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)

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/

PRESS RELEASE: Globally Renowned Muralist BK Foxx Returns to Atlantic City to Reimagine “Not For Sale” Mural

Globally Renowned Muralist BK Foxx Returns to Atlantic City to Reimagine “Not For Sale” Mural

6 Fellow Artists to Create Murals in The Orange Loop between October 10-20, 2023

Press Release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 3, 2023

In 2019, New York-based muralist BK Foxx was the first artist to agree to participate in Atlantic City Arts Foundation’s launch of “48 Blocks AC Mural Week.” She raised the bar for mural art in Atlantic City, creating a 3-part mural that resulted in a GIF of a ripping check. In the past years, the wall has fallen into disrepair—BK is returning to reimagine the wall into a fresh mural and she’s bringing along 6 fellow artists to create new murals throughout the Orange Loop!

“When you spend some time in AC, you realize under all the grit and madness there are some of the most authentic, full souls you'll ever meet. I felt the spirit of the place and people when I first visited in 2019—it’s like few other places I've been. I've developed a deep love and appreciation for the 48 blocks of AC and the weird wild city that lives around the casinos. I’m excited to return for the 4th time, along with some other incredible artists, to create public art around the city that has been designed for AC,” shares Foxx.

The program, conceived by Foxx and billed as “Foxx & Friends”, is the largest concurrent mural project in Atlantic City–7 artists will create 6 murals in 10 days. The murals will be concentrated in the Orange Loop, furthering the vision of investors and developers Evan Sanchez & Zenith Shah of Authentic City Partners and Pat Fasano to transform the loop into a hub for arts and culture, leveraging the arts as an economic driver of further revitalization throughout the city.

“With the launch of Cardinal in the spring, Zenith and I have accelerated efforts and investments towards bringing more public art to the Orange Loop–expanding an already burgeoning arts zone and furthering our vision to build community through partnerships with organizations like ACAF and Create 48,” shares Sanchez.

ACAF has partnered with Create 48, led by Zach Katzen, to host the muralists and organize community events during their stay. “Foxx & Friends” is meant to be a celebration of Atlantic City, representing ACAF & Create 48’s ongoing commitment to collaboration and to welcoming artists from around the world into our community, creating ambassadors for our city around the globe.

The participating mural artists and their mural locations are: BK Foxx of Long Island, NY at 2309 Pacific Ave., Hiero Veiga of Brockton, MA & Vizsla Bacon of Toronto, Canada at 190 S Kentucky Ave., CPWon of Chile, currently based in Miami, FL at 26 S Kentucky Ave, Golden 305 of Venezuela, currently based in Miami, FL at 137 S New York Ave, Ruben Ubiera of the Dominican Republic, currently based in Miami, FL at 139 Westminster Ave, and Jenna Morello of Brooklyn, NY at 153 S New York Ave.

The community is encouraged to visit the mural sites to witness the transformation throughout the 10-day installations, October 10-20, 2023. We will also be hosting community events:

• Thursday, October 12, 6-9 pm – Meet & Greet with the Artists The Seed, featuring live music by Luke Witherspoon (Suggested Donation: $10)

• Thursday, October 12, 10 pm – Dance Party at Boogie Nights (Cover Charge)

• Wednesday, October 18, 8 pm – Screening of “Portrait of Etika”, a short film by BK Foxx at The Garden at Cardinal (Suggested Donation: $10)

For further information about “Foxx & Friends”, visit acartsfoundation.org/foxxandfriends.

“Foxx & Friends” is made possible by funding and partnership of CRDA, Authentic City Partners, Pat Fasano, Bar 32, Rhythm and Spirits, Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, Cardinal, Hayday Coffee, ACBNB, Dorsey Construction, Tony’s Baltimore Grill, Tony Baloneys, The Hook, Hard Rock Atlantic City, Little Water Distillery, The Seed, Sea Suite Capital II LLC, Side Pony Print Shop, Midtown in Motion, Atlantic City Community Fund, Community Development Block Grant, and Pena Productions.

Ongoing support is provided by Atlantic Cape Community College and NJSCA.

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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/

Press Release: AC Arts Foundation and Chelsea EDC to Host Dedication of “Community in Bloom” Mural April 28th

Lead Artist De’von Downes with their completed mural, “Community in Bloom”, Photo by Nastassia Davis, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 14, 2023

Atlantic City, N.J. – On Friday, April 28 at 5 pm, the Atlantic City Arts Foundation and Chelsea EDC will host a dedication of “Community in Bloom” by De’von Downes and Chanelle René, located at 3119 Atlantic Avenue in Atlantic City.

Located in Chelsea, the mural’s theme was driven by community input. The neighborhood, described as “a community in bloom,” is home to diverse cultures residing in harmony and celebrating their varied traditions. Residents sought a mural incorporating the music, food, flags, and flowers of their home countries. They also wanted to incorporate the neighborhood’s vibrant home gardens and their beloved cat colonies.

“Community in Bloom” Detail, Photo by Nastassia Davis, 2023

Lead artist De’von Downes was inspired by the community’s gardens, which foster cross-generational relationships and respect for your home and nature. They incorporated several countries' symbols into the motif - national fruits, flowers, and birds - creating a striking, colorful mural celebrating Chelsea’s diversity. The mural centers on two figures, an elderly Latinx woman and a young boy, planting a seedling below Thurgood Marshall’s words: “In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” Downes shared, “‘Community in Bloom’ honors our connection to nature and the importance of carrying our traditions and culture with us wherever we go. I hope it inspires all generations to honor where they’re from and the communities they live in now.”

Join us to dedicate “Community in Bloom”:

Friday, April 28, 2023 at 5 pm

3119 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401

Refreshments will be provided by Chelsea EDC. Street parking is available.

De’von at work, Photo by Nastassia Davis, 2023

Chanelle & De’von, Photo by Nastassia Davis, 2023

Finishing touches, Photo by Nastassia Davis, 2023

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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 a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  

Learn more: atlanticcityartsfoundation.org | IG: @acartsfoundation | facebook.com/acartsfoundation

“Community in Bloom” was sponsored by Chelsea EDC. Chelsea EDC, an independent nonprofit organization, partners with residents, businesses, and community organizations to expand economic opportunity and to improve the quality of life in the Chelsea neighborhood. The EDC’s focus area is a 0.75 square mile area from Annapolis Avenue to Texas Avenue and from the Beach to the Bay, and includes Stockton University, South Jersey Gas Headquarters, and the Tropicana, as well as 10,000 residents and 150 small businesses. Chelsea’s greatest assets are its diversity of people and amenities, as well as its pristine beach, expansive bay access, and beautiful green spaces.

For more information, visit www.ChelseaEDC.org

Artist housing was provided by ACBNB. acbnb.com

Press Release: Cardinal’s Massive 5,000 Square Foot Exterior Set to Become Atlantic City’s Latest Mural Canvas, in partnership with Atlantic City Arts Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 6, 2023

Atlantic City, N.J. – Cardinal follows a simple rule: Make Memories. The soon-to-open Contemporary American restaurant in the Orange Loop aims to create a memorable impact on everyone who passes by, transforming the once gray exterior into a vibrant, dynamic, organic mural. The commissioned piece will be one of the largest murals in Atlantic City. Positioned to become an anchor mural for the Orange Loop, the work will be visible from the Boardwalk and surrounding properties including Resorts Casino Hotel, Bally’s Hotel & Casino, and the Claridge Hotel.

Chef Michael Brennan, executive chef and co-owner of Cardinal, shared, “We envision a mural that fuses art, nature, and industry, evoking qualities of an urban garden, seasonality, and a sustainable presence juxtaposed with the city’s concrete surroundings.”

The 5,000 square foot building wrap will reflect the progression of the seasons throughout the year with each face of the building dedicated to a season. As the first touchpoint for guests, the mural must be distinct and eye-catching, expressing and showcasing Cardinal’s vision while flowing seamlessly with the interior of the restaurant.

"Over the past several years ACAF has facilitated over 70 murals in Atlantic City and the mural at Cardinal will be one of our most significant projects to date. Investments in the arts and community by businesses like Cardinal further our vision of sustainable and thriving public art opportunities in our city," shared Kate O'Malley, interim executive director of ACAF.

The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is now accepting proposals for the forthcoming project – muralists from near and far are encouraged to apply. Visit acartsfoundation.org/cardinal to learn more. Applications will close on April 5, 2023, at 5 pm EST.

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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.  

Learn more: atlanticcityartsfoundation.org | IG: @acartsfoundation | facebook.com/acartsfoundation

Cardinal is a Contemporary American restaurant serving globally influenced cuisine in a welcoming environment. Located in Atlantic City’s Orange Loop District and led by the family trio of Chef Michael and Thomas Brennan and Carl Fleck, Cardinal focuses on seasonal, sustainable, and responsibly sourced ingredients from New Jersey and surrounding areas with a commitment to elevated hospitality and community. Cardinal is located at 201 S. New York Avenue in Atlantic City, NJ.

Learn more: cardinal-ac.com | IG: @cardinal-restaurant | facebook.com/cardinalacnj

Press Release: AC Arts Foundation Launches Fundraising Campaign for Mural Honoring the Life and Legacy of Atlantic City-born Artist Jacob Lawrence.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 1, 2023

Atlantic City, N.J. – In honor of Black History Month, the Atlantic City Arts Foundation is working to bring Valeria Marcus' proposed Jacob Lawrence mural to life. Lawrence, hailed as a master storyteller, was born on September 7, 1917, in Atlantic City's Ward 3, where the Save-A-Lot now stands. Marcus, artist and Atlantic City resident, has also been working with the city to install a historical marker at Lawrence’s birth site.

In 2017, the City of Atlantic City passed Resolution 54 in recognition of Jacob Lawrence and his contribution to the art world. Honoring his legacy is meaningful to the Black community—Marcus shared “Jacob Lawrence was a genius and the first American artist to paint history. He grew up experiencing the struggles of racism and oppression among his people. And through his art, he was able to depict the daily struggles of African Americans.”

Lawrence created a body of work that comprehensively spoke about the African American experience. His esteemed 60-panel series, ‘Migration of the Negro,’ using tempera paints in an abstract storytelling style, depicted the millions of African Americans that migrated to the north from the Jim Crow era south for a better life. Atlantic City artist Kelley Prevard incorporated Lawrence’s motifs in her mural “Memory”, located at Atlantic Cape Community College’s Worthington Campus.

Fundraising for the mural project will continue throughout the month of February, alongside social content highlighting local Black artists and art in Atlantic City that represents Black history. The organization is aiming to raise $20,000 for the project, ensuring muralists and other contributors are paid equitably. The mural, if funded, will be included in the 2023 48 Blocks AC Mural Week in June, with artists selected through a juried application process.

Visit acartsfoundation.org/JLMural to contribute to the fundraiser. You may also contribute offline, checks payable to “Atlantic City Arts Foundation” may be mailed to PO Box 3, Atlantic City, NJ 08404.

For further information about Jacob Lawrence, visit jacobandgwenlawrence.org.                                                                                                 

Media Advisory: Atlantic City Arts Foundation to unveil the city’s first Augmented Reality Mural

“A Story of Floods” Mural Highlights Partnership with NJ Coastal Resiliency Art Program to Educate Community on Coastal Hazard Impacts 

For immediate release:
November 22, 2022 

(Atlantic City, NJ) – On Wednesday, December 7 at 11 am the Atlantic City Arts Foundation (ACAF) will unveil “A Story of Floods,” the city’s first augmented reality mural, developed for the NJ Coastal Resiliency Art Program to bring awareness to coastal climate risk and resilience.

WHO:

Kate O’Malley, Interim Executive Director, ACAF
Jill Fermonte, Community Engagement Coordinator, ACAF
Elizabeth Terenik, Board Secretary, ACAF & President, Chelsea EDC
Kaira Villanueva, Lead Artist
Dr. Aigner Holmes, COO, Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City (BGCAC)
Sydney Perkins, Director of Resource Development, BGCAC
Devon Blair, Bureau of Climate Resilience Planning, NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Danielle Bursk, Director of Artist Services, NJ State Council on the Arts

WHEN:

Wednesday, December 7, 11 am

WHERE:

Chelsea Club, Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City
215 N. Sovereign Avenue
Atlantic City, NJ 08401

The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public art access and fostering community art education in Atlantic City, NJ. ACAF develops programs that promote arts-based tourism and economic development initiatives while increasing community pride and civic self-esteem. Programs include 48 Blocks Atlantic City, Chalk About AC and ARTeriors. www.atlanticcityartsfoundation.org/

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