Newark Grounds is a walkable cultural corridor in Downtown Newark, New Jersey, featuring over 75 consecutive public artworks and dedicated arts and culture spaces. Led by Project for Empty Space, this initiative is 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, the Newark Alliance, the Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau, Newark Arts, the Four Corners Public Arts Partnership, and the Rutgers University-Newark Design Consortium. The project connects Newark Penn Station to Teachers Village through a dynamic arts path.
The initiative bridges public art projects from Four Corners Public Arts, Project for Empty Space, and Gateways to Newark: Portraits, along with selected works from New Jersey Transit’s public art program at Newark Penn Station. It is strategically situated within the Arts and Education District, established by Mayor Ras J. Baraka in Fall 2022.
Over the next two years, the project will expand public arts programming by enhancing existing spaces with murals, installations, sculptures, performances, streetscape improvements, wayfinding signage, lighting, and cultural activities.
The first phase of opportunities is now open, with proposal submissions due by May 16, 2025. A virtual information community meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 22, from 5:00–6:30 PM. Submissions can be made through Submittable .
2025 - 2026
Request for
Proposals
Creatives nationwide are invited to propose new public art installations that reflect the mission of Newark Grounds, exploring themes of Collective Belonging and Centering Community through the Arts. The cultural corridor is a space that, through public art, shares the voices, histories, and connections that define our community. We welcome proposals from artists of all backgrounds and disciplines who create dialogue, unity, and shared cultural experiences through their work.
Visual arts opportunities include a mixed-media light installation at the entryway of Edison Place and Broad Street. This piece will serve as a welcoming sign for the arts path while improving walkability for visitors seeking cultural experiences. At the heart of the corridor, a gravel landing will host 3-dimensional installations. Beginning this fall and running through 2026, the project offers three four-month opportunities, each shaped by community engagement and public programming.
Additionally, the initiative will launch Newark Grounds Night Fest, a biannual mini-festival in partnership with the Newark City Parks Foundation. Designed to activate the newly established cultural corridor, the festival will take place in the lower section of Mulberry Commons Park, adjacent to the Prudential Center. It will feature a performance stage, a curated market, and a picnic area for community gatherings. Opportunities for Performers and Vendors are now available.
