Press Releases 2008

Horizon Grant

CONTACT: Janet Peterson,Marketing and Public Relations Director
TEL: (856) 825-6800, Ext. 108
FAX: (856) 825-2410
E-MAIL: jpeterson@wheatonarts.org  

WHEATONARTS RECEIVES $20,000 GRANT FOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS FROM THE HORIZON FOUNDATION
FOR NEW JERSEY

MILLVILLE, NJ – Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center has received a grant in the amount of $20,000 from the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. This grant will help fund three programs that are part of the WheatonArts Glasstown Collective Education Program, an arts education initiative serving Cumberland County students. The arts programs include:

■ The “GrowCreative Pre-School Program,” a partnership with the Millville Child and Family Center, Millville's new city-wide preschool serving over 600 three and four-year olds. WheatonArts has offered year-round free access to its site for the entire school community, including students, teachers and their respective families and additional programs are being planned.

■ The “Glasstown Partnership,” a curriculum-based program for 70 Millville 4th graders that includes hands-on glassmaking experiences and interactive museum programming. In addition, all 4th grade classes in Millville are invited for special class visits at no charge. The program is now in its 13th year.

■ The “Juvenile Justice Studio Partnership,” an intensive program of training and hands-on experience that serves up to 30 teens currently under the supervision of NJ Juvenile Justice Commission. Activities have ranged from creating glass paperweights to casting self-portraits with hot glass. WheatonArts will expand its services to the Cumberland Day Program this year to include additional glass classes.

"We are proud to support the WheatonArts Glasstown Collective Education Program," said Larry Altman, executive director of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. "The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey is dedicated to supporting charitable organizations that make an impact on the lives of people across New Jersey."

The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, created by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, supports charitable organizations that promote health and other cultural and arts programs throughout New Jersey. For more information about the Foundation visit www.horizonblue.com/foundation.

WheatonArts, the largest regional arts organization in South Jersey, is home to the Museum of American Glass, the Creative Glass Center of America International Fellowship Program, the Down Jersey Folklife Center, a Hot Glass Studio and traditional Artist Studios, the Gallery of Fine Craft, four museum stores, and a 10,000 square-foot event center.

In addition to daily glassblowing and artist demonstrations, WheatonArts features special exhibitions, programs, workshops, performances and several weekend festivals and events throughout the year. WheatonArts has received the coveted Citation of Excellence from the NJ State Council on the Arts for 11 consecutive years and the Center is recognized as a Major Arts Organization by the Council, “given in recognition of the organization’s solid history of artistic excellence, arts programming and broad public service.” This honor also notes that the Center “stands among the anchor institutions that contribute vitally to the quality of life in New Jersey.”

For more information about WheatonArts visit www.wheatonarts.org or call 800-998-4552 or 856-825-6800.

###

Press Release Contact Information

Sign up for the Wheaton Journal