Project for Empty Space is thrilled to share that we’ve distributed forty-five grants in the inaugural phase of the Newark Artists Accelerator. Artists demonstrating creative commitment to the City of Newark were awarded $1500 in unrestricted funds to use as disaster relief aid. 

Congratulations to the 2020 Newark Artist Accelerator grantees:
Airi Kiryu, Antoinette Ellis-Williams, Armisey Smith, Benedict Hadley, Caresse N., Cesar Melgar, Christen Clifford, Daniela Puliti, "Eleven" Kayla Muldrow, Jacob Lawrence Mandel, Jenna Arvelo, Jillian M Rock, Jo-El Lopez, Justin Francesco, Juno Zago, Kwesi O Kwarteng, LeRon Lee, Lillian Ribeiro, Livingston Steele, Luis-Miguel Caraballo, Malik Whitaker, Mars Harris, Mashell Black, Matilda Forsberg, Musa Hixson, Nadia Liz Estela, Nelise N. Charles, Noelle Lorraine Williams, Rorschach Art Collective, Shoshanna Weinberger, Studio Council, Sunah Nash, Tehsuan Glover, Teolinda Azzizi, The Artist Recreates the World, The Honk-Tweet, UCAW - Urban Creative Arts Workshops by Kween Moore, Viviana Salgado, xplorefreedom, and others.

This fund was made possible by the generous support of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Regional Regranting Program and The New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund.

“This funding has helped maintain my studio. Having to worry about the financial burden of keeping a studio sometimes takes away the drive/mind to create. This fund has been a huge relief and enabled me to finish some projects I’ve been working on. Very grateful…”
- Kwesi Kwarteng

“This grant has helped me so much and has allowed me to continue creating my art in a space that promotes artistic growth influenced by the amazing artists around me! Looking forward to continuing my creative process and making bigger and better work for 2021!”
- Justin Francesco

“As a Newark-based artist, I am very grateful to be a recipient of the Newark Artist Accelerator Fund. This generous grant has already assisted me with material costs for an upcoming exhibition scheduled in 2021. Because of this help and support, I am able to complete and finalize the installation. I feel thankful that the Newark Artist Accelerator grant was available to the Newark arts community, and provided relief to artists like myself, who's studio practice has been impacted by the pandemic. Thank you for supporting me."
- Shoshanna Weinberger