Princeton tourism director announces public-arts grant program, tourism grants and April concert reveal

Victoria Caesar, Princeton’s tourism director, told the council during the public-comment portion of the April 6 meeting that the Princeton Public Arts Commission’s community art grant program is open and accepting applications until May 31. “The commission created this program because we get conversations throughout the community for people who are wanting to do designs on their buildings or specifically murals,” she said, adding the grant would also cover other public art forms, including sculptures.

Caesar said applications are available on the city website and in printed form at City Hall and asked council members to share the opportunity with local businesses that might sponsor or host art projects. “So, if there are any businesses in town that you guys have talked to that would be good candidates for this, please share that these are open,” she said.

She also noted that tourism grants are accepting applications, with a May 1 deadline, and that the city will hold an April 23 concert lineup reveal to announce Main Street concerts scheduled for the season. Council members welcomed the events and offered assistance with logistics.

The announcement follows the council’s broader talk about downtown activation and event-driven economic development. Councilmembers said they viewed grant-supported public art and an expanded concert series as ways to draw visitors and create photo‑op moments for Main Street businesses.

The council did not take any formal votes on the grant program at the meeting; Caesar said proposed projects would be vetted by the Public Arts Commission before approval or city involvement.