By Donald Gilpin
A Trenton Arts Fellowship, created through a partnership between Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts and Mercer County Community College (MCCC) to support visual artists living and working in Trenton, is accepting applications through November 14.
Modeled on the Lewis Center’s other artist fellowship programs, the Trenton Arts Fellowship, in its inaugural round, will provide one visual artist with a $10,000 stipend, along with access to shared studio space in Trenton Hall on the MCCC James Kerney Campus from September 2026 through June 2027. The Fellow will also receive an appointment through MCCC (no teaching required), will have access to both MCCC and Princeton University resources, and will have the option to participate in workshops, public conversations, open studios, and exhibitions in an MCCC gallery space.
More than 30 artists attended an open house and workshop event for prospective applicants on September 20 at MCCC’s James Kerney Campus in Trenton. “Trenton artists already knew about the fellowship, and it seems they’re all talking about it amongst themselves,” said Mary O’Connor, assistant director of fellowships and visiting artist programs at the Lewis Center. “They asked amazing questions. They’re all very excited about having time, studio space, and additional funding to help with their research and work.”
O’Connor, one of the lead organizers of the fellowship along with artist and MCCC’s Interim Dean of Arts and Communication Lucas Kelly and other MCCC administrators, pointed out some of the plans for the program. “The goal for the fellowship is not only to allow the artist time and space to do new work, but also to connect in exciting and meaningful ways with the community,” she said. “I think this will be beneficial for the entire artist community because we’ll be hosting open studios and workshops and talks, and then it will end with a gallery show.”
Kelly expressed his enthusiasm for the long-term project and elaborated on MCCC’s role. “Mercer’s mission in part is to uplift the community and be an active, engaged member in the community,” he said. “This is an opportunity to help a local artist and not just in a one-off-here’s-an-exhibition fashion, but with a truly sustainable growth mindset where we are investing in their career over the course of a year.”
He continued, “We’re giving them space and funding, so this isn’t just a quick check to cover some expenses. This is a big commitment we’re making to one individual artist from Trenton. Hopefully we can help two folks in the following year and it can grow.”
The announcement of the Trenton Arts Fellowship states that the goal of the program is “to assist the artists in creating impactful work that would engage with the Trenton community.” It further notes, “This mission is based on the conviction that exposure to the arts helps us to make sense of our lives and the lives of our neighbors. We pursue this mission by bringing together a vibrant community of people with different backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and artistic practices.”
The $10,000 stipend/research fund for the 10-month fellowship, September 2026 to June 2027, is intended to serve two purposes: half may be used for living expenses and the other half for materials and research connected to the artist’s work.
Many of the participants in the September 20 open house information session came over from an event taking place at Artworks Trenton, an artists’ organization, gallery, and visual art center which is also a collaborator in the Arts Fellowship project.
O’Connor described the genesis of the idea for an arts fellowship based in Trenton. For many years she had been attending various arts events at the Trenton Hall at MCCC’s Kerney Campus on Broad Street, and the Lewis Center has sponsored a Saturday program in music, theater, and dance for Trenton High School students.
“But we didn’t really have anything for visual artists,” she said. “MCCC has a beautiful building in what I consider to be a potential arts neighborhood. There is already a thriving arts community in Trenton, and Artworks is doing amazing work. This fellowship could be meaningful not just for the selected artist, but also for the students in Trenton and for the larger community.”
The program grew from conversations involving Lewis Center and MCCC faculty and administrators — MCCC President Deborah E. Preston, Provost Robert Schreyer, Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs, Workforce Education and Innovation Gonzalo Perez, and others — in seeking to recognize and support Trenton artists of exceptional promise.
Lucas talked about the potential impact of the Trenton Arts Fellowship on local student artists at MCCC, emphasizing the importance of students’ seeing local artists at work as well as learning about more famous artists throughout history and around the world.
“It’s important for them to recognize that success has a lot of different definitions,” he said. “For some students success in the arts doesn’t mean moving to New York City. Some artists want to be a part of their local community, to do their part to uplift their community by being engaged in the arts. They’re trying to do shows, to teach classes, and trying to get people interested in the arts.”
O’Connor is looking forward to seeing the Trenton Arts Fellowship program evolve and expand. “My hope is that this goes on forever and that it only grows,” she said. “I believe that is what will appen. This model seems to be very sustainable.”
For more information and the application, visit mccc.edu/trentonartsfellowship.