PRESS RELEASE: Atlantic City Arts Foundation Announces Milestone Mural By Renowned Muralist Mona Caron

Atlantic City Arts Foundation Announces Milestone Mural By Renowned Muralist Mona Caron

The organization’s 100th and city’s largest mural will commence in April 2024

Press Release - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Atlantic City, NJ  – Feb. 26, 2024 – The Atlantic City Arts Foundation, along with presenting sponsor ThriveAC Fund and partner Create 48, today announced renowned Swiss-American artist Mona Caron will paint the largest mural in Atlantic City, commencing in April 2024. Located at The Atlantic, the 19-story mural will be the organization’s 100th mural, and become the largest mural in the city. Part of Caron’s WEEDS project, the mural will incorporate flora native to Atlantic City, narrating themes of resilience, renewal, and perseverance.

“My WEEDS project is a tribute to resilience against all odds. I paint spontaneously occurring wild plants, native or non-native, and paint them big, at a scale inversely proportional to the attention and regard they get. It’s a metaphoric salute to the struggle of authentic grassroots communities, and it’s a reminder that we need to shift Nature’s ranking in our priorities," said Caron.

The 2024 mural, set to be unveiled at the 48 Blocks Atlantic City festival in June, represents a significant milestone in Atlantic City’s cultural landscape. The installation, which is scheduled to commence at the end of April, will involve a six-week collaborative effort between Caron and four assistant muralists, including Charles Barbin and Randi Meekins-Barbin, co-owners of Dunes Gallery in Brigantine and creators of several notable murals in Atlantic City, Jenna Morello, a multi-disciplinary artist from Brooklyn, and Morello’s assistant, Baran Duzgan.

“This is a watershed moment for the arts in Atlantic City,” shared Monica Casiello, Board President of the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. “What better city than Atlantic City to be graced with Mona Caron’s art? Her work proclaims resilience. Atlantic City is nothing if not resilient.”

As the leading public arts organization in Atlantic City, the Atlantic City Arts Foundation has played a pivotal role in transforming the city's landscape through public art. Their mural initiative began in 2017 with only enough funding for paint and supplies; the original artists donated their time. The program has since flourished, culminating in the installation of 96 impactful murals; 80 are still on view, transforming Atlantic City's 17.2 square miles into a vibrant outdoor gallery.

“This project is the result of years of work by our team, volunteers, community members, and artists to build a thriving arts community in Atlantic City,” said Kate O’Malley, Executive Director of the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. “We’ve seen firsthand that murals not only beautify our city, but also boost community pride, drive economic development, and attract tourism. Mona Caron’s mural will further highlight Atlantic City as a destination for arts and culture.”

The 100th mural project is made possible through the support of ThriveAC Fund, the Atlantic, Casiello Philanthropic Foundation and Inlet CDC. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, contact kate@acartsfoundation.org.

For more information about the Atlantic City Arts Foundation visit https://atlanticcityartsfoundation.org/

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About the Atlantic City Arts Foundation

The Atlantic City Arts Foundation’s diverse programs & partnerships activate community pride & civic self-esteem through interaction with public art, including the city’s leading and largest mural arts program. The organization is dedicated to increasing public art access and fostering community art appreciation in Atlantic City, NJ. Programs include 48 Blocks Atlantic City, Chalk About AC, and ARTeriors. The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is a 501(c)3 public arts nonprofit organization. www.atlanticcityartsfoundation.org/ 

Media Contact

Kate O’Malley
kate@atlanticcityartsfoundation.org
(856) 217-1823

PRESS RELEASE: $248K Awarded to Atlantic City Arts Foundation for Mural Restoration, Public Arts Promotion in Atlantic City

$248K Awarded to Atlantic City Arts Foundation for Mural Restoration, Public Arts Promotion in Atlantic City

Press Release - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 30, 2024

“Close Encounters” by Charles Barbin, slated for restoration in 2024. Photo: Ray Nunzi, 2018.

The Atlantic City Arts Foundation has been the driving force behind mural art in Atlantic City since 2017. The public arts nonprofit has created 96 murals, with 80 still intact, throughout the 48 blocks of the city. In 2024, a $248,700 NJEDA grant awarded to the organization will support further promotion and restoration of these important cultural assets.

The Public Space Activation Grant is made possible through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (NJEDA) Activation, Revitalization and Transformation (A.R.T.) program, designed to reactivate and revitalize Atlantic City and Newark in the wake of COVID-19.

“Atlantic City thrives on tourism, and the ART Program will ensure some of our most popular sites will be around for years to come for our millions of visitors annually to enjoy,” said City of Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr.

The Atlantic City Arts Foundation, set to surpass 100 murals created in 2024, will leverage the funding to maintain, expand, and promote the city’s cultural assets:

• Restoration of 5 murals, damaged by time and weather, by the original artists.

• Creation of 3 new murals to replace lost murals.

• Signage installed on Adirondack chairs and planter boxes and the addition of these assets to our public arts map.

• Building organizational capacity by hiring interns and additional contractors.

• Performing an independent audit of the organization’s financial records to demonstrate financial transparency and meet application requirements of federal grant funding.

• Refining the organization’s brand identity and marketing strategy to attract sustainable, long-term funding and tourism.

• Developing a new website and virtual public art map, creating a more intuitive, interactive, and informative experience for visitors.

• Purchasing a van and lift to ease mural facilitation.

“As the premier public arts organization in Atlantic City, it’s crucial to foster a culture of restoration, repair, and protection of our cultural assets alongside their expansion. The NJEDA grant allows our organization to lead this initiative while we build the capacity to broaden our reach, fundraising, and impact,” said Atlantic City Arts Foundation Executive Director Kate O’Malley.

Through a collaborative partnership with Stockton University, Ducktown CDC, Chelsea EDC, Midtown CDC, and Inlet CDC, funded by the university’s NJEDA grant, signage will be placed at the organization’s 80 murals.

“Fostering an appreciation for Atlantic City’s heritage, its murals and public space requires investment and collaboration. This grant program gives communities an opportunity to shine and share their stories. It also strengthens Atlantic City’s ability to succeed, because it recognizes the importance of all of the city’s unique assets and offerings,” said Assemblywoman Claire Swift (R-Atlantic).

The A.R.T. program utilizes American Rescue Plan State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in the wake of the pandemic.

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The Atlantic City Arts Foundation’s diverse programs & partnerships activate community pride & civic self-esteem through interaction with public art, including the city’s leading and largest mural arts program. The organization is dedicated to increasing public art access and fostering community art appreciation in Atlantic City, NJ. Programs include 48 Blocks Atlantic City, Chalk About AC, and ARTeriors. The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is a 501(c)3 public arts nonprofit organization. www.atlanticcityartsfoundation.org/

2023: Revitalizing Atlantic City Through Public Art

The Atlantic City Arts Foundation has served as a catalyst for change, dedicated to broadening Atlantic City’s visual and cultural identity through public arts initiatives since 2015.

Christian Correa & Nuala work on a mural at Cardinal

Working with our grant writer, Alice Woods, we received $362,000 in grant funding in 2023, including a $100,000 grant from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.

Combined with corporate sponsorships and individual donations, the organization raised $476,000 this year.

$222,000 went directly to artists, 70% of whom were Atlantic County-based.

“In Memory Of…” Kenneth Lazan, Jr., John Morris, Chanelle René.

The long-awaited Jacob Lawrence tribute mural, put on hold during the pandemic, was completed in the fall of 2023, located at Atlantic Cape Community College in the 3rd Ward, near Lawrence’s birthplace.

We invited residents and visitors to 19 community-focused events, designed to foster connections and nurture our vibrant and thriving arts community. 2023 included ACAF’s annual Chalk About AC with the return of the Color Run, in partnership with Atlantic City Marathon, and our annual 48 Blocks AC city-wide celebration with a return of Jitney Mural Tours—a restoration of two pre-pandemic experiences.

“Community in Bloom”. De’von Downes, Chanelle René.

19 murals were added to Atlantic City, including a series by globally-renowned muralists dubbing themselves “Foxx and Friends”.

Since 2017, ACAF has produced 103 murals throughout the 48 blocks of Atlantic City.

“The Orange Loop”. Helen Clymer.

Our 10th ARTeriors, ARTeriors at The James, welcomed 1,130 visitors during its month-long run. The kick-off party, co-hosted by Cardinal, was ACAF’s largest event to-date.

ARTeriors Baltic Avenue was also hosted in 2023, bringing 725 visitors through its doors in January.

Model Katie Weightman, painted by Heather Deegan-Hires, shares a laugh with local artist Lennox Warner during the ARTeriors kick-off party.

In partnership with the CRDA, 36 Adirondack chairs and 11 planter boxes were painted and installed for 48 Blocks AC. Investment from neighborhood CDCs ensured inventory was placed throughout the city’s neighborhoods in addition to on the Boardwalk.

Executive Director Kate O’Malley and Community Engagement Coordinator Jill Fermonte

We extend a special thank you to our top funders in 2023: ThriveAC Fund, Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Waterwheel Foundation, Casiello Philanthropic Foundation, TD Charitable Foundation, and Tapestry and to our top in-kind sponsor, Cardinal.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our growth and success in 2023 through sponsorships, donations, partnerships, in-kind contributions, and volunteer hours. None of this would be possible without your support. 2023 has been an extraordinary year and we cannot wait to keep building bigger and better in 2024!

MEDIA ADVISORY: Atlantic City Arts Foundation & Atlantic Cape Community College to Dedicate Jacob Lawrence Tribute Mural, “In Memory Of…”

Atlantic City Arts Foundation & Atlantic Cape Community College to Dedicate Jacob Lawrence Tribute Mural, “In Memory Of…”

Media Advisory – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 3, 2023

(Atlantic City, NJ) – On Friday, October 27, at 5 pm the Atlantic City Arts Foundation & Atlantic Cape Community College will dedicate “In Memory Of…”, a Jacob Lawrence tribute mural, located at Atlantic Cape’s Worthington Campus.

The 3-panel mural was brought to life by local artists Kenneth Lazan Faulk, Jr., John Morris, and Chanelle René, in collaboration with young Atlantic City artists from the Leaders in Training program: Yah’Sir Bell, Dwayne Carter, J’Nai Crouch, Jacob Flores, Quamira Hardy, and Kayani Lin.

Lawrence, hailed as a master storyteller, was born on September 7, 1917, in Atlantic City's Ward 3, across the street from the campus where the Save-A-Lot now stands. His work continues to resonate deeply with the community, and we are honored to celebrate his life and legacy through art.

WHO:

• Kate O’Malley, Executive Director, Atlantic City Arts Foundation

• Lizbeth Castro James, Director, Worthington Campus and Community Outreach, Atlantic Cape Community College

• Kaleem Shabazz, Atlantic City Councilman, 3rd Ward, City of Atlantic City

• Valeria Marcus, Artist & Atlantic City Resident

• Kenneth Lazan Faulk, Jr., Muralist

• John Morris, Muralist

• Chanelle René, Muralist

WHEN: Friday, October 27, 2023 at 5 pm; reception to follow

 WHERE:

Atlantic Cape Community College in the back parking lot
1535 Bacharach Blvd
Atlantic City, NJ 08401

“In Memory Of…” is funded by Atlantic Cape Community College, Midtown CDC, Thriv, ThriveAC Fund, Stockton University, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. The project was initially conceived and researched by Valeria Marcus.

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The Atlantic City Arts Foundation’s diverse programs & partnerships activate community pride & civic self-esteem through interaction with public art, including the city’s largest mural arts program. ACAF is dedicated to increasing public art access and fostering community art appreciation in Atlantic City, NJ. Programs include 48 Blocks Atlantic City, Chalk About AC and ARTeriors. ACAF is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization. www.atlanticcityartsfoundation.org/

Did you know?

Did you know we’ve been part of the Atlantic City community since 2015?🎉

What started as a way to activate our community through the arts and create opportunities for local artists has grown into a movement to promote the arts throughout Atlantic City!

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ARTeriors at 121 S. Tennessee Ave in September 2015

Our first-ever event was ARTeriors at 121 S. Tennessee Avenue, later home to MADE Atlantic City Chocolate and currently Bar 32 Chocolate. At its core, the ARTeriors program is about transition and transformation. ARTeriors has transformed spaces in transition at The Walk, Showboat Atlantic City, & the Orange Loop to name a few!

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Close up of “Trail Her Trash” by Billy Joe Michel. ARTeriors Showboat, April 2019.

Chalk About AC, a colorful, interactive celebration of the city has been going strong since our start with support from local businesses and organizations. In 2019, we even partnered with the ACFD for Fire Safety Month and AC Marathon to host a mini color run in O’Donnell Park! Last year volunteers helped us make over 1400 chalk packets that were available at food distribution sites, the Boys and Girls Club, and local businesses so folks could Chalk About AC from home.

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Community members participate in the 2019 Chalk About AC Mini Color Run!

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Chalk packets at food distribution site in 2020

Of course, we cannot forget about 48 Blocks Atlantic City! Our flagship program was launched in 2017 through a partnership with Stockton University. Since then, hundreds of local artists and community members have participated in the planning and creation of projects for this annual event, supported by local businesses and organizations. In 2020 we went virtual, presenting projects via Zoom. 48 Blocks AC is also home to our Adirondack chair project, annually offering participants the opportunity to design a unique chair to be displayed on the iconic Atlantic City Boardwalk and in our beautiful public parks, all thanks to SID of CRDA!

Perhaps most notably, we launched Atlantic City’s largest mural arts program through 48 Blocks AC, supporting the creation of over 50 murals to date! In 2018, we hosted AC’s first-ever Mural Week and got to watch as 6 artists transformed 5 walls in just 7 days. At this point, it’s hard to drive through the city without noticing at least one mural. You may have strolled down the unofficial “Mural Avenue”, better known as Sovereign Ave, home to 6 murals and Skate AC. There is even a mural inside City Hall, made possible through a partnership with the City of Atlantic City!

And yes — there are more murals to come throughout our bustling city by the sea!

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BK Foxx works on her mural during Mural Week, 2019.

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Not For Sale, BK Foxx, 2019.

We’re excited to launch new projects in 2021, continue our core programming & expand artist opportunities, and host in-person events for the community (when we are safely able). Watch this space!

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