Creative talent of Somerset County students celebrated at RVCC Teen Arts Festival

BRANCHBURG, New Jersey — The Culture and Heritage Commission celebrated the creative talent of Somerset County students at its 2024 Teen Arts Festival on May 16. Nearly 900 students and teachers from 12 Somerset County schools attended the activity-packed festival at Raritan Valley Community College.

The Somerset County Teen Arts Festival is an annual arts in education program that provides the county's middle and high school students, ages 13-19, with the opportunity to showcase their skills in seven arts disciplines. Additionally, students had the opportunity to participate in 28 workshops or master classes, taught by talented and diverse artists, which included everything from woodworking and papermaking to theater and dance.

Some popular workshops included:

• Talk Art with Savannah College of Art & Design – with Aimee Dolich, Senior Associate Director of Admissions
• Handmade paper making from recycled fabrics – with Frontline Arts
• Classical ballet – by the Roxey Ballet Company

The festival utilized the expertise of 34 professional artists, many representing Somerset County arts organizations, to help students harness their creativity and artistic strengths, while providing constructive feedback and recommendations for growth.

Students exhibited their visual works in the RVCC Art Gallery, submitted original film and creative writing samples, and presented more than 60 performances of vocal music, instrumental music, dance, and theater.

Students who particularly excelled in their art discipline and demonstrated immense skill, talent and creativity were nominated by judges to participate in the New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival, held June 4-6 at Middlesex College.

Additionally, two talented students were selected to participate in the Teen Arts New Jersey traveling visual arts exhibit. Their works will circulate in New Jersey from August 2024 to May 2025.

• Brigid Moffitt – Grade 11

Title of the piece: “Exotique”

School: Bridgewater Raritan High School

Title of the piece: “Blue Portrait”

School: Hillsborough Middle School

The next Teen Arts Festival is scheduled for May 2025. For more information about attending the festival, contact festival coordinator Katie Himics at [email protected] or call 908-231-7022.

The Somerset County Teen Arts Festival is made possible in part by funds from the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey State Arts Council.

This press release was produced by Somerset County Government. The opinions expressed here are those of the author.