Pineland Arts Center Opening Day and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

MEDFORD, NJ — The Pineland Arts Center will host its official Grand Opening Celebration and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The public event marks the completion of a three-year renovation project transforming Medford's former Taunton Volunteer Firehouse into a creative arts center offering programs in visual art, clay, movement, and music.

EVENT FACT SHEET

• WHAT: Pineland Arts Center Grand Opening Celebration & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
• WHEN: Saturday, June 13, 2026 (Rain Date: Sunday, June 14)
  • 10:00 AM: Event Opens / Welcome Music by The Brass Consort Quintet
  • 10:30 AM: Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Historic Fire Tower Dedication
  • 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Community Celebration featuring: crafts, studio tours, collaborative painting, pottery wheel demonstrations, movement games, children’s activities, and live music by The Steve Dee Band
  • 1:00 PM: Event Concludes
• WHERE: The Pineland Arts Center, 31 Fairview Rd., Medford, NJ 08055
• ADMISSION: Free and open to the public; family-friendly event.

THE VISION & BUILDING TRANSFORMATION

The Pineland Arts Center (formerly known to locals as The ARTery Studio) grew from the vision of former elementary music teacher and director Marisa Manion to create a space where children, teens, and adults could explore creativity across multiple disciplines under one roof in her hometown of Medford. As programming expanded beyond the capacity of its original Main Street location, the opportunity to reimagine Medford’s historic former Taunton Volunteer Firehouse emerged as a natural next chapter for the center’s evolving vision.

Following nearly three years of renovation, the building now features three dedicated spaces: an Art Studio, a Movement Studio, and a Clay Studio, which serves as the second location of Say It With Clay, a nonprofit dedicated to inclusive clay experiences for nearly 20 years.

To preserve the building’s civic history, the center will formally dedicate the original fire hose drying tower during the 10:30 AM ceremony. Once used to hang and dry fire hoses after service, the restored permanent display now features historic fire equipment and memorabilia honoring the decades of service provided by the Medford Township Fire Department and EMS.

ATTENDEE EXPERIENCE & SCHEDULED ATTRACTIONS

Civic & Special Guests:

• Medford Town Council Members: Facilitating the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
• Medford Township Fire Department: Presenting a "Touch-a-Truck" educational experience for families.

Interactive Activities & Demos:

• Live Pottery Demonstrations: Interactive wheel throwing and clay experiences hosted by Say It With Clay.
• Collaborative Art: A community painting and drawing wall open to all attendees.
• Crafts: Interactive make-and-take crafts for all ages, including a custom pin-back button-making activity.
• Movement Activities: Explore the new Movement Studio through active games and interactive challenges.
• Studio Tours: Guided access to explore the brand-new Art, Clay, and Movement facilities.
• Recreation: Outdoor lawn games and family activities.

Live Musical Performances:

• The Brass Consort Quintet
• The Steve Dee Band

Food & Refreshments:

• Complimentary hot dogs for guests.
• Mister Softee Ice Cream Truck.
• The Mindful Mug espresso cart.

On-Site Registration Incentives:

• The information desk will provide schedules for the upcoming 2026 summer camps, specialized workshops, movement classes, and recurring seasonal programming.
• Exclusive, one-day-only registration discounts will be available to attendees during the three-hour event window.