originally published: 03/26/2026
(NEWARK, NJ) — The Newark Arts Council has announced the launch of the 2026–27 ArtStart Grant Program, offering up to $5,000 in funding for community-based arts projects that center healing, connection, and well-being across the City of Newark.
For this cycle, ArtStart will prioritize arts and wellness, supporting initiatives that use creative expression to address mental health, emotional resilience, cultural healing, and social connection. Since its founding, the ArtStart Grant Program has funded over 371 projects that have helped shape Newark’s cultural landscape while expanding access to the arts across its neighborhoods.
“This year’s focus on arts and wellness is deeply intentional,” said Lauren LeBeaux Craig, Executive Director of Newark Arts. “We are seeing, in real time, how artists hold space for healing, reflection, and connection in our communities. ArtStart allows us to invest directly in that work, supporting projects that care for the whole person while strengthening Newark as a city rooted in creativity and care.”
Eligible proposals may include community healing circles, movement-based practices, storytelling, public art, and multidisciplinary projects that promote joy, reflection, and belonging. Priority will be given to programs serving youth, elders, and underserved communities.
Applications open April 1 and close May 1, 2026, with funded projects taking place between August 2026 and March 2027. Full guidelines and application details are found here.
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Newark Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to fostering a thriving arts ecosystem in Newark, NJ. Through advocacy, funding, and programming, Newark Arts Council supports creative projects that drive cultural innovation, economic growth, and community engagement.
The organization stands as a beacon driving Newark’s global recognition as a City of the Arts. Over 43 years, Newark Arts has nurtured the city’s arts and culture ecosystem, enriching the lives of all Newarkers. The mission of Newark Arts 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 the Newark Arts Festival and Newark Creates, a community-led citywide cultural plan, created in partnership with the City of Newark.
Key initiatives include Arts Education Newark (AEN) and the ArtStart community grantmaking program. Newark Arts is generously supported by Prudential Financial, the City of Newark, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Victoria Foundation, Turrell Fund, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, Hanini Group, TD Bank, Vermella Broad, individuals, businesses, and institutions.
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