Salem and Gloucester County Teen Arts Festival

Appel Farm is excited to host the 2024 Salem and Gloucester County Teen Arts Festival on Friday, April 12, 2024! We welcome teens ages 13 - 19 from Salem and Gloucester Counties to participate in art workshops, adjudicated performances, portfolio reviews, and fun!

The Festival will be held on Appel Farm’s campus, located at 457 Shirley Road, Elmer, NJ, from 9:00am - 3:30pm.

Registration is now open!

(Please note - when registering, each school must designate one primary contact on behalf of all participants from that school, regardless of students’ individual disciplines and regardless of the number of participating teachers from that school.)

2024 Festival Rates

EARLY BIRD RATES - Register before December 31

• $325 per school
• $20 per individual

REGULAR RATES - Register January 1 - January 31

• $350 per school
• $25 per individual entry

Important Information, Dates & Forms

Registration Form - Due by 1/31/24

The first step of the process is to complete the Registration Form. ALL REGISTRATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31st. 
Any registrations received after this date will not be accepted into the festival. Only submit one registration per school, please.

Each school must designate one primary contact on behalf of all participants from that school (regardless of students’ individual disciplines). The coordinator will receive all information about the Festival, including the discipline-specific submission form and the “Know Before You Go” packet. Please coordinate communication for all educators and chaperones within your group to ensure that details are shared out by the primary contact person.

Teen Arts 2024 Registration Form

Submission Forms - Due by 3/15/24

Once you have completed the Registration Form and receive your introductory email from Appel Farm, your next step will be to complete a discipline-specific submission form:

Performing Arts Submission Form

Visual Arts/Film/Creative Writing Submission Form 

This form must be completed with all details in order for your submission(s) to be entered for adjudication. Schools who have multiple acts/pieces being entered for adjudication must submit a new form for each unique entry.

All participating schools or individuals will be required to complete the submission form(s) no later than March 15, 2024.

Transportation and Timing

The Festival will run from 9am – 3:30pm. Please plan your transportation accordingly. We cannot adjust our adjudication or workshop schedule to accommodate late arrivals or early departures.  The campus will be open for arrivals at 8:30am and close to departures at 4:00pm. Participating students and chaperones must arrive on site and check in by 9:00am. Workshops and adjudications will begin promptly at 9:15am.

Visual Art Drop-off

Visual Art entries will need to be dropped off and/or hung  in advance of April 12th.

If you intend to drop off your artwork to be hung by an Appel Farm staff member, you must plan to drop off on April 8th or 9th between the hours of 8:30am and 3:30pm. Teachers who will hang their students’ artwork must do so Wednesday, April 10th from 4:30-6:30.

You will be asked to confirm your drop off or hang time in advance, no later than Friday, April 5th.

Workshop Schedule & Lunch

A workshop schedule will be sent out prior to your arrival, as part of our “Know Before You Go” packet. There is no pre-registration for workshops.

Attendees may bring lunch or purchase food from food trucks. A list of on-site food options will be sent prior to your arrival, as part of our “Know Before You Go” packet.

Adjudication Results

Within one week following the regional competition, Appel Farm will share the adjudication results with school representatives and individual entrants. All students nominated to the State Competition will be required to sign and return a waiver form in order to participate at the State level.

Learn More About Adjudication

Students in each discipline will be evaluated and scored by professionals according to a matrix scoring system. Top students in each category will be nominated to the 2024 State Teen Arts Festival.  

Each discipline has specific guidelines that must be followed in order for a submission to qualify for adjudication. Participants who do not follow these guidelines will not be nominated to the state level.

Visual Arts: Each student may submit up to two (2) pieces for each category (2D and 3D).

Creative Writing: Each student may submit up to two (2) creative writing entries.

Performing Arts: Each student may enter for adjudication one (1) solo or small group entry within each category of musical, vocal, dance, or instrumental performance. Each school may enter for adjudication one (1) large group dance performance.