Monmouth Arts

MISSION Monmouth Arts enriches the community by inspiring and fostering the arts. VISION The vision of Monmouth Arts is a vibrant arts community that enhances the quality of life throughout the county. WHO WE ARE There are few things as powerful as the arts when it comes to community building. Art impacts all members of a society; it inspires, connects, educates, heals, motivates, and gives voice to communities. The importance of the arts throughout the course of our lives can never be underestimated. As the official county arts agency, it’s our goal to perpetuate a vibrant arts community that truly enhances the quality of life in Monmouth County. Whether you’re an artist or a member of the audience, you’re sure to benefit from what MA has to offer. We hope that you’ll even consider supporting us to help keep our area’s many artistic endeavors alive and well. Our programs are 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. For more information about MA, please contact us at 732.212.1890. OUR HISTORY Monmouth Arts was founded in 1971 after the Junior League of Monmouth County surveyed the community and identified the need for a central agency to coordinate and assist all county artists and arts organizations. With seed money from the Junior League and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Monmouth Arts was designated as the official county arts agency, made up of arts groups, artists, and supporters of the arts. At that point, the organization began providing assistance and services to strengthen the arts and the quality of life in Monmouth County. In 1973, an anonymous donor provided Monmouth Arts with funds to purchase Walter Reade’s Carlton Theatre in Red Bank. The theater was renamed the Count Basie Theatre in 1984 following the death of Red Bank native William James “Count” Basie. In 1999, Monmouth Arts and the Count Basie Theatre separated into two nonprofit organizations so that each organization could better focus on its individual mission. Today, through a variety of programs and services, Monmouth Arts continues to enrich the community by inspiring and fostering the arts throughout Monmouth County.