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Name: Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

Type of business: An accredited museum and accredited visual arts school

Address: 68 Elm Street, Summit

Telephone: (908) 273-9121

Web site: www.artcenternj.org

Number of employees: 14 on staff plus teachers

Founded: 1933

Hours: The gallery is open Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Top officers: Rachel Weinberger, interim executive director; Eli Trubert, director of development; Danielle Mick, direct of education; Mari D'Allesandro, director of exhibition; Ernie Palitucci, director of operations.

How would you describe your business?

"We are accredited by the American Association of Museums. We are also an accredited visual arts school. We have been in existence for 75 years started by seven artists in 1933 to foster appreciation and the practice of art. We are a non-profit organization partially funded by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Today we are the largest regional art center in the state of New Jersey," said interim executive director Rachel Weinberger.

"We don't have our own collection. Artists come and show there work here. We also don't sell the art here. We just put them in touch with the artist.

"Our museum program is devoted to contemporary art and holds six exhibitions a year in our three interior galleries. Coming up on Dec. 12 there will be a new exhibition exploring the current state of Pop Art from L.A. to Dubai with a reception 6-8 p.m.

"As a visual arts school for students from preschoolers through adults, we offer over 80 classes from traditional forms of painting (oil, watercolor), pottery, sculpture, paper making, pen and ink, printmaking, jewelry making, and two photography labs - traditional and digital. The 12-week winter session starts Jan. 5, 2009

What makes your business special?

"What makes us special and different from other museums is the community experience that is found here by interacting through making art as well as seeing it," said media director Laura Notaro.

"We also we do outreach programming offering free classes. We will go into schools where art programs have been cut. We work with the Newark Boys and Girls Club and the Association for Retarded Citizens in Essex and Union county. We have over 17 partnerships in the state. We also offer a hands-on art program where schools come to the museum to see the exhibitions in the gallery. The students are given a tour of the gallery tour then they make something of their own as a part of the hands-on component of the program.

"Our art programs are developed to conform to N.J. state curriculum standards to fulfill the art curriculum requirement."

What goals do you have for the business?

"Our motto is to bring art and people together. Our mission is not only to show art, but to create it."

How has your business changed?

"When the seven local artists started they began in a shared space to bring art into the community. Over the years the artists' space has become a school and museum and has moved four times, modernizing and making the building handicapped accessible with a recent $6.4 million addition from local artists."

What was your most important deal?

"Our outreach program. Our most recent outreach program, Artists with Disabilities, are adults who are bussed here three times a week."

What changes do you expect in your business in the next 10 years?

"The challenges we face in the next few years are driven by the economy. It's difficult for funding non profits in this current economy. My feeling is that donors might not give as much as they did in the past, but they will not stop giving. But we want to continue to offer a full range of workshops and we need to showcase artists."

What is the most important thing you've learned in your business?

"I think that it's art and art education is critical. It's important. Everything feeds into what the artist creates - the culture, religion, history. I think it's important that we offer classes to people that they can take without being professional artists. To offer art in general is critical."

What advice would you give to someone considering your line of work?

"I've been in this position as interim executive director only three weeks because our former president, Eric Pryor, accepted the position of exeutive director of the New Jersey State Museum. My education has been courses in art history and art administration. To learn more about working in a museum it might be useful to become an intern or volunteer as a docent. There are educational programs to become a professional artist but this is not the place."

Is there anything else you would rather be doing?

"I'm glad to be here. I've been on the board for a year. Having this interim experience, I'll be a stronger board member."