Participating students of Community Arts Program Crochet Club by Arts ETC, ArtStart 2022-2023 grantee. Photo courtesy of grantee

(NEWARK, NJ) -- The 2024 ArtStart Grant Program is officially underway, and Newark Arts is inviting cultural organizations, schools and artists to submit proposals.  The grant affords each recipient an opportunity to receive up to $3,000 in funding to support art-led, community conscious ideas that will enhance the cultural vibrancy of Newark's neighborhoods.  ArtStart was launched in 2001 with the mission to support arts and cultural activities throughout the city of Newark with a spotlight on youth and underserved populations. Since its inception, ArtStart has awarded over half a million dollars to over 500 grant recipients.

ArtStart grants have been instrumental in building and sustaining Newark's art scene and providing funding to organizations and individuals to create music, dance, theater, film, visual and literary art projects.  The grant money has increased availability for school programs, public programming, community art displays, and resources that aid Newarkers of all ages.  The ArtStart mini grants have been awarded to community members, schools, nonprofits, and individual artists with the aim of supporting the arts and cultural landscape in the city of Newark.

“The goal of ArtStart is to seed startup community arts initiatives that together, assist in propellingNewark to the forefront as a national model for creative placemaking. Many of the arts initiatives that now define the heart and soul of our city's artistic community were once ArtStart grantees, and every year we look for new grantees to fund. This is hugely important to our goal in ensuring that Newark continues to be a place where art is not just seen but felt,” said Lauren LeBeaux Craig, Newark Arts’ Executive Director.

ArtStart 2024 events must take place between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025 in the City of Newark, N.J.  Applications will be accepted from both residents and non-residents of Newark. All submissions should show collaboration with community-based organizations in local neighborhoods; address civic and social needs while empowering Newark residents; stimulate creativity and community engagement; engage diverse populations such as children, youth, seniors and/or people with special needs; be led by small-budget organizations and/or individual artists; and occur in neighborhoods beyond the downtown Newark area.

Various artistic mediums will be considered including visual, literary, performing, film, and public arts.  To apply and learn more information, please visit newarkarts.org/artstart. Applications close on March 29, 2024 at 11:59pm.

The mission of Newark Arts is to power the arts to transform lives. Newark Arts shares resources, develops collaborations and cross-functional opportunities, promotes advocacy efforts, assists in audience development and public awareness of arts and culture, and serves as a cultural resource to the community. Newark Arts is supported by Prudential Financial, the City of Newark, M&T Bank, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Victoria Foundation, Turrell Fund, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Hanini Group, and many businesses, institutions, and individuals.