The Newark Arts Council awarded nearly $30,000 to ten nonprofit community and education organizations at its Annual Meeting, attended by more than 160 artists and Newark advocates at the Prudential Center.
Since 2001, the Newark Arts Council ArtStart Grant Program has made over 160 grant awards ranging from $500 – $3,000 and totaling over $400,000. The program promotes and nurtures arts and cultural activities throughout the city, including neighborhoods throughout the city’s five wards. The winning projects take the arts into locations that are often overlooked by traditional programs.
This year, 26 organizations applied for funding, a 76% increase over the previous year. The 2016-2017 ArtStart Grants will support five General Arts Projects and five Arts Education related programs. Recipients include:
- Butterfly Dreamz, Inc.
- Institute of Music for Children
- NEU Global
- Project for Empty Space
- Rafael Hernandez School of Performing Arts
- Gallery Aferro
- GlassRoots
- Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District
- Newark Mommies
- Newark Print Shop.
“We have seen time and again that the arts play a critical role in education and improving the quality of life for the residents of Newark,” said Newark Arts Council Executive Director Jeremy Johnson. “Our panel of judges, which included members of the Newark Arts Education Roundtable, believe these grants represent some very innovative, effective and inspiring projects and we are pleased to provide funding to help them succeed.”
The ArtStart Grant Program is funded by Prudential and other generous donors. To make a financial contribution or become a sponsor to the Newark Arts Council’s ArtStart Grants or other programs visit the website at www.NewarkArts.org.
The Newark Arts Council will post the awardee organizations and project descriptions on its website at www.newarkarts.org.
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