Community Arts Awards

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

Applications will be reviewed by an advisory group of arts and culture leaders with specific knowledge of the cultural landscape in each host city. Committee members will make recommendations to the festival regarding the applications to be accepted for funding. The festival will determine funding amounts for each application and notify awardees according to the following schedule:

• Self-Produced Event awardees will be notified on February 24, 2025.
• Performing Artist awardees will be notified as other performers and line-ups are confirmed, but no later than April 1, 2025.

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.  

1. Funding is intended to assist in the production of self-produced arts events and, for solo artists or small ensemble musical acts looking for opportunities to perform on an outdoor stage or club in their city. Our panels will be looking at how realistic your program is to implement, based on the details you provide and your program history/experience.
2. For self-producing applicants, panel members will want you to show that you have the ability to self-produce and promote 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. Application reviewers will want to see a realistic budget for your proposed event. If your total budget is more than the requested amount, clearly explain how you will cover those additional costs.

   If you are applying to self-produce an event, panel members will be looking at how realistic your program is to implement, based on the details you provide and your program history/experience.

   For performing artists seeking a performance opportunity, panel members will want you to show what an audience can expect at your live performance. They will be looking for you to show the quality of your artistry at a live performance, a show that has a special theme or concept that is relevant to your community, and evidence of how you will promote your show.

   Festival dates are as follows:

   Atlantic City: June 12 – 15 and from April 2025 – April 2026

   Asbury Park: June 19 – 22

   Newark: June 26 – 29

3. Panel members will be looking for events and independent performing artists that showcase local, under-recognized talent and highlight the unique cultural character of a host city. Remember to emphasize why your event or artistic offering may be important to your home city.
4. Panel members will also want to make sure that a producer or independent artist has a significant following and the ability to market to that following to deliver an audience for your event.

If you are applying to self-produce an event, you may apply for a maximum of $10,000. If your event only requires $5,000 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.

If you are applying as an independent artist, please indicate the requested award amount and the festival will determine the amount of funding depending on the size and scope of your proposed performance.

If you are applying to self-produce an event, you will need to have a realistic proposed venue/location when you apply. If you are awarded but do not have a location secured, you may still apply, but you will need to find a venue.  If you receive an award, please note that you will be required to submit proof in writing (an email correspondence is acceptable) that the owner or lease-holder of the venue has agreed to let you use the space.

To facilitate accessibility and maximize audience participation, the festival seeks to centralize events in each city. Awardee preference will be given to events that serve the following communities:

• Asbury Park: West Side, Springwood Park, Main Street and Sunset Park
• Newark: Central Ward, specifically within the Arts and Education District
• Atlantic City: Gardner’s Basin, The Boardwalk, Chelsea, Ducktown, The Orange Loop

Please be assured that applications will be accepted and considered for events in other neighborhoods

If you are applying to self-produce an event, no; you will need to secure your own venue. Please note that to facilitate accessibility and maximize audience participation, the festival seeks to centralize events in each city. Awardee preference will be given to events that serve the following communities:

• Asbury Park: West Side, Springwood Park, Main Street and Sunset Park
• Newark: Central Ward, specifically within the Arts and Education District
• Atlantic City: Gardner’s Basin, The Boardwalk, Chelsea, Ducktown, The Orange Loop

Please be assured that applications will be accepted and considered for events in other neighborhoods

If you are applying as an independent performing artist, there will be limited slots on outdoor stages and/or clubs in each city that the Festival will provide.

If you are applying to self-produce an event, no. The award funding should be used to cover some or all of your production costs.

If you are applying as an individual artist, yes. The festival will provide backline, PA and lighting and engineers for your performance in each city.

If you are applying to self-produce an event and your venue is NJPAC, it will require that you sign a rental agreement and cover the rental costs. Please see the following information regarding rental space at NJPAC: https://www.njpac.org/venue-rentals/

If you are applying to self-produce an event, examples of potential venues include: a public park, a restaurant, an art gallery, a school auditorium, a school football field, a senior citizen center, the boardwalk, a municipal building, a yoga studio, a sneaker store, a Boys and Girls Club, a local music school or shop, 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!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Check with local city agencies regarding any required permits or application fees you may be responsible for your self-produced event in public spaces.

Yes. Partnering and collaboration is encouraged with other artists, businesses, and organizations, however, only one application should be submitted per event and every application must have a lead applicant. You should mention your partners as “additional applicants” in the application and tell us how they will be involved. A letter of support uploaded to the “Background Materials” section of the application from your partner is also highly recommended.

If you are applying to self-produce an event, no. You can charge admission to your event and retain all revenue. However, in order to ensure accessibility to the majority of the communities served, we highly encourage applicants to keep ticket prices to $20 and under, if possible.

No. This application process is intended to serve the community so all events must be open to the public.

Festival dates are as follows:

Atlantic City: June 12 – 15 and from April 2025 – April 2026

Asbury Park: June 19 – 22

Newark: June 26 – 29

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. However, you will also be responsible for marketing your event and ensuring that you attract an audience. Please share your marketing plan and provide specific details about your strategies such as the size of your email list and number of social media followers.

Yes. Awards will be given to a limited number of local artists/groups — primarily solo or small ensemble musical talent up to four members — to perform on outdoor stages or in clubs during the festival in each city. Programming decisions will include alignment with genres and styles of headliner acts. Award amounts will be determined based on experience, length of performance and number of artists. Performance dates, times and locations will be decided by festival organizers no later than April 1, 2025.

No. This application is intended to fund performing and visual arts events only.

Awardees will receive funding to assist in the production of their event up to $10,000 or as a performance fee up to $1,500, have their event included on the festival website alongside headlining talent, inclusion in statewide and regional festival marketing campaigns, and assistance with creation of promotional assets for awardees to use in their own promotional efforts.

• Self-Produced Event awardees will be notified on February 24, 2025.

• Performing Artist awardees will be notified as other performers and line-ups are confirmed, but no later than April 1, 2025.

Not in Asbury Park and Newark. Award funds must be used to fund an event during the festival dates.

In Atlantic City, funds can be used for an event occurring between April 2025 and April 2026.

Please read through the guidelines and FAQs. If you still have questions, you can submitted them via eventapplications@northtoshore.com.

You must reside, have a business, or have a history of performing or producing work in a host city in order to be eligible to apply for this award. Organizations/Artists not from a host city can, however, find a local partner to apply with.

No. NJPAC employees cannot apply for this award. 

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.

Awards will be dispersed in three payments via ACH as follows:

• 50% Deposit: Sent once final event information is received from awardee and approved by the festival (deadline: March 21)

• 40% Second Payment: Sent on the day of awardee’s event or performance

• 10% Final Payment: Sent once final attendance numbers and post-event survey is received by the festival

Note: Please plan your budget and cash flow needs according to the above schedule.

You may not spend award dollars until you have received and and accepted an official award letter, provided a W9 and your backing information for payment, signed an award agreement, and provided all of your event information and marketing materials to the festival by March 21, 2025. Award letters will be sent out on February 24, 2025 and agreements will be sent out beginning March 25, 2025.

Following the project’s completion, you must submit a final survey (which will be provided), describing the project, how award 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.

Awardees self-producing their event, must:

1. Use all of the award money exclusively for the awarded project or performance.
2. Execute the program as described in the original proposal application.
3. Follow through on the marketing strategy outlined in the application which includes marketing to the core community and/or fan base.
4. Use approved Prudential North to Shore Festival 2025 logo on all print and digital materials, websites and advertisements related to awarded events. 
5. Ensure all sponsor signage and logo inclusion is visible during awardee event. Failure to do so will void sponsorship and funding will be rescinded.
6. Ensure that event locations are compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
7. Provide complimentary access for festival staff at your event or performance.
8. Complete a post-event survey and report on attendance numbers at your event or performance within one (1) week of your event.

Performing artist awardees appearing must adhere to the above responsibilities except for numbers 5, 6, and 7 above.

Award funds are not transferable. Funds may be spent only on those activities specified in the event information provided by the awardee or approved in a project or budget revision. Applicants must submit a written request to the festival prior to implementing any project, budget, or performance revisions. If the project or performance cannot, for any reason, be implemented as described, the award funds must be returned to the festival.