Summertime means school's out and children of all ages are looking for something to do. Arts Council grantees statewide offer quality arts programming that New Jersey's families have come to rely on and look forward to. Whether one is interested in learning to dance, draw, paint, play music or perform on stage, New Jersey's cultural organizations provide the safe, nurturing and creative environment needed to keep youth engaged and thriving during the summer months.

Summer art programs offer youth the chance to have fun and express themselves while building strong technical skills and forging new relationships - assets they will need to achieve in both the classroom and the workforce. Research tells us that participation in the arts has a major impact on the success of young people. We know that it:

• helps youth develop appreciation and understanding of the world around them
• helps youth develop a positive work ethic and pride in a job well done
• provides another opportunity for parental and community involvement
• helps troubled youth by providing an alternative to destructive behavior 
                                                                                           Americans for the Arts

State Arts Council grantees are measured against the highest standards of excellence and produce quality arts programming all year round. As we bid farewell to the school year and welcome in the long days of summer, we can be sure that New Jersey's youth have an abundance of opportunities for a meaningful summer break. Arts and cultural organizations throughout the state provide dynamic programming for youth of all ages, here are just a few examples.

Warmly,

Carol Ann Herbert
Chair, NJ State Council on the Arts

Northern New Jersey

At Peters Valley Craft Center in Layton youth ages six to 16 try their hands at ceramics, jewelry, weaving, painting, drawing and sculpture. Specific projects include beading on an Indian style loom and casting objects from nature in sand. Guest artists supplement the core curriculum of each week-long session by sharing their expertise in trade practices that include blacksmithing and precious metal casting.

At the Montclair Art Museum's SummerART program, young children and teens work in the traditional fine arts including drawing, painting and collage. They also explore the Museum's renowned collections and even put their own work on exhibit. In addition, students learn about art history and discuss how the arts are a part of our daily lives. Older teens take classes modeled after a college studio course to learn formal artistic skills and also hone their analytical and critical thinking skills.

Older teens and young professionals interested in theatre can develop core artistic and career skills at the Summer Professional Training Programs provided by The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in Madison. The Theatre's resident director and director of education, Brian C. Crowe who took part in the Program over a decade ago said, "Eleven years ago I walked into the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey as an intern eager to learn and anxious to explore the classics. I had no idea how that summer would change my life and give focus to my career as a theatre artist."

Central New Jersey

The Arts and Education Center in Matawan, which operates the acclaimed Arts High and Arts Middle School programs is also home to the Summer Arts Academy. Changing themes offer gifted and talented students ages 12 through 18 the chance to focus on the visual and performing arts in a four week intensive program for which they must audition.

Classic to contemporary themes also give structure to the Summer Theatre Program at the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton. Mythology, musical theatre and puppetry are some of the dynamic subjects that fourth through tenth graders explore during uniquely focused one-week sessions that run throughout the summer.

At the Somerset Art Association in Bedminster, children ages six to 12 explore themes of their own during Art Discovery Weeks. “Pal Around with Picasso” and “Cartoons and Comic Books” are just two of the exciting topics that provide the framework for creative expression and discovery in a fun, safe environment.

Southern New Jersey

Algonquin Arts’ Summer Stage is a two week, half day camp for youth ages six through 17. Professional teaching artists combine technical instruction with recreation, all anchored in various aspects of the performing arts including creative dramatics, improvisational playwriting, voice, music and dance. James Reid, a 13 year old participant had this to say: “Summer Stage helps me in school because it gives me good characteristics, makes me more confident and happy to be part of a group and girls like it too!  It helped me be able to stand up in front of a crowd with no problem at all.”

Performing in front of an audience is a requirement for the aspiring musicians at the Haddonfield Symphony’s Summer Symphony Camp. Students in grades six through 12 who study instruments during the school year learn from professionals in one-on-one lessons, group rehearsals and interactive ear-training classes, and perform in the Grand Finale at the end of the summer.

And last but never least, is the impressive range of arts programs offered by the Center for Community Arts in Cape May. Sculpture, painting, photography, jewelry, printmaking, puppetry and collage are only some of the many activities offered to participants in these versatile programs, some of which last as long as eight weeks. While most take place during the day, the Center offers an evening camp, which includes dinner, so parents can take the night off while their kids participate in the arts!

Quick Facts

• Young people highly engaged in the arts do better in school and are more involved in their communities
• Students involved in the arts have higher standardized test scores
• Students involved in the arts are less likely to drop-out of high school than those students not involved in the arts
• Students involved in the arts do more community service than their peers who are not involved in the arts
• These differences are more pronounced for students consistently involved in the arts over an extended period of time, and these differences cross socio-economic status

            Involvement in the Arts and Success in Secondary Schools