(NEWARK, NJ) -- Applications will open for ArtStart, an annual mini-grant program on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. ArtStart provides small grants to non-profit organizations and individual artists to create dance, theatre, visual and literary art projects that benefit the residents and neighborhoods of Newark. Winning proposals will be awarded grants ranging from $500 to $3,000 each.

ArtStart was established in 2001 with the mission to nurture arts and cultural activities throughout the city of Newark; especially those activities that engage youth and under-served populations, and that take place in our local neighborhoods. Since its inception, Newark Arts has made over 150 ArtStart grants, totaling more than $400,000! Small and mighty, the impact of these mini-grants on the Newark community are evident, and include major success stories such as the Newark Print Shop, Newark Mommies and the Aferro Mobile Portrait Studio.

What is special about this popular and innovative program, is that it serves the arts in locations that are traditionally overlooked by other established grant programs. In the past, ArtStart has funded schools of music and dance, local galleries, film and book projects, programs for children and seniors, and multidisciplinary community initiatives including neighborhood development plans.

“We are very excited at the prospect of funding innovative and much-needed arts programming in our city, and welcome local non-profits and individuals to apply,” said Executive Director, Jeremy Johnson.

If you are a local artist with a special project, a resident that wants to collaborate with an established arts organization, a non-profit servicing youth, or a school that has a great arts education idea that needs funding, you may be eligible to receive an ArtStart grant. Download an application online beginning on January 31st.

For more information and application guidelines, call Nikki at 973-643-1625 or email Nikki@newarkarts.org.

Funding for ArtStart has been provided by Prudential Foundation, Bank of America, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Dodge Foundation, M&T Bank and the Turrell Foundation.

Newark Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created to advance and expand the artistic and cultural resources of the City of Newark, New Jersey. The Council’s mission is to bring the transformative power of the arts into the lives of those who live in, work in, and visit Newark. The Council is the umbrella for the Newark Arts Education Roundtable (NAER) and is a partner with the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Development, Arts, and Tourism. The Council awards neighborhood grants through its ArtStart program, produces the Open Doors Citywide Arts Festival every October, and will oversee Newark’s Community Cultural Plan in 2017-2018.