ANNUAL REPORT 2011-2012JULY 1, 2011 - JUNE 30, 2012

FROM THE CHAIRWOMAN

I am excited to be returning as Board Chair after a seven year break. This past year has been one of growth and success for the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. The Studio School continues to set enrollment records, which validates our efforts over the past few years to strengthen the appeal of our top flight curriculum. For example, the Art Center has recently finished a very busy summer in which the Kids’ & Teen Art Camp was nearly at 100% capacity. Separately, we have also had the good fortune this past year to have started an Exhibition Endowment. Due to a combination of very generous contributions and the flexibility of one of our leading benefactors, we now have one million dollars of endowment funds dedicated to helping defray the cost of our popular and widely acclaimed exhibitions program.

I would be remiss in not thanking all the volunteers and staff for the past year’s events and successes. A huge thank you to Board members, Pat Bell and Jenny Reinhardt, for leading a very successful For Art’s Sake Week-end benefit in April. The weekend event truly brought “Art and People Together” in so many wonderful ways.

Looking forward, September has started with the opening of the exhibition Picture Takers, which is so appro-priate in a world where the use of photography has become so controversial. As always, it is an exhibition that makes you wonder what the artist was thinking while creating the art and how they want us to think about their work.

In December, we will kick off a year’s celebration of our eight decades of pursuing our mission: “Bringing Art and People Together.” On Friday, December 14, 2012, we will open our doors for Paint-a-Palooza. Instead of coming to view art, parents, children, and friends will be able to create their own masterpieces all over the Art Center’s gallery walls. It will be an evening of fun and creativity. Other similar events are being planned for 2013.

On April 12 and 13, 2013, the popular For Art’s Sake event will take place at the Art Center. The weekend will start with a Road Trip on Friday, which will include tours to personal art collectors’ homes, a lunch, and then dessert back at the Art Center to meet artists who have generously donated their pieces. Saturday’s Blank Canvas Benefit will culminate with a special curatorial tour of the pieces for sale and then the famous bidding. As always, it promises to be a very special evening.

I look forward to working with all of the Board members over the coming year. Their commitment, support and enthusiasm make this a very special organization. Over the next year it is one of my priorities to add new Board members. We have a wonderful institution we need to redouble our efforts to strengthen our connections with the communities we serve.

Sue WelchChair

FROM THE CHAIRWOMAN

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

We have completed another successful year at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey with high expectations for what is to come. I want to thank Rachel Weinberger who has stepped down as Chair of the Board of Trustees after three years of leadership and commitment. Under her guidance we have seen steady and significant growth and I am most grateful for her assistance and counsel. Sue Welch has accepted the post of Board Chair and it is with great enthusiasm that I welcome her and look forward to all of the new challenges and successes that lay ahead.

We start the new year on solid footing. The past year has been one of continued growth in programming, exhibitions and Studio School attendance and our fundraising efforts have been well rewarded. Our “For Art Sake Weekend” was a terrific success, giving all who attended the opportunity to learn about and purchase contemporary art while they enjoyed three days of fun and interesting activities. Last year we also initiated an endowment for our Exhibitions Program that is already at $1,000,000. All this is thanks to the hard work of our Board, volunteers and staff and of course the generosity of our friends and patrons. Our visibility within the art world also continues to grow. We have once again been recognized by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as a “Major Impact” organization, and Discover Jersey Arts’ People’s Choice Awards 2012 voted us “The Best Place to Take an Adult Art Class” in the state.

I think one of the most exciting activities we look forward to in the coming year, is our year-long celebration of our 80th birthday! Over the past eight decades the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey has grown and prospered, giving our varied audiences new opportunities to see, make and learn about art. We look forward to beginning our ninth decade and continuing to bring to our ever-expanding community new and innovative learning expe-riences and greater art knowledge.

The Art Center has a wonderful past to honor and celebrate and a very exciting future to look forward to. I thank the continued commitment of our diligent staff and our dedicated Board of Trustees for working together to make all that we do so successful. “Bringing Art and People Together” has been our Mission for many years, so it is with sincere gratitude that I also the acknowledge the many students, members, friends and patrons that complete our “family circle,” and make all that we strive for and accomplish so important to us.

Marion Grzesiak Executive Director

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Members: 1,071

Visitors 8,470

Docent & Curator-Led ToursAdult Tours: 7, Participants: 125PreK-12 Tours: 60, Participants: 1,114

SUMMER 2011 July 29 to September 25, 2011Jersey Bounce on view in the Main GalleryStephen Mallon: Next Stop Atlantic on view in the Mitzi & Warren Eisenberg Gallery

FALL 2011 October 7 to December 11, 2011Bibliomania on view in the Main GalleryViviane Rombaldi Seppey: Belonging on view in the Mitzi & Warren Eisenberg GalleryHeather Lewis: Deskilled Drawing on view in Studio X

WINTER 2012 January 13 to April 1, 2012Textility on view in the Main Gallery, Mitzi & Warren Eisenberg Gallery and Studio X Co-Curated by Joanne Mattera

SPRING 2012 May 4 to July 8, 2012John Goodyear: Shifting Views on view in the Main GalleryDavid Ambrose: AFTERimage on view in the Mitzi & Warren Eisenberg GalleryChanging Times: Seven Years of the Collage Journal by Peter Jacobs on view in Studio X (closed July 1, 2012)

The Art Center’s Marité & Joe Robinson Strolling Gallery II: 3 ExhibitionsThe Gallery at Summit Free Public Library: 6 ExhibitionsRenee Foosner Gallery at Paper Mill Playhouse: 5 Exhibitions

CURATEDEXHIBITIONS

STUDENT & MEMBER EXHIBITIONS

MEMBERSHIP

CURATEDEXHIBITIONS

STUDENT & MEMBER EXHIBITIONS

MEMBERSHIP

YEAR IN REVIEWSEE ART, MAKE ART, LEARN ABOUT ARTYEAR IN REVIEWSEE ART, MAKE ART, LEARN ABOUT ART

K-12 PROGRAMSParticipants: 300Jefferson Arts Academy, Elizabeth, NJ: Sequential Learning Museum Program

SPECIAL AUDIENCES PROGRAMSParticipants: 378Artists with Disabilities, a partnership with the ARC of Essex CountyArt from the Heart, a partnership with SAGE EldercareThe Connection for Women and FamiliesDiscover the Arts Camp, a partnership with PG Chambers SchoolNJSEEDSSummit Housing Authority

Teachers’ Symposia: 3, Participants: 93

Professional Developement Credit Earned through Studio School Classes or Workshops: 13

YOUTH SUMMER PROGRAMS 2011Kids & Teen Camp Participants: 850Summer Saturday Camp Participants: 18Portfolio Development Intensive Participants: 41

SUMMER SEMESTER 2011Classes: 24, Students: 190Workshops: 3, Students: 11

FALL SEMESTER 2011Classes: 105, Students: 1,016 Workshops: 37, Students: 368

WINTER SEMESTER 2012Classes: 107, Students: 1,087 Workshops: 60, Students: 373

SPRING SEMESTER 2012Classes: 105, Students: 967 Workshops: 33, Students: 205

Scholarships Awarded: 14

STUDIO SCHOOL

PROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENT

PROGRAMS FOR PREK-12 & SPECIAL AUDIENCES

STUDIO SCHOOL

PROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENT

PROGRAMS FOR PREK-12 & SPECIAL AUDIENCES

Prison Art / Public Culture, Attendants: 63Fashioning the Grotesque Body, Attendants: 38A Tale of Two Louies: Interpreting an Archetypal American Musical Icon, Attendants: 50Encounters with Beauty through Poetry, Attendants: 37The Duke & The Tiger, Attendants: 43The Body & Psyche in Modern & Contemporary Art, Attendants: 45Dreads: A Photohistory of Dreadlocks, Attendants: 28Hope & Resiliency in Film, Attendants: 21Damn Yankees... You Gotta Have Good Design, Attendants: 30Artist / Curator Dialogue, Attendants: 35

Co-Chairs: Patricia A. Bell & Jenny Reinhardt

ROAD TRIP April 20, 2012Visit to the Collection of Saul & Ellyn Dennison and the Studio of artist Willie ColeEvent Attendees: 70

BLANK CANVAS BENEFIT April 21, 2012Original works in Auction: 100Featured works from the Yancey Richardson Gallery: 25Event Attendees: 237

OPEN HOUSE April 22, 2012Art Making workshops & live performancesEvent Attendees: 792

THURSDAY EVENING SALON SERIES

FOR ART’S SAKE WEEKEND 2012

EXHIBITIONRELATEDPROGRAMS

THURSDAY EVENING SALON SERIES

FOR ART’S SAKE WEEKEND 2012

EXHIBITIONRELATEDPROGRAMS

FALL 2011Held in conjunction with BibliomaniaThe Future of the Book: A Panel Discussion, Participants: 50Accordion Book Mania, Participants: 54

WINTER 2012Held in conjunction with Textility Gallery Walk & Talk, Participants: 95

SPRING 2012 May 4 to July 8, 2012Held in conjunction with John Goodyear: Shifting Views, David Ambrose: AFTERimage, and Changing Times: Seven Years of the Collage Journal by Peter JacobsArt Afternoon: Meet & Make, Participants: 59

FROM THE TREASURER

The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey’s (the “Art Center’s”) operations for fiscal year 2012 ending 6/30/12 were managed effectively as the Art Center experienced dynamic changes in various programs and funds. Most significantly, the Art Center completed its first full fiscal year with a full-time Curator affirming the Art Center’s priority and financial commitment to the Exhibitions Program.

The Art Center reported a cash surplus of $524,600 prior to depreciation for FY12 enabled by new endowment gifts totaling $650,000 and board-approved transfers from endowments and restricted accounts of $125,400. In comparison, the FY11 surplus was $379,000, pre-depreciation, was achieved in part by $132,000 in board-approved fund transfers.

The Studio School reported 5% growth for the second consecutive year, with gross revenue reaching $1,336,700 for the year ending 6/30/12. After expenses, the operating surplus for the Studio School was $719,800, which was similarly a 5% increase over the prior year. The thriving Studio School generates much of the support that the programs and the facility rely upon to function.

During the year, two new significant endowments were formed with gifts totaling $650,000. The first, estab-lished from a bequest of $150,000, will support general scholarships for outreach programs or individual schol-arships for talented students who are in financial need. The second, established from two separate gifts totaling $500,000, will benefit our Exhibitions Program. We are thrilled with this opportunity to strengthen our long-term commitment to the mission of the Art Center through these new endowments.

Individual, government, corporate and foundation support in FY12 was $338,800, which lagged behind the prior year’s total of $389,500. The net surplus from fundraising was $168,600 for FY12 as compared to $213,300 for FY11. Renewed attention to these areas of development in the upcoming fiscal year will be a priority.

The combined value of our investments grew by $539,000 over the fiscal year to $2,666,000 at 6/30/12. This amount includes the above-mentioned endowment gifts of $650,000, partially offset by an approximate 1% loss in investment return and $93,700 in board-approved withdrawals for expenditures such as long-term mortgage payments, Studio X renovations, a feasibility study, computers, fabrication of the donor wall, and building repairs and upgrades. Under the direction of the Investment Sub-Committee, the endowment portfo-lios were monitored carefully throughout the year and were recently rebalanced to bring the equity exposure in each account to 60% of its overall balance.

Goals reached over the past year included successful management of cash flow fluctuations as well as the close monitoring and budgeting of discretionary programs. To ensure our fiscal responsibility to the Art Center as our program needs develop and grow, future goals include the continued conservative management and oversight of cash, operations and our investments.

Sarah JohnsonTreasurer

FROM THE TREASURER

RevenuePrograms $1,384,400Membership 61,640Individuals 483,128Corporate 271,000Government 94,429Foundations 146,000Fundraisers 297,816Other Income (16,793)

Total Revenue $2,721,620

ExpendituresPrograms $1,172,502Fundraisers 129,238Development 143,953Administration 492,065Building & Grounds 185,008Interest Expense 51,873Other Expenses 22,393

Total Expenditures $2,197,032Depreciation 201,747

$2,398,779

Change in Net Assets $322,841

51%18%

10%

5%11%-1%

53% 6%

22%

2%1%

2%

4%

7%

9%

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES & CHANGES IN NET ASSETSFor Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2012

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

Assets June 30, 2012 June 30, 2011Cash & Equivalents $1,010,876 $480,796Grants & Pledges Receivable 137,864 206,196(Less Present Value Discount) (1,476) (6,144)Inventory 1,092 1,278Investments (Market Value) 1,926,875 1,905,214Pre Paid Expenses 32,396 23,942Security Deposits 725 725Land 280,336 280,336Building & Improvements 6,271,535 6,255,201Furniture & Equipment 826,218 818,661Website Development 95,347 90,947Less: Accumulated Depreciation (2,274,971) (2,073,314)

Total Assets $8,306,817 $7,983,838

LiabilitiesAccounts Payable & Accrued Expenses $77,876 $86,417Short Term Loan 52,439 67,439Mortgage 933,149 966,563Deferred Income 392,127 335,034

Total Liabilities $1,455,591 $1,455,453

Net AssetsUnrestricted Plant $4,212,877 $4,337,829Unrestricted Operating (331,720) (291,888)Temporarily Restricted 2,063,614 1,014,347Permanently Restricted 906,455 1,468,097

Total Net Assets $6,851,226 $6,528,385

Total Liabilities & Net Assets $8,306,817 $7,983,838

Data provided is from audited financials FY2012. Decimal differences are due to rounding.

DONORS & SUPPORT

GOVERNMENT

New Jersey State Council on the ArtsUnion County Board of Chosen Freeholders HEART Grant

CORPORATE

10,000 AND ABOVEBank of AmericaBoies, Schiller & Flexner, LLP

5,000 TO 9,999Brandes Maselli Architects, LLCSpectrum Group Management, LLC

1,000 TO 4,999Aqua Doctor, Swimming Pool

Specialist

Canterbury Design Kitchen InteriorsCove Carpet One Floors & HomeDreyer’s Lumber & Hardware Co.GAM, Inc.The King Group: Wealth

ManagementLindabury, McCormick, Estabrook &

Cooper P.C.Lois Schneider RealtorOtterstedt Insurance AgencyProvident Bank Foundation

CORPORATE MATCHING GIFTSBank of AmericaBank of New York MellonBlackRockDeutsche BankMcGraw Hill & Co.U.S. Trust

FOUNDATION

Anonymous Geraldine R. Dodge FoundationE.J. Grassmann Trust Herman Goldman FoundationHorizon Foundation for New JerseyHyde & Watson FoundationSummit Area Public FoundationAudrey & Zygi Wilf & the Wilf Family Foundation

SPONSORSHIP & VISIONARY GIFTS OF $1,000 AND ABOVE

10,000 TO 49,999Patricia A. BellMalcolm & Amy KnightEdward & Lacey RzeszowskiJudy & Walter Shipley

5,000 TO 9,999Anonymous Jenny & Peter ReinhardtLaura & Jeffrey SchafferJim & Sue WelchThe Weldon Family

2,500 TO 4,999AnonymousMarie J. & Roy Alan CohenKelly Deere & Lee ShavelMr. & Mrs. Saul Dennison

Keith & Carri DolinSarah & Del JohnsonRasika & Girish ReddyAnn & Mel SchafferAudrey & Zygmunt WilfRachel Weinberger & Ed McGann

1,000 TO 2,499Tom & Sally AbbottShirley Aidekman-Kaye & Ben KayeRandi & Marc BersonC.W. & Miriam Carson Michael CreemJay Delaney & Debra Ann Gottsleben Estelle Fournier & Alberto

Lopez-SilveroAndrew & Christine GottesmanBetse & Frank Gump

Jay & Helene LudwigWalter & Danielle MaloneyRoger & Elena MatthewsDavid & Tammy McLeanCameron & Robin McClearnLeslie & Stuart MilstenNew Jersey Photography ForumMarion G. NicholsonSusan & Douglas PresentAmy & Mitchell RadinKaty & Randy RoessleRobert Roriston & Sarah BirdCarole & Malcolm SchwartzElizabeth Skoler & Mark BeckerDonald Stott James & Virginia WelchMary WickliffeElisa & Louis G. Zachary Jr.

CONTRIBUTOR LEVEL MEMBERS & ABOVE

Tom & Sally AbbottMr. & Mrs. Marshall BartlettAnn & Stan BorowiecValerie DeMartin

Mr. & Mrs. Saul DennisonMr. & Mrs. Thomas HakesJudith A. TarganJill & Josh Tarnow

Kim WatchelRobert & Maria Weldon

Sue Welch, ChairJim Welch, Vice ChairJohn J. DeLaney, Vice Chair Jay L. Ludwig, Secretary Sarah Johnson, Treasurer

Patricia A. BellMarie J. Cohen Millie CooperKelly J. DeereKeith C. DolinMalcolm D. Knight

David McLeanVictor NicholsMary-Kate O’HareMitchell RadinJennifer ReinhardtLacey RzeszowskiAnn SchafferLaura SchafferR. Malcolm SchwartzPamela ShipleyElizabeth F. SkolerElisa Zachary

Founding VisionaryWilliam B. Nicholson

Honorary TrusteesSally AbbottShirley Aidekman-KayeVirginia Fabbri Butera, Ph.D.Elizabeth C. GumpMarion NicholsonJoseph R. Robinson Roland Weiser

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Marion Grzesiak, Executive Director

Mary Birmingham, CuratorMari D’Alessandro, Director of

Programs & CommunicationsErnie Palatucci, Director of

Operations & FinanceNancy Shannon, Director of

Development

Rupert Adams, Building Superintendent

Vanessa Batista, Studio School Manager

Fabiana Bloom, Membership & Special Events Manager

Cara Bramson, Programs ManagerAlice Chahbazian Mateychak,

Customer Service AssociateJen Doninger, Customer Relations

AssociateDebbie Farley, Customer Relations

AssociateMonica Finkel, Operations ManagerAnnMarie Gervasio, Customer

Relations AssociateYadira Hernandez N., Exhibitions

AssociateKristin Maizenaski, Design &

Publications CoordinatorTeresa Mendez, Customer Relations

Associate

Katherine Murdock, Exhibitions Manager

Amber Nelson, Studio School Associate

Leon Norris, CustodianMara Norris, CustodianAnne Ortengren, Communications &

Marketing ManagerLisa Owens, Customer Relations

AssociateBarbara Smith, RegistrarPat Tiederman, Bookkeeping

ConsultantLan Wei, Bookkeeping Consultant

STAFF

Sally AbbottShirley Aidekman-KayeIngo AppelIndrani AsheLisette BedoyaPatricia A. BellAsha BryantGinny ButeraJose ClaxtonBrian CohenMarie CohenRachel CohenRita CohenMillie CooperCatie CurrieKelly DeereJohn J. DelaneyEllyn DennisonKeith DolinMarianne DougherAndrea FerrelEstelle FournierAnn Marie Gervasio

David GormanMargareta GreeleyBetse GumpLora HershJohn Holman, IIISarah JohnsonMalcolm KnightMary KooiAnne KullafDeborah LeeDebbie LivingstonJay LudwigNaila Maharaj-KhanJennifer MarkovitzKelly MaizenaskiAndrew McGannGrace McGannDavid McLeanMallory MortillaroVictor NicholsMarion NicholsonMary Kate O’HareJoan Pamboukes

Don PolzoSusan PresentEugene PrialMitchell RadinJenny ReinhardtJoe RobinsonNan RosenblattLacey RzeszowskiAnn SchafferLaura SchafferClaudia SchultesR. Malcolm SchwartzPamela ShipleyLiz SkolerPaul SteckTaylor TangoKatie TrukRaul VillarrealRachel WeinbergerRoland WeiserJim WelchSue WelchElisa Zachary

VOLUNTEERS

VISUAL ARTS CENTER OF NEW JERSEY68 Elm Street, Summit, NJ 07901

908.273.9121www.artcenternj.org