Project for Empty Space (PES) has announced a new initiative called Newark Grounds, a walkable cultural corridor featuring more than 75 consecutive public artworks and dedicated arts and culture spaces in Downtown Newark, New Jersey. This project derives from a collaboration with the City of Newark Division of Art and Cultural Affairs, the City of Newark Arts and Education District, the City Parks Foundation, Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau, Newark Arts, the Four Corners Public Arts Partnership, and the Rutgers University-Newark Design Consortium. The initiative kicked off during the 2024 Newark Arts Festival with a corridor crawl and a map designed by local designer Gisela Ochoa.

"We are thrilled to be among the strategic partners that have brought Newark Grounds to life. It means so much to be launching a new arts and cultural corridor that will serve as a vibrant portal to creativity in the heart of our city, during the Newark Arts Festival. This initiative truly highlights the power of collaboration and our shared commitment to ensuring that Newark continues to thrive as a premier destination for arts and culture." – Lauren LeBeaux Craig, Executive Director, Newark Arts

Newark Grounds will present the works of over 75 artists, integrating the public art projects from Four Corners Public Arts, Project for Empty Space, the Gateways to Newark: Portraits, and select pieces from New Jersey Transit’s public art program located at Newark Penn Station. It is strategically situated in the newly formed Arts and Education District, announced by Mayor Ras J. Baraka in Fall 2022.

“Newark Grounds was conceived by artists, students, residents, and organizations to create a space dedicated to celebrating the arts and supporting artists. This initiative unites private and public partners who recognize the significant impact that art can have on cities and commun(ities). Our hope is to establish this area as a walkable zone for experiencing art and bridge several existing programs through thoughtful navigation and collaborative programs”  - Jasmine Wahi and Rebecca Pauline Jampol, Co-Directors, Project for Empty Space. 

“By placing this initiative at the heart of Newark’s Arts and Education District, we hope to highlight the numerous grassroots arts efforts within our city. Residents and visitors will have a chance to explore this new vision for the area defined by arts, culture, equity, and sustainability. The key is to ensure that the district serves as a destination to live, work, shop, learn and play." - Victoria Walker, Newark Arts and Education District

This initiative will provide a platform for continued public arts programming over the next two years, enhancing the existing spaces with additional murals, installations, sculptures, performances, streetscape enhancements including wayfinding and lighting, and cultural programming. Engaging community discussions have been held over the last year to establish support for this endeavor. The initial phase of this work is supported by an A. R. T. grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA).

In partnership with Rutgers University-Newark Arts Culture and Media Department, Professor Chantal Fischzang and students from the Design Consortium crafted the name and brand identity for Newark Grounds. This direction was shaped over an entire year of community engagement sessions with diverse stakeholders. It takes inspiration from the late Amiri Baraka’s "Ballad of the Morning Street," illuminating the city’s palette and the spirit of its people. 

“The Design Consortium is a student-faculty creative studio that engages in curriculum-driven collaboration with our community. Our students become involved in a thorough, semester-long research process that provides invaluable work experience while enabling them to create impactful projects. We take immense pride in this cohort and their collaborative efforts to shape a public space that considers all audiences and supports the work of the city and its partners” - Rutgers-Newark Professor Chantal Fischzang

Visiting professor and alumni Gisela Ochoa has been commissioned to create a walking map for Newark Grounds, which was revealed on October 11th, along with programming provided by various arts and culture spaces throughout the corridor. 

About the Partners:

City of Newark Division of Art and Cultural Affairs
The Division of Arts and Cultural Affairs serves as the catalyst for participation, education, collaboration, and development to encourage and support excellence in the arts within the City of Newark. This division oversees the city's arts initiatives, supports community engagement in arts and cultural programming, provides organizational support to existing and evolving art institutions, oversees a world-class public art program, and encourages collaborative partnerships and investment in the city's artists and arts and cultural organizations. It supports the creation of a more sustainable, equitable, inclusive, and creative economy in Newark that enlivens our neighborhoods and ignites the imaginations of our children. Learn more here.

City of Newark Arts and Education District
The city of Newark, NJ has been making significant strides in recent years to establish itself as a vibrant center for the arts and education. The city’s Arts and Education District, located downtown, is a hub of cultural activity and features a range of museums, galleries, performance spaces, and educational institutions. Learn more here.

City Parks Foundation
Newark City Parks Foundation, Inc. (NCPF) a public-private partnership created by Mayor Ras J. Baraka and the Newark Municipal City Council in April 2021 to manage, maintain, program, and raise funds for Newark’s Downtown Parks including the historic Harriet Tubman Square, Lincoln Park, Military Park and Mulberry Commons and Riverfront Park. Learn more here.

Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau (GNCVB) serves as the official destination marketing organization for Newark, New Jersey. As a private 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation, primarily funded by Newark hotels through a Tourism Improvement District, GNCVB is dedicated to fostering economic growth and boosting employment in Newark. Its mission encompasses marketing and developing the Greater Newark region as a year-round destination, increasing the number of overnight visitors to Newark hotels, extending the average duration of overnight stays, and enhancing per capita spending by hotel guests at local restaurants and attractions. Learn more here.

Newark Arts
Newark Arts Council (NAC, aka Newark Arts) is a key anchor institution that drives Newark as a global City of the Arts.  Founded in 1981, for the past 43 years, Newark Arts has elevated Newark’s arts and culture ecosystem for the benefit of all Newarkers. Newark Arts’ overarching strengths are that it is a trusted intermediary, key collaborator, cultural vanguard/catalyst, and marketing machine for the city. By demonstrating Newark as a model of creative placemaking, we fuel Newark’s vibrancy and drive the arts as an economic lever for urban America. Learn more here.

Four Corners Public Arts Partnership
Four Corners Public Arts was initiated in 2019 through a public/private partnership convened to support public arts initiatives in Newark’s Four Corners Historic District. The partnership includes The City of Newark, Invest Newark, Newark Arts, Newark Downtown District, Paramount Assets, and RBH Group. The partnership evolved out of a common interest to give care to under-acknowledged areas of the City through the arts, with the goal of cultivating creative communal space for everyone. At a time when Newark was undergoing a marked transformation, the partnership believed it was imperative to create opportunities that strengthen the local creative community. Learn more here.

Rutgers University-Newark Design Consortium
The Design Consortium at Rutgers University-Newark is a student-faculty creative studio that emphasizes collaboration, partnering with local organizations to tackle real-world challenges, driving positive change in our city. Located within Express Newark—a hub for socially engaged art and design—our consortium fosters connections between Rutgers and the surrounding community, through impactful design projects that resonate locally.