News
Appel Farm Featured as One of Three Organizations in Statewide Arts Learning Guide
April 1, 2026
Appel Farm Arts & Music Center is proud to be featured in a newly released statewide guide from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, The Transformative Power of Art: A Guide to Arts Learning for Systems-Impacted Youth in New Jersey.
Appel Farm is one of just three organizations selected for an in-depth profile in the guide, with its work highlighted throughout. The feature includes a quote from Executive Leader of Education Kristina Hill and multiple photographs showcasing Appel Farm’s arts learning environments in action.
“We prioritize co-creating arts and learning experiences, listening deeply to develop collaboratively designed programs in direct response to what the community tells us it needs and wants. Our goal is to build spaces for authentic engagement, belonging, healing, creativity, joy, and self-expression. We center participant input and remain fexible in our goals and plans, leaving room for regular refection, feedback, and creativity to shape the work. Through collaboration, the arts can be a mirror of community voice and a catalyst for justice and wellness.”
— Kristina Hill, Appel Farm Executive Leader of Education
As an organization rooted in arts education, Appel Farm’s programs, including its overnight summer arts camp for youth ages 8–16, reflect the guide’s emphasis on community-based arts learning and creating supportive spaces where young people can explore their voices, build confidence, and express themselves through the arts.
This recognition underscores the impact of arts education in New Jersey and affirms the role organizations like Appel Farm play in supporting youth through transformative creative experiences.
Learn more about Appel Farm’s summer camp and year-round programs.
The following press release was issued by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts on March 23, 2026:
New Jersey State Council on the Arts Develops Best Practices Guide for Serving Systems- and Justice-Impacted Youth through the Arts
Trenton, NJ (March 23, 2026) – The New Jersey State Council on the Arts is proud to announce the creation of a best practice guide for serving systems- and justice-impacted youth through high-quality arts learning programs: The Transformative Power of Art: A Guide to Arts Learning for Systems-Impacted Youth in New Jersey.
In acknowledgment of the unique power of the arts to engage young people, the New Jersey legislature passed Bill A4500, authorizing the New Jersey State Council on the Arts to research and develop a guide for using community-based arts learning strategies to support systems- and justice- impacted youth statewide. The Council, with support from the New Jersey Youth Justice Commission and the Department of Child Protection and Permanency, engaged The Learning Agenda – a national consulting firm dedicated to building the capacity of youth-serving organizations – to bring this guide to life.
“This guide will help prioritize putting our kids first,” said Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell, who oversees the State Arts Council as Secretary of State. “The practical guidance and creative insight shared will help shape quality arts experiences for young people across New Jersey. This initiative embodies the Arts Council’s mission to promote freedom of expression in the arts, as the guide will help young people find new outlets and opportunities to use their voices.”
“We want this guide to serve as a valuable, turnkey resource for the many organizations already providing youth programming. The research shows that including the arts can and will make a positive difference,” said Arts Council Executive Director Allison Tratner. “We are grateful to organizations and teaching artists already doing this vital work. Many of their voices are included in this guide, and we look forward to continuing to learn from and with them.”
In support of the guide’s release, the Arts Council will be hosting a one-time webinar dedicated to advancing the quality of arts engagement for justice- and systems-impacted youth. More information is available here.
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About the New Jersey State Council on the Arts
The New Jersey State Council on Arts, created in 1966, is a division of the NJ Department of State and a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Council was established to encourage and foster public interest in the arts; enlarge public and private resources devoted to the arts; promote freedom of expression in the arts; and facilitate the inclusion of art in every public building in New Jersey. The Council believes the arts are central to every element we value most in a modern society, including: human understanding; cultural and civic pride; strong communities; excellent schools; lifelong learning; creative expression; and economic opportunity. To learn more about the Council, please visit artscouncil.nj.gov.