CAMDEN, N.J. – Camden FireWorks has been awarded $457,800 in grant funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) through Phase II of the Activation, Revitalization, and Transformation (A.R.T.) Program, a statewide initiative supporting community-focused arts and cultural organizations.
The A.R.T. Phase II program supports the revitalization of commercial corridors by leveraging arts and culture to activate public spaces, boost foot traffic, and strengthen economic resiliency in communities most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Camden FireWorks is one of 39 organizations selected statewide to receive funding under the program, which is supported by the American Rescue Plan (ARP).
Camden FireWorks will use the grant to implement Art in the Commons, a neighborhood-based public art and community activation initiative in Camden’s Waterfront South neighborhood. The project will include artist-led public art installations, community engagement activities, and workforce opportunities designed to activate underutilized spaces while supporting local artists and creative workers.
“The A.R.T. program delivers essential grant funding to local arts and cultural organizations for initiatives that strengthen communities and promote long-term growth,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan in the Authority’s announcement. “These awards will help communities across the state activate public spaces, host events, and advance arts-based initiatives that promote vibrancy and economic resiliency.”
Art in the Commons builds on Camden FireWorks’ longstanding commitment to artist-centered, community-based work in Waterfront South. By investing directly in local creative labor and place-based cultural activation, the initiative supports economic recovery while reinforcing the role of arts and culture as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization.
“The funding announced through A.R.T. Phase II allows organizations like Camden FireWorks to advance arts-based initiatives that strengthen local communities,” said NJEDA Chief Community Development Officer Tai Cooper in the statewide release. “These projects demonstrate the holistic impact of the arts on economic development and quality of life.”
Founded in Camden’s historic Waterfront South neighborhood, Camden FireWorks is a multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to using art as a tool for social change through community engagement, artist support, and cultural activation.
For more information about Camden FireWorks and Art in the Commons, visit www.camdenfireworks.org.
About Camden FireWorks
Camden FireWorks is a community-based arts organization located in Camden’s Waterfront South neighborhood. Operating out of a restored 1889 firehouse, the organization supports artists, hosts exhibitions and public programming, and leads neighborhood-based cultural initiatives that center creativity, equity, and community connection.