(NEWARK, NJ) -- Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD) awarded 10 artists and music curators $15,000 in micro-grants in its first-ever "Lincoln Park Music Speaks” Micro-Grants for the Newark Music Community supported by the New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund (NJACRF). The NJACRF was established last year and is hosted by the Princeton Area Community Foundation to ensure the strength and survival of the nonprofit arts, cultural and historical sector statewide.
The "Lincoln Park Music Speaks” Micro-Grants support performing/recording artists or curators of music events that provide opportunities for artists to perform in the genres of gospel, jazz, hip hop (rap & its many forms), afro-Caribbean, spoken word, R&B, house/dance music, jazzy soul (neo-soul), soul, funk, any alternative hybrid or mash up of the aforementioned genres. The slogan “Finish That Project” was a call to action for grantees to have a specific artistic project towards which the funds will be used.
“In our first year as a re-grantor, we were able to include not just artists but music event curators who play a vital role in providing platforms for many independent artists to hone their stage shows on their way to hitting larger stages” states Anthony Smith, Executive Director. “As a festival producer, LPCCD understands how these events provide foot traffic and economic impact local lounges, event spaces and eateries which are necessary in creating the local music ecosystem and creative economy. The total reach of these grants would provide opportunities to dozens of music professionals in the City of Newark. We seek to grow the "Lincoln Park Music Speaks” Micro-Grant program fund in the next round.”
The review panel included Fayemi Shakur, Director, Arts and Cultural Affairs, City of Newark, NJ; Shani Saxon, VP of Development and Production at I am OTHER, the strategic consulting and creative collective assembled and led by Pharrell Williams; and Wayne Winborne, Executive Director, Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University-Newark.
The inaugural cohort of grantees are as follows:
The Newark Times: LIVE & Direct Showcase (Viviana Salgado) - LIVE & Direct is a live entertainment showcase that crosses multiple genres featuring independent artist throughout Newark. The purpose of LIVE & Direct is to provide local artists with a platform to showcase their talents and disciplines and highlight the breadth and richness of Newark artist and performers.
Jamale Davis Trio: Korea & Newark (Jamale Davis) - Korea & Newark is showcased celebration of the artistry Korean pianist JinJoo Yoo, and her inspired expression of the music she (and Korean guitarist Ki-Hong Jang) has journeyed to the United States to play: Black American Music, with an idiomatic concentration of the musical art form most known as Jazz. A performed medley of blending original songs written by JinJoo Yoo, while also including a Korean musical narrative- with the inspired goal of being able to document this process at The Newark Museum of Art, even more specific, the gallery space that houses art from Korea.
Janetza Miranda: SAGE SESSIONS - SAGE SESSIONS will bring hope, balance, restoration, and self-empowerment to the people of Newark, NJ by partnering with local independent artists that will celebrate the resilience of the Small Business Community with Mini concerts featuring different artist from the Newark Community with safety enhancements for all members of the community regardless of age or ability.
Kenny Bobien: Untitled Gospel and House Music Projects - This Newark based artist will create two projects that will encourage, inspire and uplift people from all walks of life, most importantly to minister to the hearts of people everywhere as well as challenge them to a higher level of spirit filled living through the genre of Gospel. Second, Bobien’s House Music project will feature original house/dance music inspired by genres of Jazz, R&B, Pop, Afro-beats and Inspirational music.
Newark School of The Arts: International Music and Culture Festival (Carmen Santos-Robson) - Newark School of the Arts (NSA)will present the 3rd Annual International Music and Culture Festival in the Lincoln Park community bringing together Music, Dance, and Visual Arts from different cultures around our city and beyond. The festival will take place in the Spring of 2022 (date TBD) in the NSA Campus located at 89 Lincoln Park, Newark NJ and will feature performances from Korea, Poland, Brazil, India, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and other cultures represented in the NSA's student body as well as in our city.
EvoluCulture Ventures LLC: Speak Poet Speak Vol II (Sean Battle) - EvoluCulture curates the second ever Speak Poet Speak Vol II. The event will be hosted by Founder and CEO of Evolu, Sean Battle with sounds by DJ Skelly, and will feature premiere spoken word talent from New Jersey and beyond. This will be EvoluCulture's first curated in-person event since March of 2020. Last years inaugural and virtual event included poets steaming live from Kenya, London and Brazil, and would win a Communicators Award as the video presentation, Speak Poet Speak Vol I.
OSoFlii Entertainment: Leah Jenea Solo Show (Larry Kapital Gainz) - A triple threat from Newark, NJ, Leah Jenea is a signer / emcee / actress poised to take over the game with a combination of style, dope lyrics, serious vocal range, and a splash of that Brick City attitude!
Forest Hill Community Association: Newark Porchfest 2021 (Daniel Zanella) - Newark PorchFest reinforces the Forest Hill Community Association's (FHCA) mission to enhance the relationship among North Ward residents, and with similar community-minded organizations and City agencies in order to improve the quality of life for all who live within its borders by bringing together a broad cross section of individuals and artists through a fun and inclusive festival. Modeled on successful PorchFests held across country and building on the success of our inaugural event in 2019, Newark PorchFest brings together artists and neighbors to celebrate and create a sense of community. Over 100 performing, visual and spoken word artists (both amateur and professional representing many diverse genres) volunteer to participate in the free day-long festival on September 25, 2021 to showcase their talents and engage the community.
Newark Pride Inc.: Newark Gay Pride (Alonzo S. Blalock) - The Mission of Newark Pride, Inc is to increase awareness of the LGBTQ+ community by providing education, advocating for social justice, increasing progressive public policy, and developing opportunities for empowerment through fellowship. LGBTQ Pride Festival is a regionally anticipated signature event with an itinerary of social, educational, political and cultural programs for youth, adults, families, and allies.
The Antoinette Montague Experience: Jazz Woman To The Rescue (Antoinette Montague) - The Antoinette Montague Experience brings encouraging, positive and uplifting music and entertainment. Antoinette Montague brings Danny Mixon, Melissa Slocum, Earl Grice, Tap Dancer A Lincoln and more to entertain a diverse music, Jazz standards, blues, singing the R&B tunes audiences love.
About Lincoln Park Music Speaks - “Lincoln Park “Music Speaks” is the free, interactive lecture, music and multimedia arts series designed to increase Newark citizens’ appreciation for literature, art, photography, music, and dance. Through “Music Speaks” LPCCD seeks to educate, inform and empower the community as well as celebrate it. During the City of Newark's 350th anniversary celebration in 2016, its “Music Speaks” program reached 2,000 attendees across 15 citywide events, garnered over 100,000 social impressions and the public art component was covered in the New York Times.
About Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (Non-Profit, 501c3) - The Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District, Inc. (LPCCD) is a non-profit organization actively engaged in the practice of economic development through Creative Placemaking. Its mission to plan, design and develop a comprehensive arts and cultural district in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of downtown Newark. LPCCD’s main arts & culture programs are the annual Lincoln Park Music Festival, Lincoln Park Music Speaks citywide humanities initiative, the Lincoln Park Jazzy Soul music series and the Lincoln Park Sustainable Living Community Podcast.
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