Greetings from Belmar, New Jersey: A Vibrant Art Scene in the Jersey Shore

exterior of Belmar Arts Center, New Jersey

After living in the South for the past 7 years, I became disillusioned with living in a landlocked area for so much time, a six hour drive from any coastline. There were many reasons why I left the South, but one of them was the lack of an inspiring or welcoming arts community. I came back home to New Jersey, but instead of my native Jersey City and Northern New Jersey, I settled on the Jersey Shore where several of my family members have moved to over the years, and for good reason. What I found, besides beautiful beaches, was a vibrant community with a growing art scene. 

unedited photography by Michael Hanna of Point Pleasant Beach

Most notable in terms of the arts in the Shore would be Belmar Arts (also known as Belmar Arts Center). Belmar has grown over recent decades to be not only one of the nicest towns in New Jersey, but also one of the finest townships in the entire United States. With a thriving local economy, a developed Downtown, and some of the finest beaches around, Belmar has become an increasingly attractive destination for those seeking a sense of paradise. Belmar Arts holds monthly exhibitions in their two-room gallery, most of which are non-juried, along with concerts from the most cutting-edge young bands coming out of Asbury Park, such as Desert Jellies and Gaia Raga. Despite their exhibitions being non-juried, Belmar Arts attracts top talent from the area due to their attractive location and interdisciplinary approach to presenting the arts, such as incorporating performance with visual arts. 

Belmar is not the only main attraction in the Jersey Shore’s growing and thriving art scene. Red Bank, Lincroft, Long Branch, Point Pleasant, and Asbury Park have become known for their new and upcoming galleries, museums, music scenes, and a world class university supportive of the arts. Such an area of the art scene can be found notably within Monmouth and Ocean counties of New Jersey. This two-county corridor represents the very best New Jersey has to offer, not just in terms of the arts, but also in development. These counties are not only creative but also prosperous, cleaner, safer, beautiful, and friendlier compared to other places. 

interior of Belmar Arts Center

In Red Bank, you will find beautiful galleries such as the one located inside the luxurious Oyster Point Hotel by the bay of the shore. Visitors will discover in Long Branch and Lincroft the supportive Monmouth University and the Monmouth Museum which features local and regional arts. Asbury Park still thrives, and even more so recently, as a hub for independent, experimental young bands to jam their tunes across the Shore. Besides the beautiful beaches, Point Pleasant has become home to a few independent new art galleries followed by the backdrop of gorgeous beaches. 

bird's eye view of Belmar, New Jersey

What makes Belmar the center of the Jersey Shore art scene would be the town’s reputation as a pristine destination for tourism and Belmar Arts. Unlike the other venues in the shore, Belmar Arts hosts non-stop calls for entry, luring artists in the area to express themselves, along with regular concerts by the area's most talented performers and musical acts. Monmouth and Ocean counties are also only located about 55 miles from New York, allowing the local artists to branch out and explore beyond the capacities of the Shore, but offering a more welcoming environment for creativity and development. 

unedited photography by Michael Hanna of Point Pleasant Beach

Visiting artists and art lovers will also find the breathtaking ocean and shore culture of the area to be inspiring for art and their well-being. The people here are generally friendlier, drivers drive safer. Outside of Brick and Lakewood, you won’t find much congestion, and the entire area has cleaner and developed infrastructure as the residents seem to take care and take pride in the aesthetics of their neighborhoods. Although the area is expensive to inhabit and probably comparable to New York in terms of cost of living, the Jersey Shore offers the artist breathing room to explore their creativity by the beautiful landscape of the pristine beaches and expand their options beyond the competitiveness of New York. The Jersey Shore offers well-rounded options for artists seeking a more natural environment and authentic artistic experience but want to keep striking distance within a major metropolis such as New York. In this region, artists and art enthusiasts alike will find a welcoming culture which embraces artistic integrity and offers venues and outlets which compliment well with the natural and inspiring beauty of the shoreline.

unedited photography by Michael Hanna of Point Pleasant Beach

unedited photography by Michael Hanna of Point Pleasant Beach