(NEWARK, NJ) -- Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Deputy Mayor of Community Engagement Jacqueline Quiles announced that the City of Newark is partnering with the Newark Public Library, the Director of Youth Leadership and Development for the Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc., NJIT, Amerigroup, and the Rutgers University Medical School to present "A Start in the Arts - A full day of immersion in the art" tomorrow, Saturday, June 25 from 10:00am to 5:00pm. The FREE program will be held at the Newark Public Library, located at 5 Washington Street in the city's downtown.

The event will be held both indoors and outdoors, and will include programs, workshops, and moderated discussions, on acting, directing, film making, photography, video game development, music production, singing, painting, digital art, dance, creative writing and poetry, salsa dancing, and opportunities to carve tiles for the Harriet Tubman Monument, which is scheduled to be unveiled this fall.

"Newark is a historic center for culture and the arts. The 'Start in the Arts' event will give residents opportunities to expand their creative talents, learn how they can become artists themselves, and enjoy a day of creative activities here in our downtown. I salute our partners for their work in putting this event together," Mayor Baraka said. The Mayor will also serve as a panelist in the discussion on Creative Writing and Poetry.

In addition to the workshops, there will be a health fair, vendors, and food available for purchase. Free parking will be available from 9:00am to 5:30pm at the Essex County Parking Deck located at 20-54 Bridge Street in Newark, which is a three-minute walk to the Newark Public Library.

The Health Fair will be held outdoors and will offer free COVID-19 vaccines and testing. Other organizations at the Health Fair will include the Office of the Mayor, Amerigroup, La Casa de Don Pedro, NJCRI, Habitat for Humanity, United Community Corporation, Department of Youth and College Affairs, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, University Hospital, and the Victims of Crime Compensation Office. There will also be a DJ on-site from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Everyone must either be vaccinated OR show proof of negative test results 72 hours of the event to attend any of the indoor programs or participate in them. Attendees in the library must also wear a mask. In the main lobby of the library, there will be a table with volunteers from The Puerto Rican Day Parade to check vaccine cards or test results and give out wrist bands, starting at 9:00am.