Mission + Vision:

The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is a leading institution of contemporary art in the tri-state region whose mission is to bring art and people together. The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey believes in the power of art to inspire, amaze, and enrich. We are passionate about bringing art and people together: visual art in all of its many forms and people of all ages, races and genders. From those who already love art to those who might not know what they are missing. Everything we do is designed to fulfill this mission. Our contemporary art exhibitions, educational art programs and Studio School offer something for everyone. Most importantly, our staff, faculty and volunteers bring imagination and passion to their jobs and to the communities they serve.

History:

The history of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey dates back more than eight decades. While the official inception date of organization is 1933, its development goes back earlier to 1931 when a group of seven painters rented a studio loft together in the McClay Building on Springfield Avenue in Summit. By 1933 the group included 31 members and formally became the Summit Art Association. Expansion continued rapidly and in 1935 the organization moved to a carriage house at 79 New England Avenue where it held regular public programs and introduced children’s classes.

The organization continued to grow and in 1960 changed its name to the Summit Art Center. After several moves it found its permanent home at 68 Elm Street in 1969. For four years the Art Center utilized the existing house on the property while plans were developed and funds were raised for a brand new building. The fortieth anniversary in 1973 was celebrated with the opening of the new building which contained four studios. Just two years later a fifth studio was added to the building to accommodate the expansion of the photo lab and inclusion of jewelry making classes. The organization continued to grow in size and become more professional. In 1981 it was given accreditation by the American Association of Museums (AAM)—now the American Alliance of Museums—which sets the highest standards for the nation’s cultural organizations.

To reflect the expanding impact of the Art Center the name was changed to the New Jersey Center for the Visual Arts in 1985. Eleven years later the Sculpture Garden was created in order to provide outdoor exhibition space for sculptures and other large-scale objects. Today it also serves as an outdoor studio for drawing, painting and photography students. By the early 2000s it became clear that in order to meet the needs of its constituents and provide the best visual arts experiences possible another expansion was necessary. The Access to Art capital fundraising campaign kicked off in 2004 to raise money for an 11,000 square foot expansion.  Just a year later the organization again changed its name to the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey and held the grand re-opening of its new 24,000 square foot facility. New amenities featured a total of nine enhanced studios designed specifically for media ranging from ceramics to painting and two galleries dedicated to contemporary art exhibitions: the beautiful Main Gallery, flanked by a set of slanted 30 foot floor to ceiling windows, and the Mitzi & Warren Eisenberg Gallery; as well as Studio X and the two Marite & Joe Robinson Strolling Galleries.

Now moving into its ninth decade, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is recognized statewide for its outstanding programs. In 2008, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts awarded the Art Center it’s “Citation of Excellence” and designated it as a “Major Impact” organization, one of only 16 cultural institutions in New Jersey to be honored with both distinctions, honors it has received each year since. In addition, it has received four Discover Jersey Arts People’s Choice Awards for “Favorite Place to Take an Adult Arts Class.”

Everyone at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is dedicated to the mission of “bringing art and people together.” This mission is fulfilled by the best in contemporary art exhibitions, a robust Studio School operating a four semester schedule, public programs ranging from the annual Talking Pictures Film Series to Art Afternoons that allow the public to interact with exhibiting artists and outreach programs for seniors, at-risk youth and children, and adults with disabilities.