Newark Artist Accelerator

The Newark Artist Accelerator provides grants to Newark-based, multidisciplinary visual artists, supporting ambitious, artist-led initiatives that engage communities, explore new ideas, and expand access to contemporary art. Two types of grants are available:

➡️ Research & Development Grants ($2,500 | 8 available)

These grants support the early stages of community-engaged projects, giving artists the resources to research, develop, and test ideas, build community partnerships, and explore new approaches to public engagement. Funding may support research, community consultation, collaborative planning, prototyping, and other preparatory activities that help artists develop a project toward implementation. Artists who successfully complete the research and development phase and meet the program’s requirements will be eligible to secure an additional $5,000 project grant in 2027.

➡️ Project-Based Grants ($5,000 | 8 available)

These grants support the realization of artist-led projects that place audience engagement at the center of the creative process. Projects should consider how people encounter, experience, and participate in art, creating meaningful opportunities for connection and discovery beyond traditional exhibition formats. Proposed projects may include collaborative ventures, pop-up exhibitions, public programs, events, and temporary interventions that invite audiences to engage with art in accessible, imaginative, and unexpected ways. We are particularly interested in initiatives that respond to Newark’s social and cultural landscape and explore new possibilities for how art can be experienced in public life.

➡️ Applications will be assessed by the proposal’s originality, impact, and feasibility. A jury of local and national arts professionals will select projects.

✨ The application portal is now open. It will close on Friday, December 11th, at 11:59 PM.

Virtual Community Information Session

Join Project for Empty Space on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 5 - 7 PM to learn more about this year’s Newark Artist Accelerator Fund. Hear from the team about previously funded projects and best submission practices. This is an excellent opportunity to get questions answered prior to submitting a proposal.

To send questions ahead of time, please email info@newarkartistaccelerator.org.