NEA Our Town Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2021
Contact: Lauren Otis, Artworks Executive Director
(609) 394-9436, director@artworkstrenton.org
Artworks to Receive $25,000 Our Town Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to Establish Public Art Program in Trenton
Trenton, N.J. – Artworks, Trenton’s visual arts non-profit, has been approved for a $25,000 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Our Town grant to support the establishment of a public art program in Trenton in partnership with the City of Trenton and world-renowned public art organization Mural Arts Philadelphia. The NEA funding is one of 63 grants nationwide that the agency has approved to support projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes; ultimately laying the groundwork for sustainable systems change.
“As the country and the arts sector begin to work towards a post-pandemic world, the National Endowment for the Arts is proud to announce this Our Town funding. These awards will support cross-sector partnerships such as the one lead by Artworks Trenton Inc. that demonstrate the power of the arts to help communities create a better future for themselves.” said NEA Acting Chairman Ann Eilers.
“Artworks is incredibly excited to be receiving an NEA Our Town grant to develop a formal public art program for Trenton,” said Artworks Executive Director Lauren Otis. “Trenton already has a great legacy of public art and many exciting current projects underway, but this funding will enable us to establish a mechanism for the ongoing creation of community-based and community-focused public art,” Mr. Otis said. “With the support of Mayor Reed Gusciora and his administration, and the expertise of Mural Arts Philadelphia, this project will help improve the lives of residents throughout Trenton and literally change the face of the city.”
“This is great news for the Capital City arts community,” said Mayor Gusciora. “In Trenton we have the celebrated Art All Night festivities as well as other local art venues that add to the City’s landscape. It is hoped with continued NEA support we will see more flourishing artists among our residential byways.”
In 2011, Artworks worked with Mural Arts Philadelphia and other partners on the creation of Philip Adams’ “Passage of Time” mural along Route 129 in Trenton’s South Ward. In recent years, Artworks has executed numerous other public art projects in Trenton with multiple community partners, and is actively planning several new projects at present. The creation of a public art program for Trenton will enable Artworks to move beyond a piecemeal, individual project-based approach and engage residents throughout the city on planning community-driven art projects in areas of the city beyond downtown. After the establishment of the program, benefiting from MAP’s expertise and best practices, Artworks will commence planning for public art projects in each of Trenton’s four wards.
“We are honored to build on our past work with Artworks and the City of Trenton to support their developing a public art program that is driven by community and rooted in inclusive, participatory creative practices, ” said Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Executive Director, Jane Golden.” Through the Mural Arts Institute, we bring the Mural Arts model to other change-oriented cities looking to build their capacity in this important work.”
For more information on the projects included in the Arts Endowment grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news. Artworks, Trenton’s visual arts center, has a mission of connecting community, culture and creativity through the arts. More information on programs and events, including Art All Night, Art All Day and Art Making Day, can be found at artworkstrenton.org. Mural Arts Philadelphia is the nation’s largest public art program, dedicated to the belief that art ignites change. Established in 2017 as an initiative of Mural Arts Philadelphia, the Mural Arts Institute is dedicated to advancing research on and development of participatory and socially-engaged public art practices. For more information, visit muralarts.org.
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