MAYOR BARAKA ANNOUNCES 2025 CREATIVE CATALYST FUND AWARDEES

Mayor Ras J. Baraka today announced the recipients of the 2025 Creative Catalyst Fund awards to provide artists and cultural groups with flexible grant support in recognition of the immense social and economic value the creative sector brings to Newark. The list of the awardees can be viewed here.

A selection committee composed of local artists, curators, community representatives, City staff and funders recommended 156 applications for grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000. 120 grants will be awarded to individual artists and artist collectives with an average award of $2,730; and 36 grants will be awarded to small and mid-sized cultural organizations and creative businesses with an arts- and culture-focused mission will receive an average award of $10,400.

"For five years, the Creative Catalyst Fund has galvanized public expression from some of our city's most impassioned artistic minds and hearts," Mayor Baraka said. "The creativity achieved through these resources unites our neighborhoods, energizes our economy and deepens our reputation as a city that considers art an indicator of our communal health. In Newark, our art beats with the city's pulse, and we're grateful to everyone who supports its vitality."

The Creative Catalyst Fund was created by Mayor Baraka and City of Newark Division of Arts and Cultural Affairs Director fayemi shakur in January 2020 as the City of Newark's first-ever arts grant program. Since its launch at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the Fund has awarded more than 650 grants totaling nearly $4 million to artists and organizations for programs serving hundreds of thousands of Newark residents and visitors and hiring thousands of additional artists for their work supporting the projects. This year, the Creative Catalyst Fund is administered by the City's Division of Arts and Cultural Affairs in partnership with Invest Newark, and was designed and facilitated with the help of Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world and is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies.

"The Creative Catalyst Fund continues to be a game-changer for Newark's creative community," said Lauren LeBeaux Craig, Executive Director of Newark Arts. "These grants not only uplift individual artists and organizations, but they also fuel the cultural vibrancy that makes Newark such a dynamic and inspiring place to live, work, and create. At Newark Arts, we are proud to stand alongside the City in ensuring that our artists have the flexible funding they need to thrive and that Newark residents in every ward can access the transformative power of the arts."

The Creative Catalyst Fund provides flexible funding to cover a range of costs, enabling grantees to deliver meaningful creative experiences for Newarkers in every ward, offering enriching arts activities both in dedicated cultural venues and also in community centers, libraries, schools, places of worship, and public spaces.

The financial support also helps artists and organizations serve some of the city's most vulnerable communities. Two-thirds of grantee organizations report that at least a quarter of their audience are low-income households, bringing free and affordable arts programming to those who might not otherwise have access. Additionally, nearly 60 percent of grantee organizations serve a similarly high percentage of at-risk youth, providing creative outlets, mentorship, and opportunities that inspire and empower Newark's next generation.

Newark's creative community makes vital contributions to civic economy, neighborhood revitalization, education, tourism, and generally improving the quality of life for city residents. The arts are estimated to contribute more than $178 million to Newark's economy, support roughly 5,000 local jobs and generate $15.5 million in local and state taxes. In 2024, Newark earned national recognition as the eighth most "arts vibrant" city in the country-a testament to the dedication of the city's cultural workers and creators.

For more insight into the City's recent arts and cultural investments, view the Newark Arts & Culture 2022-2024 report.

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