RED BANK – Monmouth Arts celebrated its new street-level storefront office at the Count Basie Theatre, located at 105 Monmouth Street with a ribbon-cutting event Oct. 28. The space includes a welcome area where visitors can pick up materials on Monmouth Arts groups, artists, the MoCo Arts Corridor and the thousands of arts events taking place in Monmouth County each year. The new space has room for small meetings and workshops and give Monmouth arts groups a great location to promote their events.
Moving Monmouth Arts from the second-story office space at the Count Basie Theatre to a ground floor location moves the mission of both organization’s forward, allowing Monmouth Arts to better connect community and the arts and the Count Basie Theatre to serve the arts and make the Basie a true community asset.
Mary Eileen Fouratt, executive director of Monmouth Arts said: “We are thrilled with the new space which will give us the opportunity to raise the visibility of all the arts in Monmouth County. Being an integral part of the Basie campus adds an energy and vibrancy to our work. We’re looking forward to partnering with our artists and arts groups to better promote their art events.”
Led by a board member’s challenge grant of $2,500 Monmouth Arts held a successful Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for the move. Office furniture was donated by the Bank of Princeton, Decker Wright Corporation donated IT and network services and Ennis Carter of Social Impact Studio helped design the space.
The Red Bank Visitors Center is in discussions with Monmouth Arts to use 105 Monmouth Street as the weekend location for the Visitors Center beginning in January. Margaret Mass, executive director of the Visitors Center said: “With the more than 200,000 patrons that attend the Count Basie Theatre’s shows each year, being two blocks from the train station and with the new apartments soon to be finished on the west side, this will be a great location for visitors to pick up materials on Red Bank and the wonderful arts in the area.” Until then visitors can pop in during business hours to find materials on the many artists and arts groups in Monmouth County.
“Monmouth Arts’ new street-level space will allow it to be an even bigger part of the community we mutually serve,” said Adam Philipson, CEO and president of the Count Basie Theatre. “We are confident this new visibility will afford Monmouth Arts the focus and attention this community asset deserves.”
Monmouth Arts is where community and arts connect. Monmouth Arts strengthens small and emerging arts organizations, engages teen artists at the Monmouth Teen Arts Festival, connects businesses, government and arts venues to leverage the economic power of the arts through the MoCo Arts Corridor and advocates for the arts on the local, state and federal level. We invite those who love the arts and Monmouth County to learn more about our vibrant arts community and to join us at www.monmoutharts.org/join-us.
