(NEWARK, NJ) -- Artists, organizations and schools in the City of Newark that are looking for funding to start or support a community-based arts project or education program may be eligible to receive an ArtStart grant from Newark Arts. Applications for the annual mini-grant program will open on Monday, January 25, 2021.

ArtStart provides funding to organizations and individuals to create music, dance, theatre, film, visual and literary art projects that benefit the residents and neighborhoods of Newark. Winning proposals will be awarded grants ranging up to $3,000 each.

“Thanks to the generosity of Newark Arts’ supporters, we’re pleased to provide ArtStart funding for the second time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Newark Arts Executive Director, Jeremy Johnson. “We’ve streamlined the application to make it even more accessible to diverse arts groups and artists who are enriching communities across Newark.”  

An ArtStart Information Session will be held via Zoom on Saturday, January 16, 2021. This orientation session is mandatory for first time applicants, and will be recorded. To RSVP, please visit newarkarts.org/artstart/.

ArtStart was established in 2001, with the mission to nurture arts and cultural activities throughout the city of Newark, especially for youth and under-served populations. Since its inception, Newark Arts has made over 200 ArtStart grants, totaling more than $500,000. 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.

Submit an application by visiting newarkarts.org/artstart beginning on January 25, 2021.  Funding for ArtStart has been provided by Prudential Foundation, the New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund, NJCARES Act Funding via NJSCA, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, NJ State Council on the Arts, Turrell Fund, Bank of America, and M&T Bank.

Newark Arts’ mission is to power the arts to transform lives. Established in 1981 as the Newark Arts Council, the organization’s vision is to become a nationally recognized catalyst for the collaborative power of the arts in the City of Newark and urban America. Newark Arts is the producer of Newark Creates, a community-led citywide cultural plan, created in partnership with the City of Newark. Newark Arts’ key initiatives include Arts Education Newark (AEN), the ArtStart community grantmaking program, and the Newark Arts Festival. Newark Arts is generously supported by Prudential Financial,  the City of Newark, M&T Bank, PSEG, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Victoria Foundation, Turrell Fund, Bank of America, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Verizon, United Airlines, Hanini Group and individuals, businesses and institutions.