Call for Creators & Producers

A three-city, three-weekend celebration of the arts, technology and creativity, will take place in Newark, Asbury Park and Atlantic City in June 2023.

Music, comedy, theater, dance, spoken word, and visual arts event proposal grants are available to support arts organizations, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and local creators, based in each featured city, to enable them to produce a public event during the festival weekend in their location.

Grants must be used to present an open-to-the-public (ticketed or non-ticketed) event at a mutually-agreeable time during the festival weekend at the Grantee’s home city (Atlantic City: June 4 – 11; Asbury Park: June 14 – 18; Newark: June 21 – 25, 2023)

The application deadline is Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

Eligibility Requirements

Legal Status: Applicants may be non-profit organizations, individual artists, unincorporated artist groups, incorporated nonprofit organizations, or small businesses.

Location: Applicant organizations must be based and primarily operating in Newark, Asbury Park, or Atlantic City, NJ.

Programming: Applicants must demonstrate the quality of the proposed event, artistic merit, applicants’ capacity to produce the event, cultural relevance to the city, and desired impact.

Budget: Applicant organizations must have annual operating budgets no greater than $2 million.

Use of Funds: Applicants may use awarded funds for event-related costs, including but not limited to:

• Payments to artists and contractors
• Rent for programmatic facilities
• Programming expenses
• Supplies or equipment rental

Review Process 

Submitted applications will be reviewed by a selection committee of arts and city leaders in each location as well as NJPAC staff. Committee members will fill out Conflicts of Interest disclosures and will not participate in the judging of any applicant organizations with which they are affiliated. 

Applications will be judged on the following criteria: 

Quality 

• Artists: Demonstrated track record of exceptional creative ability and artistic merit
• Small Business or Organization: Organization’s programs provide high quality artistic and cultural experiences for their community? 

Community Relevance 

• Does the proposed project represent or celebrate a unique aspect of the culture and/or character of the host city or local community? 

Impact 

• Proposed project’s impact, whether broad or deep, on the surrounding community or the city at large.

Capacity 

• Applicant’s demonstrated ability to produce the proposed project

awards & payments 

Approximately 12 – 15 grants will be awarded in each city; grants will range from $1,000 to $5,000. Awarded funds must be used by June 30, 2023.

Award sizes will be determined based on: 

• The amount of funds available 
• The selection committee’s score of the application, as determined by the criteria outlined above 
• The amount of funds requested 

Funding decisions will be shared with applicants beginning April 17, 2023 and announced to the public on May 1, 2023. 

For questions regarding the application process please contact Jennie Wasserman at eventapplications@njpac.org

Who can apply?

1. Non-profit or religious organizations, individual artists, unincorporated artist groups, incorporated nonprofit organizations, or small businesses can apply.
2. Applicants who live, work or have a history of performing or presenting arts events in Newark, Asbury Park, or Atlantic City, NJ. 
3. Applicant  organizations with an annual operating budget under $2 million.

What is the review process?
Applications will be reviewed by a committee of arts and city leaders with specific knowledge of the cultural landscape in each host city. Committee members will make recommendations to NJPAC regarding the applications to be accepted for funding. NJPAC will determine funding amounts for each application and notify grantees of their awards beginning April 17, 2023 .Note: committee members will fill out Conflicts of Interest disclosures and will not participate in the judging of any applicant organizations with which they are affiliated. 

How will my application be judged?

1. Funding is intended to assist in the production of self-produced arts events. Panel members will want you to show that you have the ability to self-produce a live arts event in Atlantic City, Asbury Park, or Atlantic City during the Festival dates. To produce an event, you must be able to secure a venue, provide all necessary production equipment, staff and permits, and have the means to promote your proposed event. Festival dates are as follows:
   
   Atlantic City: June 4 – 11
   Asbury Park: June 14 – 18
   Newark: June 21 – 25
2. Panel members will be looking for events that showcase local talent or highlight the unique cultural character of a host city.
3. Panel members will want to see a realistic budget for your proposed event. If your total budget is more than $5,000, clearly explain how you will cover those additional costs.
4. Panel members will be looking at how realistic your program is to implement, based on the details you provide and your program history/experience.

What is the minimum and maximum amount of funding I can apply for?
You may apply for a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $5,000. If your event only requires $1,500 to produce, do not apply for more than that amount. You will be required to account for how funds were spent after the event is completed.

Do I need a venue to apply?
It is highly recommended that you have a venue/location, or a realistic proposed venue/location, when you apply. Applications with secured venues will be looked on more favorably than those without a venue. If you have a venue/location secured it is recommended that you include proof of the venue/location you have secured in your application (for example, an upload of an agreement, letter of understanding, or email correspondence from the venue, etc.) Our panels will be looking at how realistic your program is to implement, based on the details you provide and your program history/experience. Projects proposed without a definite space will be viewed as incomplete.

Will North to Shore help me find a venue or location for my proposed event?
No. Applicants must secure their own venue/location to host their event.

Will North to Shore provide production assistance or equipment for my proposed event?
No. This application is intended for people or organizations that can self-produce an event, but the grant funding can be used to cover some of your production costs.

Can I have my event at NJPAC?
Self-producing an event at NJPAC will require a rental fee. Please see the following information regarding rental space at NJPAC: https://www.njpac.org/venue-rentals/

What if I don’t have a venue?
Examples of potential venues include: your front porch, a restaurant, an art gallery, a school auditorium, a school football field, a senior citizen center, the boardwalk, a public park, a municipal building, a yoga studio, a coffee shop, a sneaker store, a Boys and Girls Club, a local music school or shop, a movie theater lobby, a parking lot. We encourage you to get creative and use your local networks. For example, partnering and collaboration with local businesses and organizations is a great idea. Check with local city agencies regarding any required permits you may need for your event.

Can I apply with other people or organizations?
Yes. Partnering and collaboration is encouraged with other local artists, businesses, and organizations, however, only one application should be submitted per event. You should mention your partners under “collaborators” in the application, indicate whether they are confirmed or proposed, and tell us how they will be involved. A letter of support from the partner is also highly recommended.

Does my event have to be free?
No. You can charge admission to your event and retain all revenue.

Can I apply to produce a private event?
No. This application process is intended to serve the community so all events must be open to the public.

What dates are available for my event?

Festival dates are as follows:

Atlantic City: June 4 – 11
Asbury Park: June 14 – 18
Newark: June 21 – 25

Will North to Shore help me market my event if I am awarded a grant?
Yes! In addition to financial assistance, the Festival will include your event on the Festival website alongside headlining talent, in statewide and regional marketing campaigns, and assist with creation of promotional assets including logos and instructions for how to properly credit the Festival as funder after the award is given. 

Can I apply to be an opening act for a headlining artist on the Festival?
No. This application is intended for people or organizations that want to self-produce an event on the North to Shore Festival only.

Can I apply for funding for a sports event?
No. This application is intended to fund performing and visual arts events only.

What will North to Shore provide to grantees?
Grantees will receive funding to assist in the production of their event between $1,000 – $5,000, have their event included on the Festival website alongside headlining talent, inclusion in statewide and regional Festival marketing campaigns, and assist with creation of promotional assets.

When will applicants be notified if they will be awarded a grant?
Awardees will begin to be notified on Monday, April 17, 2023.

Can I use the grant funds to produce an event after June 2023?
No. Grants must be used to fund an event during the Festival dates.

Can NJPAC Staff help me with my application?
Questions can be submitted via eventapplicaitons@njpac.org. However, NJPAC does not provide edits to texts or budgets.

I’m not from Newark, Asbury Park, or Atlantic City; can I still apply for funding?
Organizations/Artists not from a host city should find a local partner to apply with.

Can NJPAC employees apply for this grant opportunity?
No. NJPAC employees cannot apply for this grant. 

What happens if part of my proposal falls through after I’ve been awarded a
grant?
Major changes to your project (such as population served, funding, timeline, location, partners, staffing) must be approved prior to proceeding. You must submit a written request for approval explaining the proposed changes before moving forward with your project. If the alteration to your project changes the initial scope/benefit/impact of your awarded proposal, you may not receive your funding.

If I’m awarded a grant, how will I receive the funds and how soon can I spend them?
Grant funds will be distributed by company check. You may not spend grant dollars until you have received an official award letter and signed a grant agreement. Following the project’s completion, you must submit a final survey (which will be provided), describing the project, how grant funds made a difference, the number and demographics of the participants and audience, and a completed final budget form. Failure to submit a complete final report in a timely manner will affect future funding possibilities.

What are the obligations of a grantee after being awarded a grant?
Grantees must self-produce their proposed event as described in the grant application, promote their event using Festival logos and assets, and, following the even’ts completion, submit a final survey describing the project, how grant funds made a difference, the number and demographics of the participants and audience, and a completed final budget form.  

Are grants transferable?
Grant funds are not transferable. Funds may be spent only on those activities specified in the grant application or approved in a project or budget revision. Applicants must submit a written request to NJPAC prior to implementing any project or budget revisions. If the project cannot, for any reason, be implemented as described, the grant check must be returned to NJPAC

What if I have questions after reading this FAQ and the guidelines?
Please contact Jennie Wasserman at eventapplications@njpac.org