by Dr. Laura Winters of Seton Hall. The Studio School year began with record breaking enrollment to our 2013 Summer Programs and attendance in our yearly classes and workshops continues to grow.

Looking forward to 2015, the Art Center is poised to reach even greater heights, creating new access points and building opportunities for everyone to experience the arts. This summer’s Members Show & Sale opening was one of the largest the Art Center has ever hosted, followed by the successful launch of a new website which streamlined communications and brought in many new registrations. The fall kicked-off with record-breaking Studio School registrations amidst the launch of a new Corporate Membership and press opening reception for the Fall Exhibition Doppler Shift. In October, the Art Center also welcomed a new arts education program, collaborating with the York Street Project for previously homeless women. And in December, the Arts Alive Initiative serving the Elizabeth Public School district will expand to include a program for eighth grade students. Thie spring, the Art Center will celebrate the tenth anniversary of “For Art’s Sake,” a weekend of art and community.

I look forward to welcoming new and returning Board members in the coming year and seeing all of the imagination, creativity and most of all, hard work, come to life. Art opens doors for learning and it has been a joy for me to learn here at the Art Center, from paint-ing classes to chairing the Board. I wish you the same joy in your future endeavors this year.

Millie CooperChair

From the Executive DirectorOn any given day at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, chances are you’ll find students engrossed in all manner of art making. You’ll see students working at pottery wheels, others print-making, and still others engrossed in digital photography. The energy of creativity is all around and it comes from students of all ages and abilities, all drawn together by the unique resource that is the Art Center. There are almost always visitors in the galleries, school groups that travel across the state or one of the many community groups with whom we work, from inner city high school students, to adults with disabilities. On any day and well into the evening, you’ll see the Art Center fulfilling its mission of “bringing art and people together.”

This year, the Art Center saw growth continue on all fronts: education, exhibition, and community programs. The Studio School contin-ued its focus on excellence, starting with a faculty that is unparalleled. And the numbers supported that excellence, with record class enrollment as well as classes and workshops offered. Summer Camp, always a big hit at the Art Center, outdid itself again this year.

Exhibitions were robust and diverse, beginning with an outstanding Member Show & Sale; four fall exhibitions: an entirely site-specific exhibition, Migratory Marks, faculty member, Joan Pamboukes: Felix and the Meteor, Carol Salmonson Light Lines; winter showcased the group artist collaboration of Women Choose Women Again and local artist Elena Caravela: Girls in Sight; the works of New Jersey artists in the spring shows including: Jon Rappleye: In Tangeled Splendor; #BaroqueTechStyle Portraits by Lisa Ficarelli-Halpern; faculty member, Thea Clark: The Quick and the Deep; and Pairings: Selected Faculty & Student Works. Our current year has already begun with probably the largest Members Show we’ve seen in the Main Gallery and Mitzi & Warren Eisenberg Gallery.

A number of development and fundraising events took place in 2014, including Paint-a-palooza and For Art’s Sake: The Art Lovers Journey, that gave attendees the opportunity to see contemporary art at the homes of local collectors during our Road Trip and buy art at our Silent Art Auction & Benefit. In 2015, we will celebrate the tenth anniversary of “For Art’s Sake,” with a Road Trip, Art Auction and community Open House in the spring.

We face 2015 with excitement as we look forward to bringing our ever-expanding audience new and innovative learning experiences and greater art knowledge. None of this would be possible without the continued commitment of a diligent staff and a dedicated Board of Trustees. It gives me great pleasure to also acknowledge the many students, members, friends and patrons that make all our efforts meaningful and worthwhile to us. Moving forward into 2015, we know that our mission of bringing art and people together has even greater meaning today than yesterday.

Cynthia McChesneyExecutive Director, Interim

Studio SchoolYOUTH SUMMER PROGRAMS 2013Kids & Teen Art Camp Students: 1,003Summer Saturday Camp Students: 11Sip & Sample: Adult Art Camp Students: 12Portfolio Development Intensive Students: 37

Community EngagementPROGRAMS FOR SPECIAL AUDIENCESParticipants: 146Artists with Disabilities, ARC of Essex CountyArt from the Heart, SAGE Eldercare Spend-A-DayAfter-School Enrichment Program, The Connection for Women

and FamiliesYoung Scholars Program, NJSEEDS

MembershipMEMBERS1,189

Year in ReviewCREATE, ENRICH, INSPIRE

MEMBER EVENTMembers Mark: Art Event, Attendees: 42

SUMMER SEMESTER 2013Classes: 20, Students: 211Workshops: 5, Students: 29

FALL SEMESTER 2013Classes: 104, Students: 1,093Workshops: 45, Students: 342

WINTER SEMESTER 2014Classes: 105, Students: 1,105Workshops: 36, Students: 250

SPRING SEMESTER 2014Classes: 102, Students: 1,012Workshops: 24, Students: 151

Scholarships Awarded: 18Mentor Sessions: 58Art Parties: 23

ARTS ALIVE INITIATIVEParticipants: 300Jefferson Arts Academy, Elizabeth, New Jersey: Sequential

Learning Museum Program

Curated ExhibitionsVISITORS5,265

Member & Student ExhibitionsTHE ART CENTER’S MARITÉ & JOE ROBINSON STROLLING GALLERY IIPrintmaking Students of Jessica LenardPairings: Selected Faculty & Student Works

SUMMER 2013 July 12 – August 30, 2013Marylou Hillyer Members Show & Sale 2013 on view in the

Main Gallery and Mitzi & Warren Eisenberg Gallery

FALL 2013 September 20 – November 24, 2013Migratory Marks on view in the Main GalleryJoan Pamboukes: Felix and the Meteor on view in the Mitzi &

Warren Eisenberg GalleryCarol Salmanson: Light Lines on view in Studio X

WINTER 2014 January 17 – April 13, 2014Women Choose Women Again on view in the Main Gallery,

Mitzi & Warren Eisenberg Gallery and Studio XElena Caravela: Girls In Sight on view in the Marité & Joe

Robinson Strolling Gallery II

SPRING 2014 May 9 – June 29, 2014Jon Rappleye: In Tangled Splendor on view in the Main

Gallery#BaroqueTechStyle : Portraits by Lisa Ficarelli Halpern on

view in the Mitzi & Warren Eisenberg GalleryThea Clark: The Quick and the Deep on view in Studio X

Exhibition-Related ProgramsFALL 2013Held in conjunction with Fall ExhibitionsArt Afternoon: Meet & Make, October 27, 2013, Attendees: 150

WINTER 2014Held in conjunction with Women Choose Women Again

The Female Body in Contemporary Art: A Panel Discussion, February 26, 2014, Attendees: 45

Art Afternoon: Gallery Walk & Talk, March 30, 2014, Attendees: 85

SPRING 2014Held in conjunction with Spring ExhibitionsArt Afternoon: Meet & Make, June 8, 2014, Attendees: 85

OFF-SITE EXHBITIONSThe Gallery at Summit Free Public Library: 6 ExhibitionsRenee Foosner Gallery at Paper Mill Playhouse: 5 Exhibitions

TOURSAdult Docent-Led Tours: 1, Participants: 30PreK-12 Docent-Led Tours: 40, Participants: 716VIP Tours with the Curator: 3, Participants: 43

EventsThe Art of Giving: Donor Appreciation Dinner, October 8, 2013, Attendees: 53 Paint-a-Palooza 2013, December 6, 2013, Attendees: 241Overlook Women Physician Networking Group, March 13, 2014, Attendees: 62

Public ProgrammingSHAKESPEARE IN THE GARDENperformed by the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s Next Stage EnsembleMetamorphoses, July 18, 2013, Attendees: 16Henry V, July 25, 2013, Attendees: 29

TALKING PICTURES FILM SERIESBasquiat, November 6, 2013, Attendees: 13Capote, November 13, 2013, Attendees: 9Pirate Radio, November 20, 2013, Attendees: 9

FOR ART’S SAKE 2014Kick-Off Party, February 27, 2014, Attendees: 47 Road Trip, March 5, 2014, Attendees: 49

Visit the collections of Mitzi & Warren Eisenberg and Judy Targan

Connoisseurs’ VIP Reception, Friday, May 2, 2014, Attendees: 104

Silent Art Auction & Benefit, Saturday, May 3, 2014, Attendees: 215Original works in auction: 83Featured works in the Connoisseurs’ Salon: 55

YOGA & ART Monday, October 7, 2013, Attendees: 7 Tuesday, January 28, 2014, Attendees: 19

MIND, BODY & ART in collaboration with the Bar Method and Vita OrganicTuesday, February 11, 2014, Attendees: 24

THURSDAY EVENING SALON SERIESWhat Happens in Vegas…, January 16, 2014, Attendees: 20Where is the Community in Socially Engaged Art?, January 23, 2014, Attendees: 20Joyce Kozloff: Past, Present & Future, February 6, 2014,

Attendees: 15The Indie Revolution in Games, February 20, 2014,

Attendees: 16Government, Money & Art, March 6, 2014, Attendees: 20

“Flappers” & “Sheiks”: Fashion in the Twenties, March 20, 2014, Attendees: 35A View from the Podium, April 3, 2014, Attendees: 20Burnt Shadows: Visions of the Post-Apocalypse, April 17, 2014, Attendees: 30

Professional DevelopmentTEACHERS SYMPOSIATeachers Symposium: 1, Participants: 32Elizabeth Public Schools Teachers Symposia: 2, Participants: 64

Individuals earning continuing education credit through Studio School: 15

From the TreasurerThe Art Center’s programs generated $1,586,000 in revenue during fiscal year 2014 (FY14) ending 6/30/14, a 6% increase over the prior year. The operating surplus from programs (after salaries and expenses) was $362,000, a 20% increase over the prior year. The Studio School, the Art Center’s largest program, has seen consistent growth for the past nine years in attendance and revenue and continues to be the major source of income applied to other programs.

Memberships, individual donations, foundation and government grants, and corporate contributions brought in $306,000 (after devel-opment department salaries and expenses) in FY14, up 50% over the prior year. Fundraisers generated $113,000 after expenses, a 40% drop over the prior year. Other income in the form of interest, dividends and appreciation of investments was $457,000 during FY14 as compared to $357,000 during FY13.

Overall, after general and administrative costs, the Art Center reported a cash surplus of $367,000 prior to depreciation at 6/30/14. This compares favorably to the prior year cash surplus of $256,000, pre-depreciation.

The combined value of the Art Center’s investments grew 10% to $3,152,000 at 6/30/14, up from $2,856,000 at 6/30/13. This growth can be attributed to positive investment performance offset partially by $149,000 in board-approved withdrawals. These board-approved withdrawals came from a combination of six separate endowments each according to specific guidelines related to their intended use. Items funded from the endowments during FY14 included an executive search, mortgage principal payments, a new computer server, a generator and outreach, scholarship and exhibition programming.

The Art Center remains financially sound with overall financial performance as expected for the fiscal year ending 6/30/14. Notable accomplishments during the year were:

· hiring a Director of Development· appointing PointView Wealth Management to manage endowment investments· paying off the remaining balance of a $833,133 short-term loan from 2006 that was originally drawn against pledges receivable

from the Art Center’s renovation.

Goals for the upcoming year include the continued conservative management and oversight of cash, operations and investments with a special emphasis on growth in the areas of development and contributed income.

Sarah JohnsonTreasurer

Statement of Activities & Changes in Net Assets

Statement of Financial Position

Data provided is subject to audited financials FY 2014

REVENUEPrograms $1,586,631Membership 64,930Individuals 88,880Corporate 4,000Government 130,342Foundations 125,000Fundraisers 191,015Other Income 456,931

Total Revenue $2,647,729

EXPENDITURESPrograms $1,224,191Fundraisers 78,386Development 106,875Administration 604,877Building & Grounds 178,378Interest Expense 37,446Other Expenses 50,507

Total Expenditures $2,280,660Depreciation 192,359

$2,473,019

Change in Net Assets $174,710

ASSETS FY 2014 FY 2013Cash & Equivalents $311,553 $668,496Grants & Pledges Receivable 66,485 110,319Inventory 2,604 3,106Investments (Market Value) 3,098,812 2,462,044Pre Paid Expenses 35,576 48,880Security Deposits 725 725Land 280,336 280,336Building & Improvements 6,278,501 6,275,834Furniture & Equipment 909,534 877,576Website Development 100,035 100,035Less: Accumulated Depreciation (2,654,840) (2,462,481)

Total Assets $8,429,321 $8,364,870

LIABILITIESAccounts Payable & Accrued Expenses $91,858 $100,194Short Term Loan 0 37,439Mortgage 856,815 897,128Deferred Income 385,856 410,027

Total Liabilities $1,334,529 $1,444,788

NET ASSETSUnrestricted Plant $4,056,751 $4,136,733Unrestricted Operating (312,732) (335,790)Temporarily Restricted 2,209,936 2,108,676Permanently Restricted 1,140,837 1,010,463

Total Net Assets $7,094,792 $6,920,082

Total Liabilities & Net Assets $8,429,321 $8,364,870

60%

3%<1%

5%

7%17%

54%

3%

26%2%2%

3%

5%

5%

8%

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

New Jersey Cultural TrustNew Jersey State Council on

the ArtsUnion County Board of Chosen

Freeholders HEART Grant

CORPORATE SUPPORT

$5,000 to $9,999David Ellis Events Siegel+Gale

$2,500 to $4,999Seavest Healthcare Properties, LLC

$1,000 to $2,499GAM, Inc.Lindabury, McCormick,

Estabrook & Cooper P.C. Lois Schneider Realtor, Inc.

FOUNDATION SUPPORT

E.J. Grassmann TrustGeraldine R. Dodge FoundationHorizon Foundation for New JerseyHyde & Watson FoundationL.P. Schenck FundPNC FoundationProvident Bank FoundationSummit Area Public FoundationUnion FoundationThe Wilf Family Foundations

CORPORATE MATCHING GIFTS

Arthur J. Gallagher FoundationBank of America BlackRockIBM International FoundationJohnson & Johnson McGraw-Hill CompaniesMerck Partnership for GivingThe Prudential FoundationUBS

INDIVIDUAL SPONSORSHIPS & VISIONARY GIFTS OF $1,000 & ABOVE

$20,000 to $49,999Judy & Walter Shipley Jean & Greg Smith

$10,000 to $19,999Anonymous Betse & Frank Gump

$5,000 to $9,999Marie J. & Roy Alan Cohen Kelly Deere & Lee Shavel Carri & Keith Dolin Lizanne & John Kenney Elisa & Louis G. Zachary Jr.

$2,500 to $4,999AnonymousMillie & Jack Cooper Sarah & Del JohnsonTammy & David McLean Teresa Mendez & Don PolzoAmy & Mitchell Radin Belinda & Ferrill RollLacey & Edward Rzeszowski Helaine & John Winer The Weldon Family

$1,000 to $2,499Rolande Borno Heather & Elliot Braun Judy & Larry CohenLori & Christopher Donohue Edward FaustyEstelle Fournier & Alberto Lopez-Silvero Terri & Mark Friedman Christine & Andrew GottesmanDebra Ann Gottsleben & Jay DelaneyJessica & Alec Haverstick Cynthia & Peter Kellogg Helene & Jay Ludwig Catherine Mathis & Bob BurchellRobin & Cameron McClearn Linda & Derek Mithaug Carole & Malcolm SchwartzDiane & Douglas Simon Elizabeth Skoler & Mark Becker Elizabeth Ventura & Stephen Eisenmann Francoise & Roland Weiser Mary Wickliffe

CONTRIBUTOR LEVEL MEMBERS & ABOVE

Sally & Tom AbbottMuriel S. BadgleyJill BrennerKelly Deere & Lee Shavel Liz & Tom KelseyAdelaide Knapp

CONTRIBUTING GIFTS $250–$999

Kiyomi Ota BairdElizabeth BardMary BartkusMargaret & Marshall BartlettSusan BirosakClaire Toth & David DietzeJung Eun HaKitty & Dave HartmanJill & Ben KliegerYvonne & Daniel LalondeAmy LissCatherine LynessJanis & William McCrackenSandra & James McTernanCarol & Steve MeyerDeirdre O’Connor QuinnMarilyn & Hugo Pfaltz Joanie Schwartz & Don RosenthalSheila & Tripp SmithJean Marie & Chris Volpe

IN-KIND SUPPORT

Greg Smith & Contemporary Art and Editions, Millburn, NJ

Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine L.A. Frame Co., Green Brook, NJPanetica ShopRite of Springfield, NJStarbucks of Summit, NJTrap Rock BreweryVita Organics

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2013-2014

Millie Cooper, ChairHelaine Winer, Vice-ChairJay L. Ludwig, SecretarySarah Johnson, TreasurerLisa A. Butler

Marie J. CohenSiobhan CreemKelly J. DeereJay DeLaneyKeith C. DolinLori DonohueJill KliegerMalcolm KnightDavid McLeanMitchell RadinLacey RzeszowskiR. Malcolm SchwartzJoanie SchwarzPamela ShipleyElizabeth F. SkolerGreg SmithElizabeth VenturaElisa Zachary

VisionariesMr. & Mrs. William B. Nicholson

Honorary TrusteesSally AbbottShirley Aidekman-KayeVirginia Fabbri Butera, Ph.D.Estelle FournierElizabeth C. GumpJoseph R. RobinsonRoland Weiser

STAFF

Marion Grzesiak, Executive Director, July 1, 2013 – February 17, 2014

Derek Mithaug, Executive Director, February 18, 2014 – June 30, 2014

Vanessa Batista, Director of the Studio School

Mary Birmingham, CuratorCara Bramson, Director of

ProgramsErnie Palatucci, Director of

Operations & FinanceRupert Adams, Building

SuperintendentFabiana Bloom, Membership &

Special Events ManagerMariann Costella, Customer

Relations AssociateDalila DeCarvalho, Studio

School CoordinatorLorraine Caffrey, Bookkeeping

ConsultantJen Doninger, Customer

Relations AssociateDebbie Farley, Customer

Relations AssociateMonica Finkel, Assistant Director

of Operations & FinanceJustin Hall, Exhibitions RegistrarNicole Jiras, Camp ManagerKristin Maizenaski, Design &

Publications ManagerTeresa Mendez, Customer

Relations AssociateAnne Miranda, Communications

& Marketing ManagerKatherine Murdock, Exhibitions

ManagerBonnie-Lynn Nadzeika, Grants

CoordinatorLeon Norris, CustodianMara Norris, CustodianMichelle Singer, Customer

Relations AssociateBarbara Smith, Studio School

RegistrarPat Tiedemann, Bookkeeping

Consultant

FACULTY

Ingo AppelVicki ArleinDoug BaronMonica BaumannMegan BeckerLisette BedoyaBill BlanchardKat BlockCecily BykFernando CatagueLynn CellerBeatrice ChangCarole Wong ChesekThea ClarkDonna Conklin-KingCharles EhrenfriedHank EhrenfriedAndrea GianchigliaKate GriffinStephen HarrisRich HeddenGerry HeydtNancy KordeAnne KullafVijay KumarDiana KungValeri LarkoMaria LatourJessica LenardPeter LesterStephanie MaddalenaDrew MaillardAlexander MarkEllen MonroeJeannette MullarkeyTom NeugebauerJoan PamboukesJennifer Jordan Park David Benyon PenaLisa PressmanDonald PolzoDonna ReadSue SachsMark SaengerKit SailerErica SanchezDouglas SchillerLois ShapiroMarie SignorileVicki StargerCeaphas StubbsPeter SyakStephanie TaegerJoel Tidey

Katie TrukJosette UrsoRaul VillarrealFrances WillnerAmanda YoakumRachel Yoakum

VOLUNTEERS

Sally AbbottThomas AdmundsonShirley Aidekman-KayeJoseph AlbertiSusan BaierLisette BedoyaPatricia A. BellJulia BlumertEdith BraggiottiVirgina Fabbri ButeraLisa ButlerKaren CaplanMary ClaussenJose ClaxtonRita CohenMarie CohenMillie CooperAlicia CotterSiobhan CreemKelly DeereJohn J. DeLaneyMary DodgeKeith DolinLori DonohueJohn DorerMarianne DougherCharlie EhrenfriedDaniel EppsAndrea FerrelLana FeteihaKate FisherEstelle FournierTerri FriedmanLaura FrommElizabeth GirouardChristine GottesmanMargareta GreeleyAlexandra GreenBetse GumpWolfgang GuentherCharlie HerringtonTabitha HickmanSusan HoeckerCarolyn HoughMarietta IacouzziNicole Jiras

Sarah JohnsonHolly KenneyCarl KlemmeJill KliegerMalcolm KnightMary KooiJulie LambertBrenna LarsonDanielle LashleyDebbie LivingstonJay LudwigMicah MabenAndrea Maletta-BusselBrie MannsAndrew McGannTeresa McGoeyDavid McLeanWinifred McNeill Katie MillerMallory MortillaroClaudia PaterninaTori PetrilloMitchell RadinChloe RebhunJoe RobinsonLacey RzesowskiR. Malcolm SchwartzJoanie SchwarzPamela ShipleyErica SirabianElizabeth SkolerDiane SimonGreg SmithPaul SteckKim TomassiKether TompkinsElizabeth VenturaRoland WeiserJim WelchSue WelchHelaine WinerJeana WunderlichElisa ZacharyGricela Zamora

Visual Arts Center of New Jersey68 Elm Street, Summit, NJ 07901

908.273.9121www.artcenternj.org