Newark Arts established the ArtStart Grant Program in 2001 specifically to nurture arts and cultural activities throughout the City of Newark and to enhance the capacity of Newark’s non-profit organizations, schools, and individual artists to provide arts-based projects throughout the City’s five wards. ArtStart events must take place between August 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.

   Applicants may request any amount up to a maximum of $5,000.

PRIORITIES

Newark Arts will give paramount consideration to projects that:  
 

• Enhance recognition of the value of the arts as a catalyst to address social issues  
• Engage with neighborhood or community based organizations and are developed to address their identified needs  
• Take place in local neighborhoods, stimulating creativity and community engagement
• Engage children, youth and/or seniors and people with special needs 
• Support academic achievement   
• Are provided by small organizations and individual artists, enhancing their future capacity 

For more detailed information you can download: Full ArtStart 2025 Guidelines

Festival Theme: JOY 

At Newark Arts Festival 2025, we’re embracing JOY as a bold, creative force that sustains, uplifts, and sparks transformation. We invite artists to channel the power of joy to foster strength, harmony, and revolutionary change. Through art and ideas, we center JOY – the golden state of being that connects us to our humanity. What’s your JOY?

Whether you are a visual artist expressing joy through your work, a performing artist sharing joy on stage, or a programmer cultivating joy through unique events and experiences, we invite you to apply to be part of Newark Arts Festival 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered. All applications must be submitted via Submittable unless otherwise noted.
 

Open Call for Visual Artists

Are you a visual artist or part of a collective looking to be part of Newark Arts Festival 2025? We want to hear from you! Curators of established collectives are welcome to apply, but each artist must submit their own application (please reference your collective by name). This Open Call is for visual artists eager to share their creative visions in spaces dedicated to joy, connection, and artistic expression.
 

For this call, visual art includes: 

• Painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, tempera, encaustic) 
• Drawing (charcoal, graphite, ink, pastel, colored pencil) 
• Printmaking (etching, lithography, screen printing, woodcut, monoprint) 
• Sculpture (stone, wood, metal, clay, glass) 
• Collage (2-dimensional works using, paper, fabric, found objects) 
• Assemblage (3-dimensional works using various materials and found objects) 
• Installation Art (site-specific, immersive environments) 
• Textile & Fiber Art (weaving, quilting, embroidery, felting) 
• Ceramics  
• Digital Painting & Illustration 
• Photography (film, digital, experimental) 
• Video Art & Experimental Film 
• 3D Modeling & Animation 
• Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR) Art 
• Light Art (using LEDs, neon, projections) 
• Conceptual Art (idea-based works, often text-based or ephemeral) 

 For this call, visual art does not include: 

• Graphic Design 
• Street Art & Graffiti 
• Mural Art 
• Performance Art (visual elements combined with live action) 
• Body Art (tattoos, piercings, body painting) 

 Performance artists should apply to the Open Call for Performing Artists instead. 

Submission Guidelines:

• Submit only artwork you wish to be considered for exhibition. Selected pieces must match the submitted works and be available for the exhibition.
• A non-refundable application fee of $10 is required per submission, supporting exhibition and administrative costs. Payment is made securely through Submittable. 
• Financial hardship? Fee waivers are available by contacting festival@newarkarts.org with a brief explanation. 
• Exhibition Opportunities: Artwork may be showcased in various festival locations, including: 

1. Newark Arts Festival Signature Group Exhibition 
2. NICO Kitchen + Bar at NJPAC 
3. Newark ArtSpace 
4. Pop-up galleries throughout the festival
   Please Note: Due to construction, we will have very limited exhibition space at the Newark Museum of Art this year.  

• Selected artwork(s) may be listed for sale on newarkarts.org. A 25% commission will support Newark Arts’ administrative costs. Please price your work accordingly. 
• Submission Deadline is Sunday, June 1, 2025, at 11:59pm 

Need Help? 

Join us at Newark ArtSpace on May 13, 2025, at Newark ArtSpace for an in-person information session. Get support from a NAF representative, ask questions, and receive guidance on completing your application. 

For additional questions, contact festival@newarkarts.org. Let’s make Newark Arts Festival 2025 a celebration of JOY, COMMUNITY, and ART! 

Festival Theme: JOY 

At Newark Arts Festival 2025, we’re embracing JOY as a bold, creative force that sustains, uplifts, and sparks transformation. We invite artists to channel the power of joy to foster strength, harmony, and revolutionary change. Through art and ideas, we center JOY – the golden state of being that connects us to our humanity. What’s your JOY?

Whether you are a visual artist expressing joy through your work, a performing artist sharing joy on stage, or a programmer cultivating joy through unique events and experiences, we invite you to apply to be part of Newark Arts Festival 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered. All applications must be submitted via Submittable unless otherwise noted.
 

Open Call for Performing Artists

Newark Arts Festival 2025 is seeking dynamic, unique performing artists for various festival performance opportunities. We welcome actors, singers, musicians, dancers, poets, hosts, DJs, and interdisciplinary performers to apply.

This call is for individual artists and small groups (4 or fewer members).
Larger productions (5+ members), showcases, and large-scale proposals should apply through the Open Call for Programming & Performances.

How to Apply?

Performing artists can apply in one of two ways:

1. Attend an in-person audition: On May 17, 2025 from 9am – 12pm at location TBD where you will perform live for a panel of festival curators for consideration. 
2. Submit a Digital Submission Application: Provide your materials via Submittable, including links to your electronic press kit (EPK), social media, and performance samples for consideration.
    

Submission Guidelines: 

• All performing artists must either audition in person or submit an application. However, there is no need to do both. Either apply online or come to the in person open call. Blind email submissions will not be accepted. 
• If you have auditioned for us in the past, you do not need to re-audition. Simply submit an application with details of your proposed area or event of interest.  
• A non-refundable application fee of $10 is required per online submission. Payment is made securely through Submittable. 
• Financial hardship? Fee waivers are available by contacting festival@newarkarts.org. 
• Due to the high volume of applicants, we will only contact performing artists we are interested in booking.
• Submission Deadline is Sunday, June 1, 2025, at 11:59pm EST.

Need Help? 

Join us at Newark ArtSpace on May 13, 2025, at Newark ArtSpace for an in-person information session. Get support from a NAF representative, ask questions, and receive guidance on completing your application. 

For additional questions, contact festival@newarkarts.org. Let’s make Newark Arts Festival 2025 a celebration of JOY, COMMUNITY, and ART! 

Festival Theme: JOY 

At Newark Arts Festival 2025, we’re embracing JOY as a bold, creative force that sustains, uplifts, and sparks transformation. We invite artists to channel the power of joy to foster strength, harmony, and revolutionary change. Through art and ideas, we center JOY – the golden state of being that connects us to our humanity. What’s your JOY?

Whether you are a visual artist expressing joy through your work, a performing artist sharing joy on stage, or a programmer cultivating joy through unique events and experiences, we invite you to apply to be part of Newark Arts Festival 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered. All applications must be submitted via Submittable unless otherwise noted.
 

Open Call for Programming & Performances

Newark Arts Festival is seeking innovative, unique, ideas for events, panels, pop-ups, and special experiences that align with our festival theme. We welcome individuals, collectives, and organizations to dream big and submit creative, community-centered programming proposals.  

For this call, programming & performances include special events, films, panels, plays, musicals, one man shows, large showcases or presentations.  

For this call, programming and performances do not include individuals who sing, dance, act, rap, recite poetry or DJ. Individual artists should apply to the Open Call for Performing Artists instead.  

Submission Guidelines: 

• Priority will be given to programming with confirmed spaces. Limited festival-provided spaces are available. 
• A non-refundable application fee of $10 is required per submission. Payment is made securely through Submittable. 
• Financial hardship? Fee waivers are available by contacting festival@newarkarts.org. 
• We encourage collaboration and partnerships where possible. Collaborations will be considered for additional support where applicable.  
• Submission Deadline is Sunday, June 1, 2025, at 11:59pm EST.
   

Need Help? 

Join us at Newark ArtSpace on May 13, 2025, at Newark ArtSpace for an in-person information session. Get support from a NAF representative, ask questions, and receive guidance on completing your application. 

For additional questions, contact festival@newarkarts.org. Let’s make Newark Arts Festival 2025 a celebration of JOY, COMMUNITY, and ART! 

Festival Theme: JOY 

At Newark Arts Festival 2025, we’re embracing JOY as a bold, creative force that sustains, uplifts, and sparks transformation. We invite artists to channel the power of joy to foster strength, harmony, and revolutionary change. Through art and ideas, we center JOY – the golden state of being that connects us to our humanity. What’s your JOY?

Whether you are a visual artist expressing joy through your work, a performing artist sharing joy on stage, or a programmer cultivating joy through unique events and experiences, we invite you to apply to be part of Newark Arts Festival 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered. All applications must be submitted via Submittable unless otherwise noted.

Newark Arts Festival is seeking donated spaces to host exhibitions, performances, and programs. We welcome: 

• Coffee shops, retail spaces, office lobbies, community spaces, and more to apply. 
• There is no application fee to offer space for the festival. 
• If you have an available space and want to support the festival, we’d love to hear from you! 

 
The Process 

• Submission of an application does not guarantee selection. All submissions will be reviewed by our Newark Arts Festival curators and producers.  
• Selections and space assignments are at the discretion of the Newark Arts Festival team. 
• Application Deadline: June 1, 2025. 
• Notification of Selection: No later than July 31, 2025.
  

Need Help? 

Join us at Newark ArtSpace on May 13, 2025, at Newark ArtSpace for an in-person information session. Get support from a NAF representative, ask questions, and receive guidance on completing your application. 

For additional questions, contact festival@newarkarts.org. Let’s make Newark Arts Festival 2025 a celebration of JOY, COMMUNITY, and ART!