Arts and Education Center

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Board Of Directors
President: Arthur J. Rittenhouse, Jr. /Bldg. Mgr Rothman Realty; Vice President: Grace Shackney /Administrative & Producing Associate, McCarter Theater; Secretary: Anya Salama; Treasurer: Wendy Cotton /Piscataway School District; Kevin Ciak /Chief Information Officer, General Electric Sensing, Inc.; Hon. Joseph M. Kyrillos, Jr./ State Senator, District 13; Maria Naumik/Art Instructor, Applegarth MS, Chair Monroe Twp. Cultural Arts Comm.; Honorable Frank Pallone, Jr./ US Congressman New Jersey’s Sixth Congressional District; Arthur S. Pataky II, / Guidance Counselor, Freehold Regional School District; Patrick Piegari Ed. D. / Middlesex County Superintendent of Schools; Kevin Redding/Vice President, Bayard Advertising Agency; Leslie Michelle Thornton/Store Manager, McDonald’s Corp.; Brian A. Zychowski Ed.D./ Superintendent, North Brunswick Township School District

Staff
Tony Petito/ Executive and Artistic Director; Donna Anonsen/ Managing Director; Michele Silber/ Arts Middle School Administrator; Missy Peck/ Arts High School Administrator; Janine Kneller/ Administrative Asst., Tammy Laverty/ Coordinator; Curtis Clark IV/ Clerk; Catherine Cavanaugh/ Clerk, Jenna Dorsi/ Clerk

Board of Advisors
Joan Conway/Director of the Visual, Practical & Performing Arts, Piscataway Schools; Clare Goscienski/Asst. Principal, Sayreville HS; Marcella Massopust/Visual Arts Teacher, Perth Amboy HS; Robert Mele, K-12 Arts Supervisor, Monroe Twp. Schools; Josephine Nagle/ Retired Visual & Performing Arts Coordinator, Highland Park Schools; Laura Parker/Drama Instructor Wall Township High School ; Joanne Traskiewicz/Arts Teacher, Joyce Kilmer School, Milltown

OUR MISSION & OUR HISTORY

We believe the basic human need for meaning and self expression is best satisfied by the study and practice of the arts. An understanding of the arts helps describe, define, and ultimately deepen human experience. This must be an essential component of every child’s basic education and a life-long pursuit.
We create art to understand ourselves, each other, and the world around us.
By making connections and expressing the otherwise inexpressible, art helps us to better understand the human experience. By its very nature, art provides the cohesiveness that is the cornerstone of human society.

We envision a future when arts learning is a basic component of every child’s education and a respected life-long pursuit.

AEC was founded in 1969 as a county arts council. From its inception the organization has focused on providing support and opportunities for New Jersey artists and championing the importance of quality arts education in school curriculums. In its early years, AEC initiated several innovative programs that eventually grew into independent state-wide arts organizations. Teen Arts NJ, Very Special Arts/NJ, The Middle Jersey Writers Group, The Dance Council of NJ and The Visual Arts League were all, initially, AEC programs.

AEC was a pioneer in recognizing the need for quality arts education for gifted and talented children in the public school systems. Towards that end, in 1980, AEC created New Jersey’s first county-wide arts education pull-out program entitled Arts High. In collaboration with 23 school districts in Middlesex County, children, accepted into the program by audition, are released from their schools and bused to a central location for weekly classes in creative writing, music, dance, theatre, photography or visual arts taught by outstanding teaching artists. The Arts Middle School program was added in 1994 and now includes children in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades. This innovative program has been the primary focus of AEC for the past 25 years. In January 2004, at the request of school superintendents in Monmouth County, the Arts & Education Center opened an Arts High School for Monmouth County students. In January 2007, the Monmouth County Arts Middle School was launched.

AEC has been cited as exemplary by the NJ Department of Education for its concept, programs and administration and received a special citation and grant from the NJ Governor’s Office designating it “A School of Excellence.” In March 2003, it was recognized by the US Congress for being “a cultural pioneer” and successfully administering “a series of programs that have provided a much-needed outlet for a blossoming local artistic community.