In January 2020, Mayor Baraka announced that the City of Newark would launch its first arts grant program, designed to promote equitable financial support for Newark’s arts sector by providing grants to artists and small and mid sized nonprofits working in any artistic discipline. The Creative Catalyst Fund (CCF) launched in April 2020, in the early part of the COVID-19 crisis that took an enormous financial toll on the creative sector. 

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The selection committee was comprised of community representatives, City staff and arts experts, and convened a rigorous yet expedited review process to allow for rapid distribution of funds in partnership with Newark Arts.

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In June 2020, CCF awarded a total of $800,000 to 120 artists, art collectives and cultural organizations through two funding streams:

• Artist Fellowships – 72 artists and 15 collectives
• General Operating Support – 28 nonprofit organizations and 5 LLCs

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In June 2021, CCF awarded a total of $800,000 to 134 artists, artists collectives and    cultural organizations through two funding streams: 

• Artist Fellowships – 102 individual artists and artist collectives
• General Operating Support – 32 small to mid-size nonprofit arts organizations and LLCs

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In 2022, CCF awarded a total of $750,000 to 148 artists, art collectives and cultural organizations through two funding streams:

• Artist Fellowships – 114 individual artists and artist collectives
• General Operating Support – 34 small to mid-size nonprofit arts organizations and LLCs

In its first year, CCF was seeded by $750,000 from the City of Newark and $50,000 from the Community Foundation of New Jersey. In 2021, the initiative was seeded by $750,000 from the City of Newark and $50,000 from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. 

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The Fund is a multi-year initiative providing up to $1 million dollars annually for at least three years. 

Learn more here: https://newarkarts.org/creative-catalyst-fund/