The Gateway Project is pleased to officially announce the ambitious expansion of its program from temporary pop-up gallery to permanent arts hub. With the support of C&K Properties, the Gateway Project will expand from a 14,000 sq exhibition to a nearly 50,000 sq ft facility that includes sixty rentable artist studios, an artist residency program, and a gallery space. The revamped facility is slated to open on April 30, 2015. The occasion will be ushered in with the opening of the Gateway Gallery’s first exhibition in the new gallery space, Color Polemics: Exploring Conversations of Race, Art, and Politics in America. Further information about the opening festivities and exhibition will be released throughout April. The opening reception and ribbon cutting will take place on April 30, 2015 from 6 – 9 PM.
“We are thrilled to be expanding opportunities for artists and creative businesses not only at a local level, but by opening more doors with connections nationally and internationally as well,” said Rebecca Jampol, co-director of The Gateway Project. “The Gateway Project will be a resourceful arts complex for the City of Newark, comparable to that which one would find in New York City.”
The Gateway Project Expansion is not only marked by an increase in physical space, but also a vast growth in programs, and opportunities for multidisciplinary artists. The new facility will span over three floors in the Gateway Two Center, which attaches to Newark’s Penn Station. Within this expanse The Gateway Project will offer affordable studios to artists and cultural practitioners. Studio tenants will be provided with a diverse array of significant amenities including: 24 hour indoor access to Newark Penn Station’s transportation systems (PATH, NJ Transit, Amtrak, Light Rail); 24 hour access to secure and monitored studio facilities; high-speed WiFi internet; and temperature controlled studios. In addition to building and facility amenities, The Gateway Project is also cultivating bi-monthly open studio events, and a program for artists to interface with visiting critics, curators, and collectors.
The Gateway Project’s non-profit arm will be organized through its partner organization, Project for Empty Space, which aims to create spaces and programs that address social issues and inspire social discourse through contemporary art. The Gateway Project Gallery and Residency Program exist within this arena, and directly address this mission.
“The Gateway Project has invigorated previously empty, underutilized space in the heart of downtown Newark,” said Jasmine Wahi, co-director of The Gateway Project. “The gallery and studios will play an important role in helping to continue moving forward the renaissance happening here in Newark. Art is inspiring and we are proud that our residency programs will have community outreach components in place to engage students, residents, workforces and visitors year-round.”
The Gateway Project Residency Program and Gallery Space is for mid-career to established artists whose practices work within the context of social engagement. Participants are selected biannually and will present an exhibition in the Gateway Project Gallery at the conclusion of their residency. The first cycle of participating artists will be announced in mid-April.
The Gateway Project is Directed by Jasmine Wahi (Independent Curator and Co Founder, Project For Empty Space) and Rebecca Jampol (Founder, Solos Project House and The Gateway Project). The Gateway Project is a collaborative endeavor by Solo(s) Project House (Newark, New Jersey) and Project For Empty Space (New York City).
