2008 Teen Arts Festival will return to Brookdale The Monmouth County Arts Council has announced plans for the 2008 Teen Arts Festival, an opportunity for teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 to experience all disciplines of the arts, and to participate in workshops, performances, exhibits and critiques. Registration is open to Monmouth County public, private and home-schooled students. The Monmouth County Teen Arts Festival is a two-day event, hosted in collaboration with Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, on its campus during spring break. The festival is scheduled for March 18-19, 2008. The festival opens with an evening reception in the Center for Visual Arts building on March 17 from 6-8 p.m. The Visual Arts Show of two- and three-dimensional artworks will be on exhibit throughout the gallery and hallways, and student performances will be the entertainment. Students, parents and the public are invited to attend. The festival brings together teens and artist/teachers to work together, to experience and appreciate different artistic mediums, and to have a forum for critical assessment of arts products, performances and collaborations. During the two festival days, 20 artist/teachers will present workshops and master classes in their individual specialties, including drawing, film-making, voice, piano, acting, and playwriting. Twenty-three professional artists will critique student work in musical and visual arts, performance, creative writing and film, and offer positive evaluations and suggestions for improvement. Spoken word, a film forum, a museum scavenger hunt and artist talks are part of the plans for this year's festival. According to a press release, the Monmouth County Arts Council is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the county by providing resources to support, inspire and foster the growth and development of the arts. As an important part of the educational process, the arts offer many opportunities for students to grow artistically, academically, emotionally and personally during the school day and beyond. Anyone who is interested in participating in the 2008 festival as an artist/teacher, adjudicator, student, school coordinator or volunteer may contact Sandy Taylor, Arts Education Director, Monmouth County Arts Council, (732) 212-1890, ext. 6 or send e-mail sbt@monmouthartscouncil. org.