Hamilton resident John Kelly is the President of the Trenton Community A-Team, a nonprofit arts organization in Trenton, New Jersey.
The A-Team comprises self-taught artists who exhibit and sell work in the area using a portion of the proceeds to fund the group and support the artists. The A-Team is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary.
How did the A Team come about?
The Trenton Community A-Team was founded in 2001, when a group of five self-taught artists formed a collective and began to meet regularly at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. The A-Team of Trenton has provided a literal lifeline, and has supported the development of talent, community pride, and self-reliance.
By providing art materials, space, and exposure through gallery showings at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and elsewhere, the Trenton Community A-Team provides a valuable outlet for self-taught local visual artists who could not otherwise afford to practice their art. Artists began to meet one day a week at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen to make visual arts.
Sales from the artwork provided necessary funds for A-Team artists, and the community responded favorably to their efforts. The walls of the soup kitchen became a year-round gallery, and the artists began exhibiting their work at businesses, galleries, and events around the greater Mercer County area. Because of its success, the artists quickly ran out of storage and gallery space.
They formed a nonprofit so that they could solicit and receive donated funds in 2015. The artists receive 70% of the sales price and the remaining monies are used to house, insure, transport and market their art.
We are blessed to have Anthony Catanese, a filmmaker, artist and musician in his own right, serve as our site manager. That title is inadequate: Tony markets the art, curates shows, keeps the artists engaged and informed and spearheads our public efforts.
How many artists are involved and how did they join the team?
Over the past 25 years, TCAT has had hundreds of artists participate in the organization in one way or another. Most joined the team through our weekly art program at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.
How did you get involved with TCAT?
I was a TASK board member for over fifteen years, during that span I was Board Chair. I met Susan Darley, a Princeton psychologist and TASK board member and volunteer. She began the group which became the A-Team.
It was first known as Arts and Ideas, to give TASK patrons a place where they could share their opinions. Many patrons who began to participate had never been asked to give their views on subjects which interested them.
Where is the A-Teams home base?
51 N. Stockton St., a converted carriage house, rented from Isles, in the Old Trenton Neighborhood. We maintain our presence at TASK (72 ½ Escher St.) by holding a weekly art program at that facility.
Are there classes and instructors? Or do the artists’ work on their own?
All the artists are self taught, and we help the artists build their skills and expand their artistic visions. They developed their group organically, over time. This has led to their building strong bonds of support with one another.
How do you find the venues to host exhibitions?
Over its 25 years, TCAT has reached out to any number of public exhibition spaces (Grounds for Sculpture, Ellarslie the Trenton City Museum, Gourgaud Gallery [in Cranbury]) and several places in Princeton. Most of these venues are constantly looking for art to display.
As the A-Team, full of outgoing artists who want to show this area what they can do, these spaces realized that showing TCAT art was a good bet. The strong identification of city resident artists to Trenton and this general area enhanced their ‘home grown’ reputation.
Events like Community Days in Cranford, Art All Day and Art All Night in Trenton as well as any number of fairs and events round out our busy schedule. If we can accommodate any requests for placement of art, for a show lasting a few days or for longer periods, an effort will be made to get our art before the public.
Are the artists supportive of one another?
One of the true marvels of this group dynamic is how much they all revel in each other’s success and they learn from each other. Each artist has their own vision, but they come together to help one another. They really do learn from one another.
What struggle do you have regarding the A-Team’s art?
Nonprofits, no matter how large or small they may be, struggle to be funded and to be visible. Arts organizations are especially challenged to get support amidst the clamor of the nonprofit community.
We get donations of art supplies, frames, canvasses and other valuable goods, but to effectively market and promote our efforts, we have a staff person, spend funds on advertising and fundraising, insurance (a significant cost to small organizations), rent, both for storage and a place to create art, etc.
What is happening to celebrate the milestone of 25 years?
We have stepped up our number of events all with our 25th anniversary theme. We have made great efforts to secure additional funds which may allow us to conduct mobile art displays throughout the Trenton downtown, with an eye to show our wares and convince attendees that it is OK to try out art and, like the A-Team artists who’ve taken that risk, we all can create.
Who helps support the A-Team and are there diverse ways to support?
Of course, donations are welcome, but the artists would like to have you see what they do. And we are on Facebook: facebook.com/trentoncommunityateam.
How can people get involved with the team?
Go to our website, get on our mailing list, sign up to volunteer. When a person signs up to receive our regularly e-mailed updates, we hope they come out and see the art of which we are so proud.
What is on the horizon?
We have big plans, we hope to announce in 2026 which will help our visibility, benefit the artists, and make Trenton a more vibrant home of the arts. We need Board members, and we are actively seeking out those who can and are interested in helping us. We are open to new artists joining our collaborative group.
We are always excited to bring new artists into the fold and to show what we do at new places, as well as those venues who have shown our art in the past.
Web: tcateam.org.
