Annual Report 2009-2010August 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010

From the ChairwomanIt is my pleasure to report on the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey’s progress for 2009-2010, the first full year under the leadership of Executive Director Marion Grzesiak. There are several noteworthy milestones to share, including a $45,000 award from the National Endowment for the Arts for the exhibition Cut, Weld, Build: Process in Works by Chakaia Booker, the very first award in our 77-year history.

For the second year, the Art Center received accolades from the New Jersey State Council of the Arts: designation as a Major Impact Organization and a Citation of Excellence, as well as an increase in operating support for FY11 (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011) based on the merit and impact of our programs. These awards are a continuing testament to the high quality programs and exhibitions we present to people throughout the region.

Many thanks to my fellow Trustees who led the organizational and fundraising efforts for two special events: Catie Totman, my co-Chair for last fall’s 2009 Blank Canvas Benefit: For Art’s Sake, and Pat Bell and Rasika Reddy, co-Chairs for our spring benefit, the South-Asian-themed Images 2010: Jewel in the Crown. Together these events raised over $191,000 in net income for programming.

It should be noted that this Annual Report documents the eleven month operating year from August 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. This one time event accommodates the shift from August 1 to July 1 as the start date for the fiscal year. Going forward, the Art Center’s fiscal year will begin July 1 and end June 30.

I also want to express my appreciation to those Trustees who are completing their terms of service on the Board: Gary Danis, Katherine Feld, Alice Kwak, Rasika Reddy, Catie Totman and Vice-Chair Yvonne Lalonde. My sincerest thanks and gratitude is extended to the entire Board of Trustees, those continuing as well as those leaving, for their wisdom, support, and commitment to the Art Center.

Rachel M. WeinbergerChair

Core Exhibitions ProgramMain Gallery Visitors: 18,502

Summer ShowBrick City 07101July 31 to August 31, 2009Curator: Jeanne Brasile, Gallery Director,

Walsh Gallery, Seton Hall University

First Look Emerging Artist Series 2010New Tales for Our AgeSeptember 11 to November 27, 2009Curators: Midori Yoshimoto, Ph.D., New Jersey City University and Aileen June Wang, Ph.D., Pennsylvania

State University, The Behrend College

24th International Juried ShowJanuary 15 to March 19, 2010Juror: Susan Kismaric, Curator,

Department of Photography, Museum of Modern Art

Guest Curator SeriesIndo-American Arts Council

Presents: Erasing Borders: Contemporary Art of the Indian Diaspora

April 2 to June 4, 2010Curators: Vijay Kumar, Indo-American Arts

Council and co-curated for the Visual Arts

Center of New Jersey Mary Birmingham, Director of

Exhibitions, Hunterdon Art Museum

From the Executive DirectorIt has been a most exciting year at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. I have met so many people who have shared their good experiences with me in the classrooms, in the galleries and at our many programs and activities. We appreciate your comments and are pleased to make your time here rewarding and enriching.

This winter we are launching a new website that we hope will make your interactions with the Art Center easier and more informative. You will be able to see the schedule for upcoming exhibitions, programs, and special events, look over our Studio School cata-logues and register online, and even make a contribution. We are looking forward to your feedback and comments on the new website.

I am most pleased to inform you that we have hired Mary Birmingham as the Art Center’s first full-time staff Curator. She comes to us from the Hunterdon Art Museum, worked for many years at the Montclair Art Museum and as an independent curator in the tri-state area. I hope you will welcome her as warmly as you welcomed me.

Despite the challenging economy, the Art Center has fared well this past year. We have not had to curtail any exhibitions or programs, cut any members of our hard-working staff or close our doors for any length of time. Thanks to our loyal students, members, friends and patrons, our finances are stable and growing, and we look forward to another suc-cessful year. I would like to especially thank our Board Chair, Rachel Weinberger, for her leadership, as well as the Board of Trustees and our staff. The dedication and support of these individuals is what makes the Art Center the special place it is.

Marion Grzesiak Executive Director

Core Exhibitions Program (continued)

Members’ ShowJune 18 to July 16, 2010Judges: Evonne M. Davis and Emma Wilcox, Gallery Directors, Gallery

Aferro, Newark, NJ

Outdoor ExhibitionMarkus Baeziger: VortexDecember 2009 to November 2010

Offsite ExhibitionsSummit Free Public Library6 Exhibitions

Paper Mill Playhouse5 Exhibitions

Exhibitions EducationDocent Tours for Adults: 6Tour Participants: 44

Docent Tours for PreK-12: 31Tour Participants: 703

From the TreasurerThe Visual Arts Center served once again as a vibrant and active center of arts education, exhibitions and outreach during fiscal period 2009-2010. As we advanced our mission, we also saw improvements in operating income and cash flow due in large part to an increase in Studio School enrollment. Of note, a change in the fiscal year-end was made from July 31 to June 30 to allow the now extensive summer programs to be reflected in one fiscal year rather than split between two.

The following are financial highlights of the most recent fiscal period:• The Studio School, with a 14% increase in revenue, brought in $554,000 after ex-

penses. Studio School revenue of $1,052,000 represents 53% of the Art Center’s total revenue and enables the diverse programming throughout the Art Center, including support of Exhibitions and Outreach.

• A new revenue stream was established through contracted services with the Elizabeth Board of Education. This program brought 300 students to the Art Center for multiple learning opportunities and serves as a model for future program expansion.

• Government grants from the New Jersey State Arts Council and the New Jersey Cultural Trust totaled $122,000.

• Two successful fundraisers brought in $191,000 after expenses. • Overall, operating expenses declined 2% over the prior fiscal year. This reduction par-

tially offset the effects of lower than expected levels of corporate, foundation and indi-vidual support.

The Finance Committee provides financial oversight of the Art Center including the oper-ating budget, investment endowments and cash flow. The following highlights have been extracted from the Art Center’s financial audit as prepared by Noke & Heard L.L.P.

As of June 30, 2010, the Art Center had an operating surplus of $204,000, pre-depre-ciation, enabled by $150,000 in approved endowment and restricted account transfers. The Art Center’s endowment accounts continued to serve as a safety net and source of financial flexibility. Over the year, the Board judiciously disbursed $102,000 from these endowments to fund specific capital and development initiatives such as new website de-velopment, security lighting, pedestals, parking lot repair, outreach distribution and long term mortgage debt service. The endowment accounts were valued at $1,840,000 at June 30, 2010, as compared to $1,739,000 as of June 30, 2009. Total net equity fell $37,000 for the year ending June 30, 2010.

Sarah JohnsonTreasurer

Studio Art SchoolTotal Students Enrolled: 3,666Total Classes & Workshops Offered: 310

Youth Summer ProgramsKids & Teen CampParticipants: 723Portfolio Development Intensive Participants: 48

Arts Education for Special AudiencesProgram Participants: 229

Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) of Essex County

The Connection for Women & Families, Summit

Greater Newark Charter School, NewarkNJ SEEDS & Young Scholars Program,

NewarkPG Chambers School, Cedar KnollsSAGE Eldercare Spend-A-Day Program,

SummitSummit Housing Authority, SummitSummit YMCA, Summit

Professional DevelopmentDocent Tours for Teachers’ Symposia: 3Teachers’ Symposia Participants: 81

Statement of Activities & Changes in Net Assets

Statement of Financial Position

Fundraisers & Special Events

2009 Blank Canvas Benefit: For Art’s SakeDecember 12, 2009Co-chairs: Catie McCormack Totman and

Rachel M. Weinberger

East Coast Art ExpoMarch 27, 2010

Images 2010: Jewel in the CrownMay 22, 2010Co-chairs: Patricia A. Bell and Rasika Reddy

Data provided is subject to audited financials FY 2010

RevenuePrograms & Earned Income $1,112,112Exhibitions $45,656Individuals $127,920Corporate $38,100Government $119,442Foundations $159,490Fundraisers $274,260Other Income $118,951

Total Revenue $1,995,931

ExpendituresPrograms $738,941Exhibitions $112,588Fundraisers $72,814Development $134,100Communications $87,028Administration $453,239Building & Grounds $174,148Interest Expense $51,495Other Expenses $7,005

Total Revenue $1,831,358Depreciation $201,922

$2,033,280

Change in Net Assets ($37,349)

Assets FY 2010 FY 2009Cash & Equivalents 354,833 304,887Grants & Pledges Receivable 263,551 293,717(Less Present Value Discount) (12,478) (20,419)Inventory 979 1,187Investments (Market Value) 1,708,473 1,625,766Pre Paid Expenses 26,007 25,135Security Deposits 725 725Land 280,336 280,336Building & Improvements 6,236,701 6,236,701Furniture & Equipment 792,444 789,191Website Development 80,092 0Less: Accumulated Depreciation (1,862,622) (1,660,700)

Total Assets $7,869,041 $7,876,526

LiabilitiesAccounts Payable & Accrued Expenses 102,299 118,554Short Term Loan 82,622 97,622Mortgage 998,276 1,025,907Deferred Income 326,134 237,384

Total Liabilities $1,509,331 $1,479,467

Net AssetsUnrestricted Plant 4,446,053 4,521,999Unrestricted Operating (343,605) (422,025)Temporarily Restricted 1,039,340 1,113,987Permanently Restricted 1,217,922 1,183,098

Total Net Assets $6,359,710 $6,397,059

Total Liabilities & Net Assets $7,869,041 $7,876,526

56%

6%

2%

8%

14%6%

40%6%

7%

25%

10%3%

>1%

2%

6%

4%

5%

Board of Trustees for FY 2009-2010Rachel Weinberger, ChairEstelle Fournier, Vice ChairYvonne Lalonde, Vice Chair Jim Welch, Secretary Sarah Johnson, Treasurer

Patricia A. BellGary F. Danis John J. DelaneyAlice J. Kwak Marguerite Katherine MayhallDavid McLeanMary-Kate O’HarePatricia PongraczMitchell RadinRasika Reddy Jenny Reinhardt Katherine RoessleLaura SchafferR. Malcolm SchwartzPamela ShipleyDavid SrereCatie McCormack TotmanElisa ZacharyPaula M. Zamora

Founding VisionaryWilliam B. Nicholson

Honorary TrusteesSally AbbottShirley Aidekman-KayeMillie CooperElizabeth C. GumpMarion NicholsonRoland Weiser

VISIONARY DONORS GIFTS OF $1,000 AND ABOVE TO THE ANNUAL APPEALAnonymousMrs. Shirley Aidekman-Kaye & Mr. Ben KayeMs. Patricia A. BellMr. Rolande Borno Mr. Michael Creem Ms. Estelle Fournier & Dr. Alberto Lopez-SilveroThe Honorable Jordan Glatt & Mrs. Suzanne GlattDr. & Mrs. Frank GumpMr. & Mrs. Del Johnson Mr. & Mrs. Thomas V.A. KelseyMr. & Mrs. Daniel LalondeMr. & Mrs. Jay L. LudwigMr. & Mrs. William McCrackenMr. & Mrs. David McLeanMrs. Marion G. NicholsonMr. & Mrs. Mitchell RadinMr. & Mrs. Girish ReddyMr. & Mrs. R. Malcolm SchwartzMr. & Mrs. Walter V. ShipleyMs. Rachel Weinberger & Mr. Ed McGann Mr. & Mrs. Louis Zachary Jr.

SPONSORS & CONTRIBUTOR GIFTS OF $1,000 AND ABOVEMr. & Mrs. Thomas AbbottMrs. Shirley Aidekman-Kaye & Mr. Ben KayeMr. & Mrs. Ravi AkhouryMs. Patricia A. BellMr. & Mrs. Stan BorowiecMr. & Mrs. Michael ChristensonMr. & Mrs. Chad ComiteauMr. & Mrs. Gary Danis, Esq.Mr. & Mrs. John J. DeLaney Jr., Esq.Mr. & Mrs. Henry DicksonMr. & Mrs. Jeffrey FeldMr. & Mrs. Donald L. FlexnerMs. Estelle Fournier & Dr. Alberto Lopez-Silvero

The Healey Family FoundationMr. & Mrs. John Holman IIIMr. & Mrs. Del JohnsonMr. & Mrs. Malcolm KnightMr. & Mrs. David McLeanMs. Sandra Morris & Dr. Richard TillyerMrs. Marion G. NicholsonMs. Julie NortilloMr. & Mrs. Parag SaxenaRavi & Pratibha Reddy FoundationMr. & Mrs. Girish ReddyMr. & Mrs. Peter ReinhardtMr. & Mrs. Joseph R. RobinsonMr. & Mrs. Ferrill RollMr. & Mrs. Mel SchafferMr. & Mrs. R. Malcolm SchwartzMs. Pamela Shipley & Mr. Clay TurnerMr. & Mrs. Jeffrey SchafferMr. & Mrs. Robert TotmanMr. & Mrs. Robert WahbyMr. & Mrs. James O. Welch IIIMr. & Mrs. James O. Welch Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Zygmunt WilfMr. & Mrs. Louis Zachary Jr.

CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS $250 - $999Mr. & Mrs. Thomas AbbottMr. & Mrs. Leland E. BlackMr. & Mrs. Saul DennisonDr. & Mrs. Thomas ErricoMs. Estelle Fournier & Dr. Alberto Lopez-SilveroDr. & Mrs. Thomas HakesMr. & Mrs. Thomas V.A. KelseyMr. & Mrs. James McTernanMr. & Mrs. Hugo PfaltzMr. & Mrs. Paul G. SteckMr. Edward Walter & Mrs. Christina WhiteMr. & Mrs. Joseph Weber

CONTRIBUTING GIFTS $250 - $999Ms. Amina AhmedMs. Cheryl Barr & Mr. Thomas O’Flynn

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph BerkeryMr. & Mrs. Marc BersonMr. Ashok Bhakshi Mr. & Mrs. John R. BlomfieldMr. & Mrs. Michael BonnetMr. & Mrs. Stan BorowiecMr. & Mrs. Calvin R. Carver, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Albert CassCitigroup Inc.Mr. & Mrs. Larry CohenMr. & Mrs. John W. CooperMs. Karen L. CramerMr. Arnaldo CruzMs. Katherine NyeMr. & Mrs. Henry DicksonMr. & Mrs. James DonahooMr. & Mrs. Toni ElaviaMr. & Mrs. Jeffrey FeldMr. & Mrs. Muhammad FeteihaMr. & Mrs. Michael GambroMr. & Mrs. David GardnerMs. Lorraine GibbonsDr. & Mrs. Frank GumpMr. & Mrs. Michael GumportMr. & Mrs. Thomas M. HarteMr. & Mrs. Alec HaverstickMr. Smitesh JhaveriJones Apparel GroupMr. & Mrs. Thomas V.A. KelseyMs. Alice J. Kwak & Mr. Ilwon KangMr. & Mrs. Brian LaFontaineMr. & Mrs. Daniel LalondeMr. & Mrs. Ted LawrenceMr. & Mrs. Walter MaloneyMr. Frank McDonoughMr. & Mrs. David McLeanMr. & Mrs. Edgar MokuvosMrs. Marion G. NicholsonMr. & Mrs. Henry OgdenMr. & Mrs. Deepak RajMr. & Mrs. Jeff SchafferMr. & Mrs. R. Malcolm SchwartzMr. & Mrs. David SrereMr. & Mrs. Paul G. SteckMr. & Mrs. John StrangfeldMr. & Mrs. Alexander StruncMr. & Mrs. Peter SuzukiMr. & Mrs. Josh TarnowMrs. Katie ThieckTwin Beeches FoundationMr. & Mrs. Dean N. VanechMs. Vicki WeberMs. Roberta WeinreichMrs. Mary WickliffeMr. & Mrs. Louis Zachary Jr.

StaffMarion Grzesiak Executive Director

Mari D’Alessandro Director of ProgramsErnie Palatucci Director of Operations & FinanceNancy Shannon Director of Development &

Communications

Rupert Adams Building SuperintendentJennifer Ayers Exhibitions CoordinatorVanessa Batista Studio School CoordinatorFabiana Bloom Membership & Special Events

CoordinatorHeather Cammarata-Seale Programs ManagerAlice Chahbazian Mateychak Customer Service AssociateJen Doninger Customer Relations AssociateDebbie Farley Customer Relations AssociateMonica Finkel Operations ManagerKristin Maizenaski Communications AssociateTeresa Mendez Customer Relations AssociateLeon Norris CustodianLaura Notaro Communications CoordinatorBarbara Smith RegistrarPat Tiederman Bookkeeping ConsultantLan Wei Bookkeeping Consultant

VOLUNTEERSSally AbbottPatricia A. BellPat BlagdenGinny ButeraBrian Cammarata-SealeMillie CooperWanda CroudyGary F. DanisJillian DukoffJohn J. DelaneyKatherine FeldEstelle FournierAnn Marie GervasioMargareta GreeleyBrea GroschBetse GumpLora HershJohn Holman, IIISarah JohnsonLewis C. KachurLiz KelseyMary KooiJudy KravitzAlice KwakSharon KwakYvonne D. LalondeJay LudwigJanis MaschucciMarguerite Katherine MayhallAndrew McGannDavid McLeanWinifred McNeillJohn NevinMarion NicholsonMary Kate O’HareJon PetersDon PolzoPatricia PongraczSusan PresentMitchell RadinRasika ReddyJenny ReinhardtShirley RivoJoe RobinsonKaty RoessleBecky SantoraAnn SchafferLaura SchafferR. Malcolm SchwartzTom ShannonPamela ShipleyAnna SponheimerDavid SrerePaul SteckOfrat StenMary Ellen Taylor

Catie McCormack TotmanKatie TrukUrsula Von WatzdorfRachel WeinbergerFrançoise WeiserRoland WeiserJim WelchSue WelchMary WickliffeElisa ZacharyPaula M. Zamora

GOVERNMENT SUPPORTNew Jersey Council for the HumanitiesNew Jersey Cultural TrustNew Jersey State Council on the ArtsNational Endowment for the ArtsUnion County HEART Grant Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders

CORPORATE SUPPORTBank of America Bassett AssociatesBlackRock Financial ManagementBoies, Schiller & Flexner LLPBrandes Maselli ArchitectsCartierGAM, Inc. New YorkInvestors Savings BankKerwin CommunicationsLindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper J.R. PriscoLois Schneider Realtor, Inc.Louis VuittonMerck & Co., Inc. Merrill LynchOtterstedt Insurance Agency, Inc.Prisma Capital Partners. LPSpectrum Group Management

CORPORATE MATCHING GIFTSCa, Inc. Lord, Abbett & Co.LLCMcGraw-Hill Companies Merck & Co., Inc. Merrill LynchReader’s Digest The Bank of New York Mellon

FOUNDATION SUPPORTAnne H. Bumstead TrustAnonymous Bank of America FoundationGeraldine R. Dodge FoundationThe Healey Family FoundationHerman Goldman FoundationHyde and Watson FoundationInvestors Savings Bank Charitable Foundation Mitzi and Warren Eisenberg Family Foundation The Provident Bank FoundationRavi & Pratibha Reddy FoundationSarah Ward FoundationSummit Area Public FoundationWJS Foundation

IN-KIND SUPPORTAlmar Party & Tent Rentals Patricia A. Bell Belvedere Vodka Cartier Infini8 Dance Jenny Reinhardt Jerry Rose Floral & Event Design Jerry’s Artist Outlet Michaelian & KohlbergO’Donnell Sign CompanySizzling Sounds Entertainment Company, LLC

Visual Arts Center of New Jersey68 Elm Street, Summit, NJ 07901

908.273.9121www.artcenternj.org