Local programs and organizations who provide art education, resources, and events to the Monmouth County community. LOCAL PROGRAMS Monmouth County Park System’s Therapeutic Recreation Programs The mission of the Therapeutic Recreation Division is to provide access to recreational opportunities for Monmouth County residents with disabilities in order to enhance physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning, as well as a sense of belonging to the community. The Arc of Monmouth The mission of The Arc of Monmouth is to improve the lives of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. This is accomplished through advocacy, services and supports, collaboration with community partners and community education. Oasis TLC Oasis TLC in Middletown created its first Transitional Residential Adult Independent Learning (T.R.A.I.L.) Center designed to provide residential, vocational, social and educational experiences for young adults with autism in a highly supportive, home community farm setting. Over the course of the program, students will focus on the development of life skills that will help prepare them for employment and independent living. Ballet Company of the Performing Arts Ensemble Ballet Company of the Performing Arts Ensemble in Red Bank includes children with disabilities. Act Out Act Out in Marlboro provides theater for kids, teens, adults with special needs. Guild of Creative Art Docent Program Guild of Creative Art Docent Program caters to the developmental and cognitive needs of any population, but especially reaches out to those who would not ordinarily visit an art gallery or non-profit artistic cooperative, namely elementary school aged students, adults and children with special needs, and seniors with cognitive or physical disabilities. Middletown Arts Center Middletown Arts Center has been awarded the Ruth Hughes Award for Accessible Recreation Facility by the New Jersey Recreation and Parks Association. Programs include Visual Arts and Dance Programs for children with special needs through Miss Sherri and Miss Deena; Inclusive Summer Arts Camp programs that provide opportunities for children with special needs; Camp Jinka – a specialized camp for children affected by brain tumors; programs with the Arc of Monmouth for adults with special needs; discounted Senior Citizen programs. Monmouth Museum Monmouth Museum often offers tactile exhibits. Check their current exhibitions online! Social Communities Activities Network (SCAN) Social Communities Activities Network (SCAN) in Eatontown is NJ's premier provider of continuing education for adults since 1988 and is located in the basement level at Monmouth Mall. Courses include: Art * Computer * Technology * Digital Photography * Fitness * Health * Languages * History * Music * TV Production * Finance * and much more. Creative Aging Arts For older adults, Creative Aging Arts provides art workshops that stimulate connections between the visual arts and the creative process. The art activities celebrate individual expression, are meaningful, and provide pleasurable experiences connecting the individual to the larger group. Karen Starrett, founder of Creative Aging Arts, is a certified art teacher and dementia practitioner. She received a BA in art education and Certification in Gerontology from Rutgers University. She was trained at The Creative Center: Arts in Healthcare and through The National Center for Creative Aging. For the past five years, Karen has been bringing her art workshops to senior centers and assisted living facilities. She is also a working artist who exhibits frequently in the NY/NJ area including the Johnson & Johnson Gallery and the Noyes Museum.

ANNUAL MEETING Monmouth Arts 2023 Annual Meeting Thank you to everyone who joined this year for the Monmouth Arts 2023 Annual Meeting at the incredible Transparent Clinch Gallery. Musical guest Jeff Kazee debuted a song from his new album “Thanks for Checking In,” and Gen Z expert Mark Beal shared his wisdom with attendees during a Q&A with PR professional Sammy Steinlight. Special guest Nathalia Garcia from Project Write Now captivated guests with her moving poetic prose. Of course, the evening would not have been complete without a warm welcome to our newest Monmouth Arts Board members – Debra Countey, James Geise, Lori Palmer, and Loly Tor. Guests each received a complimentary copy of Jeff’s latest CD; Thank You for Checking In, and lucky raffle winners walked out with Danny Clinch’s latest book Danny Clinch: Still Moving and Mark Beal’s third book, Gen Z Moves to Adulthood. Special thanks to Tina Karekes and everyone at Transparent for providing such a great venue for this event! Monmouth Arts 2021-2023 Strategic Plan Monmouth Arts is looking for feedback from the community on our 2021-2023 Strategic Plan. Please use the following form to provide any comments or concerns you might have regarding the plan. Your feedback will help us adjust the plan to ensure it reflects our community's needs and charts a path forward for continued growth.  Click here to download and review the Strategic Plan. Click here to access the feedback form.

ARTSPACE 105 ArtSpace 105 is the official micro-gallery of Monmouth Arts. It is located at 105 Monmouth Street in Red Bank (next to the Count Basie Center for the Arts). Apply to exhibit work here . Horror Vacui Marie Maber Opening Reception: January 18, 2019 | 6:00 - 7:30pm Exhibit: January 4 - February 27, 2019 Select Works: Some of the Horror Vacui Paintings on loan to Monmouth Arts through February 27th – are very small (six inches square) – and are part of a series that began about a year ago. Their bright color and obvious texture came as a direct result of ongoing insomnia. Many of my paintings were begun at about 3:30 in the morning. They were made at a time of the night that was open, free, and uninterrupted until eventually the sun rose – and then regular routines like making coffee, reading the paper, and eating breakfast took precedence. The paintings became an outlet that was very freeing from the patterns of making several different and “other” types of artworks that I’ve created throughout my life. The process has evolved to the point where healthier living and a second generation of these colorful paintings are now completely painted during the day – and I am once again able to sleep at night! The base coating of multiple neon colors are often applied with aerosol paint outdoors in my backyard before I leave for work in the morning. The rest of the painting takes place after that paint has dried and the aerosol odor has left the surface. Layers of classic crochet patterns have inspired and even caused the designs of these paintings. Several samples of antique crochet as well as lattice and other “open work matrices” have been used as stencils in this process. Tight geometric patterns paired with bright, contrasting colors bring vibrancy and excitement into my painted world. These paintings feel very vivid and energetic to me and I enjoy just about everything about them. In order to display the small canvases at the office of Monmouth Arts, they have had to be drilled through their stretcher bars and attached to painted plywood with small screws. This presentation can be viewed as temporary or permanent. They will be priced as groups. If anyone would like to take them home, we can discuss ways to re-install them.

Monmouth Arts was proud to welcome our community to the 2026 Annual Meeting, Reset, Restore, Create, an evening dedicated to reflection, connection, and the transformative role of the arts in wellness and creativity. The program opened with a grounding sound bowl healing session led by musician Jamie Coppa, setting an intentional and restorative tone for the evening. Guests then heard from Dr. Micah Hillis, DSW, LCSW, Director of the Brandt Behavioral Health Treatment Center and Retreat at Rutgers University Behavioral HealthCare, who shared insights on emerging initiatives at the intersection of arts and wellness. Drawing inspiration from a quote often attributed to Hans Christian Andersen — “When words fail, music speaks” — Dr. Hillis offered his own powerful reflection: “When words fail, the arts speak,” underscoring the vital role creative expression plays in healing, communication, and balance. Throughout the evening, attendees reflected on Monmouth Arts’ accomplishments from 2025 while enjoying nourishing light refreshments provided by Kitchenwitch, and engaged in meaningful conversation with fellow artists, supporters, and community leaders. The Annual Meeting also included the election of new Board members and the welcoming of returning members, whose leadership and dedication continue to guide the organization forward. We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us and contributed to a memorable and inspiring evening. Together, we look ahead with renewed energy as we continue to champion the arts as a vital force for wellness, creativity, and community. 2025 Monmouth Arts Recap Featured Guest Speaker Dr. Micah Hillis, DSW, LCSW is the Director of the Brandt Behavioral Health Treatment Center and Retreat at Rutgers University Behavioral HealthCare. He has extensive experience providing treatment and managing programs that focus on mental health and substance use in various treatment settings including, inpatient, outpatient, community outreach, peer support, and case management services in the community as well as in incarcerated settings. The focus of these programs has been to provide services to at-risk populations including adults, adolescents, children, incarcerated persons, the chronically homeless, veterans, and those struggling with mental illness and substance use. Currently, Dr. Hillis is overseeing the program development and daily operations at the Brandt Center which provides a retreat setting for out of home treatment, as well as outpatient and intensive outpatient levels of care. Previously, he was focused on services addressing the ongoing opioid/fentanyl epidemic in New Jersey through multiple partnered programs with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), Department of Corrections (NJDOC), and Parole Board (NJSPB). Additionally, Dr. Hillis is a part-time lecturer for the Rutgers University School of Social Work and part-time faculty member at Boston University’s School of Social Work. Featured Performer Jamie Coppa is a singer/songwriter and musician residing at the Jersey Shore. Her music is a reflection of her life experience and soulful outlook and perspective with influences in pop, r&b, meditation and chant, and spiritual hymns. In addition to performing, Jamie offers holographic sound baths in the greater NYC area and owns and operates The Well community center in Belmar, NJ. She shares her passion and love for humanity through various projects and small business ventures that aim to positively impact the lives of others.

FOR ARTISTS Welcome Monmouth Artists! Whether you’re just starting out or years into your creative career, we’re here to help you thrive. From visual artists and filmmakers to writers, dancers, musicians and beyond, we’re dedicated to giving Monmouth County creators the support they need. Create and Connect Inspiration grows when artists come together. We strive to stimulate new ideas, connect creators who can energize each other and help you build new creative and business skills. Workshops for Creatives Arts Mixers Artist Registry Show Your Work Showcasing your work should be exciting, and we'll help make it more accessible. These resources can help you share your work, reach new audiences, and fuel your future creativity. 
 Call for Entries ArtSpace Exhibitions Annual Member Exhibits Monmouth County Senior Art Show Meet Our Partners We’re proud to partner with a range of nonprofit organizations across the county. Take a look at our member list; you may find support and opportunities through our network to help you take your next creative step. 
 View List of Members For Arts Educators You know how powerful the arts can be in changing young lives. Explore resources designed to support your teaching and help you enrich students through self-expression. Arts Educator Resources Arts Educator Awards Monmouth Arts Teen Arts Festival Emerging Artist Scholarship Program Our commitment to artists includes young artists and their education. Each year we offer scholarships for teens pursuing a degree in the arts, including performing, literary, design, music and more. Get the details and read about our talented past recipients. Emerging Artist Scholarship Program Read the Latest Arts News Our blog is regularly updated with the latest arts news at Monmouth Arts and in the county. Read the Blog FEATURED ARTISTS Sarah Fishbein Visual Artist Sarah’s work in large-scale glass mosaics was featured at Artspace in 2025. "I use glass because of how tactile it is & the textures & colors that you just can't get out of paint," she says."The mosaics themselves became little pieces of myself that, put together, make something powerful." Learn More Membership Gives Artists Even More Open the door to more opportunities & involvement in the dynamic arts scene of Monmouth County. Exhibit or perform at ArtSpace, our Red Bank gallery & community space Get access to members-only emails which include grants, scholarships, open calls, job listings, workshops, classes, discounts and more Share your work with our thousands of subscribers and growing network Explore Memberships

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