MONMOUTH ARTS HOLDS ANNUAL NETWORKING MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 18

(Red Bank, NJ) -- Artists, arts entrepreneurs, nonprofit arts organizations, nonprofits with arts programs and all those interested in how the arts contribute to our community are invited to join Monmouth Arts at the Annual Networking Meeting at Trinity Restaurant & Lounge, 84 Broad Street, Keyport on Wednesday, September 18 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Monmouth Arts is a nonprofit organization and the official County Arts Agency formed in 1971 to enrich the community by inspiring and fostering the arts. The vision of MCAC is a vibrant arts community that enhances the quality of life throughout the county. 

Monmouth Arts supports artists and arts groups through networking and resources, the Monmouth County Teen Arts Festival, the Local Arts Grant Program and the Teen Arts Connection and by highlighting arts performances and exhibitions throughout Monmouth County in Get Out Get Art! and Monmoutharts.org . MCAC's programs and the groups it supports serve over 700,000 people each year and bring over 2,600 arts events to Monmouth County. 

Mary Eileen Fouratt, Executive Director will share highlights from ArtHelps, Monmouth Arts' program to bring the healing power of the arts to communities hard hit by Hurricane Sandy.
Monmouth Arts created ArtHelps to assist local artists and nonprofit arts organizations affected by Superstorm Sandy to access information, resources and emergency funding. Through a $150,000 grant from the NJ Recovery Fund, ArtHelps has expanded into a partnership between Monmouth Arts, Ocean County Cultural & Heritage Commission and Meridian Health's Art Therapy Program. Twenty community art projects developed by local arts groups based on their town's specific needs have been taking place from Keyport to Tuckerton, with more on the way. Art supplies have been donated by Liquitex. 

The New Jersey Recovery Fund is focused on bold, long-term solutions that promote economic vitality, healthy ecosystems, strong and engaged communities, government transparency and a fair distribution of recovery resources. The Fund has awarded grants to a range of organizations focused on three broad categories: planning and public policies that promote community resiliency and environmental protection; engaging and informing the public about recovery decisions; and using the arts to foster individual and community healing and revitalization in impacted communities. 

The Arts Society of Keyport, a recipient of an ArtHelps grant to replace the Asiaih Zagar Mosaic Mural that was lost in the storm invite people to come early at 5 pm to see their replacement design that is underway at the Keyport Waterfront Park. 

After the tour of the art installation, networking and a presentation on ArtHelps will continue at Trinity Restaurant & Lounge from 5:30 -7 p.m. In addition the Local Arts Program grants for Fiscal Year 2014, through a partnership with the New Jersey State Council of the Arts will be announced. These competitive grants are awarded to local nonprofit arts organizations that provide over 2,600 high quality art events throughout Monmouth County each year. 

A Monmouth Arts Board meeting will commence at 7:15 and is open to the public.
R.S.V.P. to Mary Eileen Fouratt at mef@monmoutharts.org


The programs of the Monmouth County Arts Council ares made possible through funding from the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, through the County Historical Commission, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.