"Growing Ideas to Sustain the Arts in New Jersey": Fourth Annual New Jersey Arts Day Focuses on Building Sustainable Communities Through the Arts

Burlington, NJ, April 25, 2013 --(PR.com)-- The ArtPride New Jersey Foundation, in cooperation with the New Jersey Arts Education Partnership, Sustainable Jersey, Creative New Jersey and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, will host the fourth annual New Jersey Arts Day on May 2 at the War Memorial in Trenton. The event will bring together creative minds from around the state to share ideas in sustaining the arts in communities throughout NJ, and honor Governor’s Awards in Arts Education recipients.

Under the title “Growing Ideas to Sustain the Arts in New Jersey,” Arts Day 2013 will feature a session with Sustainable Jersey, which will bring municipal leaders together in a training focused on building creative communities that will also earn points toward Sustainable Jersey certification. During an open space discussion under the guidance of Creative New Jersey, attendees will be asked to consider how Jersey arts can take new and creative approaches to strengthen its position within the fabric of community life.

“Arts Day attendees drive the agenda,” said Ann Marie Miller, Executive Director of ArtPride New Jersey Foundation. “This meeting format will provoke dynamic conversations and offer creative ways to make sure the arts are viewed as indispensible to life in New Jersey.”

While Arts Day will breed new ideas for future collaborations, it also celebrates the accomplishments of individuals over the past year. The Governor’s Awards in Arts Education — coordinated and presented by the NJ Arts Education Partnership in collaboration with the NJ Department of Education, the NJ Department of State, the NJ State Council on the Arts and ArtPride NJ— recognize the achievements of young artists and performers, and adult educators and arts leaders.

This year, ArtPride has the privilege of presenting the David Grant Student Arts Activist Award to Kelsea Schimmel of Monroe Township High School for her volunteer work organizing performance opportunities for young musicians in her community. Brunswick Acres School art teacher Suzanne Tiedemann will receive the Arts Advocate Award. Tiedemann raised over $25,000 for Hurricane Sandy relief, won $5,000 for her school in the third annual ‘Art of Education’ national competition and creatively fundraised for 30 iPads used exclusively in her elementary school art room.

“To say her students are lucky is an understatement,” continued Miller. “ArtPride is thrilled to honor these distinguished arts advocates at this year’s Governor’s Awards.”

Arts Day 2013 will also include a Movers & Shakers social for arts advocates from all sectors and the ArtPride New Jersey annual membership meeting that introduces newly elected trustees. Special entertainment will be provided by Paper Mill Playhouse’s Broadway Show Choir.

For more information or to register for the event, visit http://www.ArtPrideNJ.com/events.

About The ArtPride New Jersey Foundation
The ArtPride New Jersey Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization, is the charitable and educational arm of ArtPride New Jersey that promotes the value of the arts to New Jersey’s quality of life, education and economic vitality through research and a variety of programs and services including Discover Jersey Arts and Arts Plan New Jersey.