The Academy collaborates with area schools and PTOs!
Through our satellite-studio program we send our art instructors throughout area schools to present seminars, after-school programs, and even full school-year courses. The Academy staff has served at-risk youth in the Edison schools, and presented special projects at both the Irving Primary School and the Bartle Elementary School, both in Highland Park. We also offered an after-school program at the Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva, Edsion. Currently, our staff currently teaches off-site at both Yeshivat Netivot Montessori, Edison, and the Pre-Collegiate Learning Center of the East Brunswick Jewish Center. Meanwhile, our student's artwork has repeatedly graced the front cover of the Friend Finder Directory, printed annually by Highland Park in cooperation with the PTO.
The Academy serves local children with special needs.
Our weekly program The Sky's the Limit (TSTL) is entirely devoted to children with special needs. We work with up to four children who love to explore art alongside gentle, caring, and encouraging instructors. Our current participants are amazing artists; please see their work at our online gallery. This program has run year round for almost a decade, and we see no end in sight. Professional instructions and materials are completely free. (TSTL slots for 2011-2012 are completely closed
The Academy serves children in financial need!
Yes, we've been offering annual, needs-based scholarships for children since 1998! Our in-house, needs-based Albert Malero Memorial Scholarship and our Father Vernard Scholarship serves up to four children ages 5-18 whose families can demonstrate proof of government assistance with meals, housing, medical care, medicines, etc.
The Academy offers cool jobs for teens.
We draw in (no pun intended) some of the smartest and toughest teen workers for miles around. Here, the 2010-2011 studio management crew and Ana, Academy Director. For information on employment and jobs for teens at the Academy, please click here.
The Academy crew adds color to local festivities!
Local operations love to call us out to partake and share with the community. Here, the work crew generates fun for all at the 2011
Highland Park Street Fair.
The Academy collaborates with municipal government!
We love to serve! Here, Academy Tech Guru Luke M. works alongside McGruff, the Anti-Crime Dog, during our collaboration with the Highland Park Police Department, 2011 National Night Out, Highland Park,NJ.
The Academy helps enrich the local arts scene!
Academy staff and artists love to participate in the many local arts events in our area. Here, Ana, Academy Director, visits with Academy artists Lynda W., and her son Jackson C., at their booth during the 2011 JuneBug Arts Festival, Metuchen, NJ
The Academy volunteers for the Veterans of Highland Park!
The Academy of Art is proud to be producing a room-sized mural at the entrance lobby of the War Verteran house in Highland Park.
The Academy brings people to Highland Park!
Our studio attracts many folks from all walks of life, and who also love to visit our downtown area. Our alumni and current students come from communities throughout central New Jersey and neighboring regions, including Highland Park, New Brunswick, South Brunswick, North Brunswick, East Brunswick, Monmouth Junction, Monroe, Jamesburg, Kendall Park, Highstown, Princeton, Edison, Metuchen, Piscataway, Iselin, Bound Brook, Warren, South Orange, Clarksburg, and others. Our international students have visited us from Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea, Germany, and Puerto Rico, to name a few.