The NJGAAE Awards program is a large-scale statewide effort and public event, developed, directed and coordinated through the volunteer efforts of members of the Planning Council. In order to ensure the successful implementation of the program, committees have to be established to duct activities throughout the year and encourage the full involvement of all Planning Council members. The committees are then chaired by one or more members of the Planning Council, and consist of Planning Council members.
Awards will be reviewed annually to ensure the awards continue to meet NJGAAE award criteria and program objectives.
Awards and selection process must: ● Be statewide in scope; ● Reward excellence in a discipline; ● Assure broad-based access, fairness and competitiveness; ● Ensure that award recipients are reflective of New Jersey’s statewide demographics
The Planning Council will monitor the number of awards offered by each organization to maintain balance of disciplines, taking into consideration the uniqueness of the awards; its significance at the state and national level; and impact on public awareness of the importance of arts education. |
The process by which artistic and educational decisions will be made is by the NJGAAE Planning Council. Arts Ed NJ does not choose the winners or create the criteria for the applicants. All decisions regarding artistic and educational requirements are done by the state and national associations that are represented on the Planning Council. |
The Governor’s Awards in Arts Education began in 1980 to promote awareness and appreciation of the arts, recognizing the creativity, talent and leadership of the award winners. Each year, awards are presented to approximately 20 educators and 80 students. National and statewide organizations select the students for their exemplary work in creative writing, speech, dance, music, theatre and visual arts and the leaders for their exceptional commitment and contribution to arts education. The program also recognizes arts educators and arts education advocates, whose leadership has helped nurture the development of students in the arts across the state.
The Governor’s Awards event is a partnership of the Arts Ed NJ, the Department of Education, Art Pride New Jersey Foundation, the Department of State and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support is provided by: the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics; Art Educators of New Jersey; Art Administrators of New Jersey; Dance New Jersey; New Jersey Council of Teachers of English; New Jersey Speech and Debate League; New Jersey Music Educators Association; New Jersey Performing Arts Center; Writer's Theatre of New Jersey; Speech and Theatre Association of New Jersey; New Jersey Thespians and Young Audiences of New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. The cooperating organizations, award sponsors and individual members of the planning council dedicate their time to make sure that excellence in the arts is rewarded, and work tirelessly throughout the year to plan this special event. The Governor's Awards in Arts Education ceremony are a major collaborative effort of the arts, education and state government.