Project for Empty Space is pleased to announce a new community wide initiative: an online database for Newark-based multidisciplinary visual artists. Newark Artists is a free platform that was developed to highlight and celebrate artists whose creative practices are locally rooted. This database acknowledges the artist’s crucial role in this city. Additionally, it serves as a way to invest in, and support our creative community.
Newark Artists is more than an index of artists: it is a community, hub, and home for creatives in the Greater Newark Area. The platform includes artist profiles, an arts organization directory, and a continuously updated list of opportunities for creative practitioners. It is a resource for artists, as well as those who seek to learn more about the Newark Art Scene.
Originally conceived in 2018, Newark Artists was a community situated in the virtual space. Now, as we navigate a global pandemic that has kept many of us inside and apart, we see this resource as a new way to connect and keep the artist community thriving.
In addition to the website, a series of virtual programs, collaboratively produced with Express Newark and local practitioners, have commenced in conjunction with the database. Weekly workshop webinars are offered to our artist members that touch on a variety of beneficial topics from grant writing, to work-from-home hacks, to storytelling and local archiving.
Newark Artist Database and Newark Arts’ Creative Convenings have launched a new series of professional development and networking opportunities. Building off the success of the 2021 collaboration, the program offers a year of free virtual and in-person workshops for multidisciplinary visual and performing artists in the Greater Newark area.
The partnership will provide ongoing support and resources for local creatives, connecting communities and bridging local creatives with industry professionals. The series kicks off Wednesday, January 31st, and will continue through December of 2024.
The 2024 program will address vital topics for a sustainable practice, such as financial literacy and tax essentials for the creative. It will touch on visual storytelling through photography, effective strategies for creating impactful public art, and the art of successful proposal/application crafting. This year’s series also creates space for dialogue, addressing themes such as emotional resilience, adapting art practices to changing realities, and navigating diverse opportunities within the arts. Each workshop is collaboratively shaped with local organizations and practitioners.
“This exciting series aligns with our commitment to foster a thriving arts ecosystem in Newark. It will cover a diverse range of topics for artists of all genres, including business skills, marketing strategies, and artistic development, presented by industry experts and thought leaders. Our goal is to equip creatives with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the arts. We invite artists, creatives, and cultural workers alike to join us on this inspiring journey of growth and learning to build a stronger, more resilient arts community in Newark,” said Lauren LeBeaux Craig, Executive Director of Newark Arts.
The series kicks off with an introduction to the Newark Artist Database and a ‘how to join’ tutorial. The workshop, led by Damien Davis, can be registered for here.