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Creative District Funding Opportunities
Trenton Creative Network Grant
The TCN Grant will support local artists and creative businesses in creating impactful community projects in Downtown Trenton’s Creek to Canal (C2C) Creative District.
Interested applicants should review the Trenton Arts in Focus plan to gain insight into the goals for the Creek to Canal District. The plan is available for download on our website under the 'PLAN' tab."
OVERVIEW
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Grant Amount: 4 grants of $2,500 each
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Funding Structure: 50% upfront, 50% within 30 days of project completion
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Eligibility: Artists and creative businesses with projects located within Downtown Trenton’s Creek to Canal Creative District
GOALS
Applicants must select 2-3 goals from the list below and explain how their project will achieve them:
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Develop a welcoming and supportive creative community
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Establish physical connections with nearby Arts & Culture institutions
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Encourage arts exploration of Trenton’s assets
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Strengthen connections between arts and culture destinations within Old Trenton (OTN)
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Foster a full-service community for artists and creative entrepreneurs
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Integrate art in parks to draw people in
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Create opportunities for artists and creatives to teach or mentor
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Expand programming to integrate creativity into social services
Interested applicants should review the Trenton Arts in Focus plan to gain insight into the goals for the Creek to Canal District. The plan is available for download on our website under the 'PLAN' tab."
Eligible Projects
Grants may be used for projects related to:
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Creative Activation of Spaces
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Visual Arts, Design, and Beautification (e.g., murals, sculptural installations, streetscape improvements, lighting installations)
2. Culture & Performing Arts
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Festivals, oral history projects, public concerts, theater, dance performances, etc.
3. Community Investment
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Projects benefiting downtown residents (e.g., education, youth development, elderly enrichment, sports programs)
Ineligible Projects
This grant will NOT fund:
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Discriminatory projects or organizations
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Debt reduction or operational support
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Capital campaigns or fundraising events
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Re-granting programs
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Scholarships
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Partisan political activities, lobbying, or election influence
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Religious activities (worship, instruction, proselytizing)
TIMELINE
Launch Date
2/10/2025
Submission Deadline
3/31/2025
Award Notification
4/28/2025
Project Completion
10/31/2025
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit an online form including:
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Project description
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Budget & Timeline
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Portfolio or examples of past work (optional but recommended)
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Must provide a clear community benefit (not for private gain)
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Must be non-discriminatory
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Must benefit Downtown Trenton and its residents
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Applicants must select 2-3 of the C2C strategic goals and explain how their project will achieve them
Selection Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
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Creativity & Innovation – Is the project unique and original?
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Community Impact – How does it benefit or engage the community?
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Feasibility – Can the project be realistically completed within the budget and timeline?
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Alignment with Goals – Does the project support the program’s objectives?
Selection Process
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Applications will be reviewed by a Grant Review Committee (local arts leaders, community members, and funders).
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Applicants may be interviewed or asked for additional information.
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Selected recipients will sign a grant agreement outlining fund use and reporting requirements.
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Payment Structure: 50% upfront, 50% upon project completion.
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Final Report: Recipients must submit a brief report detailing project outcomes and lessons learned.
Grant Review Committee
Nasir Square
Community Outreach and Education Coordinator
Artworks
nsquare@artworkstrenton.org
Latarsha Burke
The African American Cultural Collaborative of Mercer County,
CEO / Executive Director
trentonaapride@gmail.com
WHERE ?
1. Before you start your project:
Sign a grant agreement.
2. Share your project with the Old Trenton Community!
3. As you do your project:
It’s time to get to work! Please keep the following in mind as you carry out your project.
● Keep all receipts. You will be required to submit them with your reports.
● Document your activities. Please create and keep photographs of work in progress, and keep note of community participation in your project. Please keep sign-in sheets that document what percentage of your participants are residents of Old Trenton.
● Keep us posted! Let us know of any events, gatherings, activities, and project work you have coming up. We will help get the word out, and help you troubleshoot if any issues come up.
4. Reports – during and after your project:
You’re required to send us two reports -- a progress report and a final report.
● Progress report (3 months after being awarded): This is a short write-up (one page) telling us what you’ve gotten done so far, what’s left to do, what (if any) challenges you’re facing, and how much you’ve spent. Please include a copy of all receipts so far, and any photos, flyers, etc. that give us a sense of how the project is going.
● Final report that includes:
⎯ A short written narrative (two pages maximum) with a reflection of what you did, your overall experience, and how your project affected Old Trenton and your organization
⎯ A financial summary listing all expenses, with copies of all receipts
⎯ Documentation that your work was in/for Old Trenton
⎯ Photographs of your project in progress, and any completed work.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET AWARDED:
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