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)

Kate O'Malley Discusses Public Art on Off The Press

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/