Big News: NJEDA Grant Fuels Exciting Public Art Projects in 2025!

Michael Atkins, Executive Director | March 3, 2025

We are beyond thrilled to share exciting news—the Atlantic City Arts Foundation has received long-awaited grant funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority! This significant investment in public art will enable us to bring even more creativity and vibrancy to our city, supporting two brand-new mural installations and six mural refurbishments throughout 2025. 

Even more exciting, this funding has allowed us to hire a full-time program manager, ensuring that we can effectively coordinate and execute these projects while strengthening our long-term impact on the community. This grant represents a major boost for public arts in Atlantic City and is truly transformative for our organization.

For those unfamiliar, NJEDA launched the Activation, Revitalization, and Transformation (A.R.T.) Program in 2023, which established a “one-time grant opportunity to support economic recovery in urban areas with mass transit that have faced economic harms from the reduction of commuters due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” The ART program directs public funding specifically to Atlantic City and Newark to aid in real estate rehabilitation and public space activation initiatives; Atlantic City Arts Foundation originally won a grant in Spring 2024 for public space activation by proposing rehabilitations and new installations and organizational support to administer these public art projects. 

What’s Next?

With this incredible support, we’re now diving into the planning phase. Our next steps involve scheduling and strategizing with various project teams to develop a series of inspiring murals that showcase the talent of local and regional artists. Each project will be designed with public enjoyment in mind, enriching our shared spaces with bold, beautiful, and thought-provoking works of art. It is also our intention to celebrate each mural restoration and installation with a significant public event that invites the public to applaud and appreciate our artists, and for all of us to celebrate the positive impact arts are having on Atlantic City. We can’t wait to collaborate with artists and community members to bring these pieces to life!

Adapting to Challenges

As with any grant-funded initiative, there are certain restrictions and requirements we must adhere to. In order to meet state funding guidelines, we’ve had to reassess some aspects of the project scope. This means that, in some cases, we’ve needed to adjust mural sites or artist concepts to align with these regulations. We recognize that these changes may come as a disappointment to some, please know that our commitment to supporting public art and uplifting our creative community remains unwavering.

Since I took the role of executive director in September 2024, I have worked closely with our grant officers in state government and community partners to preserve as much of this project as possible, while moving our funding forward through the review and approval process. I want to extend a thank you to the half a dozen advocates within the NJ Economic Development Authority who worked as partners with the Atlantic City Arts Foundation to see to it that we could alter our scope to achieve the goal of funding art projects in Atlantic City. Over the past twenty weeks it has been a concerted effort to ensure this funding, which we view as allocated to the artists and community of Atlantic City as much as to our organization, can reach our community and support projects throughout the city. 

At the core of this initiative is our dedication to empowering local and regional artists while fostering civic pride. Public art is a powerful tool for storytelling, engagement, and transformation, and we are eager to ensure that this funding is maximized to its fullest potential.

Stay Tuned

There’s so much more to come! In the weeks ahead, we’ll be sharing updates on artists, project locations, and ways the community can get involved. Be sure to follow along as we embark on this exciting journey to beautify Atlantic City with inspiring public art.

1. New, 167 S. Tennessee Ave. (Midtown) 

2. Relocation, 1512 Pacific Ave. (Midtown)

3. Relocation, 23-25 S. Kentucky Ave. (Midtown)

4. Rehabilitation, 1512 Pacific Ave. (Midtown)

5. Rehabilitation, 7 So. Carolina Ave. (Midtown)

6. New, 416 Atlantic Ave. (Inlet)

7. Rehabilitation, 900 Mediterranean Ave. (Inlet) 

8. Rehabilitation, 111 N. Sovereign Ave. (Chelsea)

10 Reasons to Support the Arts in 2024 (Americans for the Arts)

The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They ennoble and inspire us—fostering creativity, empathy, and beauty. The arts also strengthen our communities socially, educationally, and economically. If you believe everyone should have the opportunity to participate in the arts and every student should be receiving a quality arts education, use the following 10 reasons show why an investment in artists, creative workers, and arts organizations is vital to the nation’s health and prosperity.

1. Arts strengthen the economy. The nation’s Arts and Culture sector—nonprofit, commercial, education—is a $1.1 trillion industry that supports 5.2 million jobs (2022). That is 4.3% of the nation’s economy—a larger share of GDP than powerhouse sectors such as Transportation, Construction, Education, and Agriculture. Similar results are found at the state level. The nonprofit arts and culture industry alone generated $151.7 billion in economic activity in 2022—spending by arts organizations and their audiences—which supported 2.6 million jobs and generated $29.1 billion in government revenue.

2. Arts drive revenue to local businesses. Arts attendees spend an average of $38.46 per person, per event, beyond the cost of admission on items such as meals, parking, and lodging—vital income for local businesses. 30% of attendees come from outside the county in which the arts event took place; those nonlocal attendees average $60.57 in spending beyond admission, and 77% said they traveled to the community specifically to attend that arts and culture event.

3. Arts unify communities. 72% of Americans believe “The arts provide shared experiences with people of different races, ethnicities, ages, beliefs, and identities.” 63% agree that the arts “help me understand other cultures in my community better”—perspectives observed across all demographic and economic categories.

4. Arts strengthen mental health and wellbeing. Just 45 minutes of art making can lower the stress hormone cortisol by 25%. More than half of Americans (60%) say the arts have “helped them cope during times of mental or emotional distress,” and 69% believe the arts “lift me up beyond everyday experiences.”

5. Arts and culture are tourism drivers. Arts travelers are ideal tourists, staying longer and spending more to seek out authentic culture experiences. 70% of Americans agree, “The arts improve the image and identity of my community,” and 53% say, “When planning a vacation, I consider the destination’s arts and culture experiences when deciding where to visit.”

6. Arts improve academic performance. Students engaged in arts learning have higher GPAs, standardized test scores, and college-going rates as well as lower drop-out rates. These academic benefits are reaped by students across all socio-economic strata. Yet, the Department of Education reports that access to arts education for students of color is significantly lower than for their white peers. 92% of Americans believe it is important for grades pre-K through 12 students to get an education in the arts both in school and outside of school in the community.

7. Arts spark creativity and innovation. Creativity is among the top five applied skills sought by business leaders—per the Conference Board’s Ready to Innovate report—with 72% saying creativity is of “high importance” when hiring. Research on creativity shows that Nobel laureates in the sciences are 17 times more likely to be actively engaged as an arts maker than other scientists.

8. Arts have social impact. University of Pennsylvania researchers have demonstrated that a high concentration of the arts in a city leads to greater civic engagement, more social cohesion, higher child welfare, and lower poverty rates.

9. Arts improve healthcare. Nearly one-half of the nation’s healthcare institutions provide arts programming for patients, families, and even staff. 78% deliver these programs because of their healing benefits to patients—shorter hospital stays, better pain management, and less medication. 75% of Americans say if their doctor wrote them a prescription to participate in the arts as a way to improve their physical or mental health, they would likely follow that recommendation.

10. Arts for the health and well-being of our military. The arts can heal the mental, physical, and moral injuries of war for military servicemembers and Veterans—who rank the creative arts therapies in the top four (out of 40) interventions and treatments.

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Author: Cohen, Randy | Publication Year: 2024 | Source: Americans for the Arts

PRESS RELEASE: 101st Mural “Beneath the Waves” unveiled by Atlantic City Arts Foundation at Hot Bagels

PRESS RELEASE: 101st Mural “Beneath the Waves” unveiled by Atlantic City Arts Foundation at Hot Bagels

Press Release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is proud to announce the completion of its 101st mural in the city. “Beneath the Waves” by artist Susan Daly now adorns Hot Bagels and More at 212 Pacific Avenue in Atlantic City. A public mural unveiling was held at 11am on October 31, 2024.

Lead artist Susan Daly’s artistic journey is defined by a rich legacy of crafting bespoke artwork for diverse clientele, including casinos, restaurants, and private commissions. She was born in Trenton and holds a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in NYC for Illustration. Daly has transformed numerous walls with her masterpieces over the years; her extensive portfolio showcases a myriad of artistic expressions, revealing a deep passion for her craft. Her roots in South Jersey anchor her work, with prominent locations in Atlantic City, where she installed the blue skies in The Quarter at Tropicana and at Caesar’s. For the 101st mural, Daly’s design was selected by a review committee of the Atlantic City Arts Foundation and Inlet Community Development Corporation representatives in consultation with the Hot Bagels owners. Daly, who lives in nearby Northfield, was assisted in installing this mural by exceptional local artist Marcos Monteiro, who is himself an aquarium enthusiast.

“Beneath the Waves” illustrates the local fish we catch and consume, and the marine giants we protect and avoid. The mural’s electric style uses natural and unnatural colors in a loose painting style. This produces a fun, vibrant, eye-catching, whimsical illustration with blue swirls representing ocean currents and breezes that anchor the large elements together. Each image was outlined in deep red to complement the vibrant logo colors of the bagel shop logo. Included in the local marine life mural are fish (stripers, flounder, cod, and tog), blue claw crabs, oysters, clams, scallops, mussels, jellyfish, stingrays, a seal, a hammerhead shark and a humpback whale. The utility meter behind the building has been transformed into a bright octopus. Seagulls greet customers on the building facade, eager for a scrap of pork roll, egg, and cheese. 

​This project is a partnership between the Atlantic City Arts Foundation and the Inlet CDC to support small businesses and bring art to the vibrant Inlet neighborhood, situated at the north end of Absecon Island. Inlet CDC coordinated support for the business to beautify its facade, install new windows, and sponsor the artwork. 

Susan Daly, lead artist, shared:

I paint for the people and design for the location. When I saw the call for proposal and visited Hot Bagels the first thing I saw was the electric utility meter as an octopus. From there I drew on my childhood love of crabbing, fishing, and the fresh fish we enjoy. I also wanted to include the dolphins and whales that swim in our waters and tragically wash up on our beaches. The best part of painting this mural was meeting such great people and experiencing the excitement of the community for my creation. Thank you to everyone who stopped to say hello and for allowing me to contribute my mural art to the Inlet neighborhood of Atlantic City. 

Michael Atkins, Executive Director, commented: 

I absolutely love the design and artistry Sue has brought to an iconic Atlantic City business. Her attention to the wonderful diversity of local marine life invites a mindfulness that we are one with the ocean even when we enjoy a breakfast sandwich. I am grateful that Sue lent her creative talents to the city at a location that I know will attract many admirers. 

Atlantic City Art Foundation’s 101st Mural is made possible through the generous support of Inlet Community Development Corporation, with additional support from New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. 

About the Atlantic City Arts Foundation

The Atlantic City Arts Foundation’s diverse programs and partnerships activate community pride and civic self-esteem through interaction with public art, including the city’s largest mural arts program. The Atlantic City Arts Foundation 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 non-profit organization. Learn more at www.atlanticcityartsfoundation.org/.

Media Contact

Michael Atkins
michael@atlanticcityartsfoundation.org
(609) 217-5569

PRESS RELEASE: Atlantic City Arts Foundation Prepares for Milestone 100th Mural by artist Manuela Guillén

Atlantic City Arts Foundation Prepares for Milestone 100th Mural by artist Manuela Guillén

Press Release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is preparing its 100th mural installation in Atlantic City since 2017. This milestone mural represents the resilience of Atlantic City’s arts ecosystem and the accomplishment of artists and supporters to uplift civic self-esteem through the vibrancy of arts. The Atlantic City Arts Foundation will host a public unveiling on October 14, 2024, and invites the community to join them in celebration. 

Lead artist Manuela Guillén is a freelance painter, muralist, and digital illustrator currently living in Philadelphia, PA whose murals can be found in both the U.S. and Mexico. Born in Miami to Cuban and Salvadorian immigrant parents, Guillén grew up in Atlantic City, where she worked in a casino while pursuing a career in the arts. Guillen began her mural career in 2015 in Atlantic City with the AC Arts Commission, creating “Protectors,” located on S Georgia Ave. In 2016, she created “Bright Skies” for ACAF’s inaugural 48 Blocks Atlantic City. She returned in 2018 with “Viva Campensina” at the 2nd Ward Firehouse, and this summer she completed the organization's 99th mural, “Green Voices,” teaching and working with youth artists from Mighty Writers. She has nurtured her lifelong love for arts into collaborating with local, national, and global art organizations such as PangeaSeed, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Gender Justice Fund, the Atlantic City Arts Foundation and more. 

Recently, Guillén installed “Hands of Nourishment”, which encourages viewers to reflect on the many hands that touch our food chain, in the cafeteria at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This major commission and achievement demonstrates the critical importance of her art and its social justice themes. Inspired by plants, tropical colors, and her cultural upbringing, Guillén aims to bring awareness to art education, mental health, sociopolitical, and environmental issues. As a teaching artist, Guillen hopes to inspire the next generation of artists to be creative as she continues to bring communities closer together through art.

For the 100th mural, Guillén has developed a design titled, “Always Dreaming, Always Growing” for Cardinal. This design pushes further into Guillén’s floral motifs and will be a vibrant, colorful panel that augments the welcoming open-air garden space at the restaurant. Work will commence on an exterior wall at Cardinal on October 1st with an expected completion date of October 15. Guillén will also work with a roster of local artists of exceptional talent in their own right to assist her in completion. 

October 14, 2024 the Atlantic City Arts Foundation will host an unveiling event at Cardinal between 4pm-7pm. This free event open to the public falls on Indigenous People’s Day and celebrates the conclusion of Hispanic Heritage Month. For the first hour, ACAF will welcome Atlantic City youth to engage with the art, and provide blank coloring pages of Guillén’s design so that they can imagine their own vibrant colors in this floral design. A short program will commence with speakers, before a brief mixer to allow for the public to connect with both the artist and the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. ACAF is partnering with El Pueblo Unido Atlantic City to provide bilingual materials and assist in event outreach. 

Manuela Guillén, lead artist, shared:

Painting a mural in Atlantic City holds deep personal significance for me. My journey as an artist began here in 2014 with my very first mural, and it was in this shore city that I discovered my unique style and honed my craft. Attending the local college to study fine art painting not only nurtured my artistic abilities but also taught me the invaluable lesson of building a community wherever I go. Over the years, I have witnessed Atlantic City's growth, which has paralleled my own evolution as an artist. Creating this mural would be my heartfelt way of saying thank you to a city that has been instrumental in shaping my artistic journey. It would be an honor and a profound gesture of gratitude to give back to the community that has given me so much.

Michael Atkins, Executive Director, commented: 

The 100th mural installation is a major achievement for both the Atlantic City Arts Foundation and for Atlantic City. Due to the dedication and talents of many before me, we are celebrating this milestone and the whole arts community of Atlantic City. I am thrilled that Manuela Guillén is our lead artist for this milestone; her story as a native child of Atlantic City who found her visual identity in art through opportunities provided by the Atlantic City Arts Foundation is something for which we are extremely proud. We look forward to celebrating with our neighbors on October 14th!

Atlantic City Art Foundation’s 100th Mural is made possible through the generous support of Presenting Sponsor ThriveAC Fund, with additional support from New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, Midtown Community Development Corporation, the Casiello Philanthropic Foundation, and Kitten & Puff. The 100th Mural event celebration is held in partnership with Cardinal and promotional support from El Pueblo Unido Atlantic City.

Manuela Guillén, Lead Artist for the 100th Mural

The Garden at Cardinal, 201 S. New York Avenue, site of the 100th Mural

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About the Atlantic City Arts Foundation

The Atlantic City Arts Foundation’s diverse programs and partnerships activate community pride and civic self-esteem through interaction with public art, including the city’s largest mural arts program. The Atlantic City Arts Foundation 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 non-profit organization. Learn more at www.atlanticcityartsfoundation.org/.

Media Contact

Michael Atkins
michael@atlanticcityartsfoundation.org
(609) 217-5569

PRESS RELEASE: Atlantic City Arts Foundation Appoints New Executive Director Michael Atkins

Atlantic City Arts Foundation Appoints New Executive Director Michael Atkins

Press Release - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATLANTIC CITY — The Atlantic City Arts Foundation has appointed Michael Atkins as its new Executive Director, effective Sept 1, 2024. Atkins is native to South Jersey and leverages extensive experience in multimedia production and nonprofit communications into the crucial role of executive director. He is a proud Atlantic City resident with a lifelong passion for literature, visual arts, and performing arts. 

Monica Casiello, Board President, shared, “The Board conducted a thorough search, with applicants from far and wide, yet found Michael’s unique set of qualifications and incredible dedication right here in Atlantic City. The Board and I are thrilled to bring Michael’s talents and experience to the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. This will be a perfect fit for our organization, and will lead to great things for the arts in Atlantic City. This is a pivotal moment for the organization, as we will unveil our 100th public mural this fall. Michael will lead this organization to expand and enhance our arts programming and presentation.” 

Michael Atkins, Executive Director, commented: “I draw inspiration from the rich history and vibrant culture of Atlantic City, a place where the arts and social progress have long gone hand in hand. It is my intention to expand the offerings of arts in the city, for the benefit of its residents, to exhibit local artists, and to invite artists to draw their own inspiration from this historic city. I want to thank the Board for this opportunity, and look forward to connecting with my neighbors in the weeks to come.” 

For the past two years, Atkins worked as the communications director for New Jersey Future, a statewide policy nonprofit that advocates for equitable investment in infrastructure, and a fair balance between development and preservation. Prior to relocating to New Jersey in 2021, Michael served as the communications director for Friends of the Los Angeles River, an environmental humanities nonprofit that utilizes art, poetry, and ecological education to advocate for equitable access to a rewilded river. Atkins worked in broadcast film television before entering nonprofits, whose production credits spanned independent film and documentary to reality television, during which he interviewed hundreds of subjects including congresspersons, indigenous tribal leaders, architects, authors, and artists. 

This fall the Atlantic City Arts Foundation will celebrate its 100th public mural at Cardinal Restaurant in the Orange Loop at a free public event. Throughout Fall 2024, the organization under Atkins’s leadership will conduct listening sessions and develop a strategic plan to set a direction moving forward, with sustained emphasis on community engagement, artists' opportunity, expanded programmatic offerings, and economic development. As such, they welcome the suggestions, reflections, and imaginations of residents and artists who also love Atlantic City by emailing michael@atlanticcityartsfoundation.org. 

Michael Atkins, Executive Director, Atlantic City Arts Foundation

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About the Atlantic City Arts Foundation

The Atlantic City Arts Foundation’s diverse programs and partnerships activate community pride and civic self-esteem through interaction with public art, including the city’s largest mural arts program. The Atlantic City Arts Foundation 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 non-profit organization. Learn more at www.atlanticcityartsfoundation.org/.

Media Contact

Michael Atkins
michael@atlanticcityartsfoundation.org
(609) 217-5569

Kate O'Malley, Executive Director of the Atlantic City Arts Foundation, Steps Down

After three years with the organization, Kate O’Malley, Executive Director of the Atlantic City Arts Foundation, is stepping down. Kate has impacted the organization and the arts in Atlantic City, building meaningful relationships with our arts community, driving programmatic success, and building a vision for the future. Under Kate’s leadership, the Atlantic City Arts Foundation hosted our most lucrative, well-attended, and celebrated ARTeriors, ARTeriors at the James. She has advocated for artists, committing to structuring all projects, programs, and partnerships to ensure market-rate wages.

We are committed to continuing the meaningful work Kate started, especially as we set our sights on the installation of our 100th mural and the activities surrounding our 48 Blocks Atlantic City celebration. We support and thank Kate for her commitment to the organization and Atlantic City, and wish her all the best as she enters a new chapter in her professional life!

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

Kate O'Malley Discusses Public Art on Off The Press