About the Gallery
The gallery presents exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, events, open calls, and other opportunities designed to connect artists, arts audiences, and creative entrepreneurs.
As part of Hanover Creative, the gallery supports artists through public programming, professional opportunities, and access to a collaborative creative community. Its work contributes to the continued growth of Trenton’s Creek to Canal Creative District and reflects a broader commitment to using the arts as a catalyst for community connection, economic development, and renewed vitality in Downtown Trenton.
Our Story
Hanover Creative is home to a contemporary gallery, private offices, and artist studio spaces available for rent in Downtown Trenton. Located at 219 East Hanover Street, the building brings together local businesses, artists, and creative professionals alongside exhibition and event spaces that support public programming and community engagement.
The project grew out of Elijah Dixon and Christien Nicole Brown’s work at Orchid House Café, a neighborhood space centered on hospitality, arts, culture, and community. Dixon and Brown later partnered with Trenton-based developer Roland Pott and Trenton Makes, Inc. to redevelop 219 East Hanover Street.
Renovations began in 2019 to transform the former arts center into a new home for gallery programming, private offices, artist studios, and creative enterprise. The project was supported through collaboration with Isles, Inc., the Trenton Downtown Association, and the City of Trenton.
Today, Hanover Creative provides a physical home for businesses, artists, and creative professionals while supporting exhibitions, workshops, events, and other arts-based programming. Its work contributes to the continued growth of Trenton’s creative community and reflects a broader commitment to community connection, economic development, and renewed vitality in Downtown Trenton.
Leadership & Team
Curator & Program Manager
Áine Mickey is a contemporary curator and arts administrator with over a decade of experience developing complex curatorial projects and community-centered initiatives. She brings a distinct curatorial vision to the creation of impactful exhibitions and public programs, producing thought-provoking exhibits, supporting artists, and engaging diverse audiences through collaboration and interdisciplinary partnership.
Mickey has organized exhibitions and programming for Grounds For Sculpture, BSB Gallery, Boys & Girls Club of America, Artworks Trenton, the Arts Council of Princeton, and the SAGE Coalition, among others.
Holding a BS in Economics, Mickey applies a data-informed and strategic approach to arts administration, planning, and community growth. Her academic background shapes her curatorial methodology, where she occasionally weaves academic concepts into exhibition narratives, translating complex or inaccessible ideas into tangible, spatial experiences.
Dedicated to strengthening the communities she serves, Mickey works to position artists as competitive participants in the broader arts landscape. Through invitational and open call exhibits, workshops, and professional development initiatives, she challenges and supports artists in expanding both their creative and professional practices.
Co-Founder
Elijah Dixon is a lifelong Trenton resident and an original partner in the acquisition and redevelopment of 219 East Hanover Street. He brings extensive experience in economic development and equitable investment strategies in Trenton and throughout New Jersey.
As a Senior Program Officer for Economic Development at a national community development financial institution, Elijah oversees New Jersey–based economic inclusion programs focused on supporting entrepreneurs and residents in historically marginalized communities. His involvement in Hanover Creative reflects a long-term commitment to Downtown Trenton and a shared vision for using arts-based development to advance community revitalization and inclusive economic growth.
Co-Founder
Christien Nicole Brown is a Trenton-based entrepreneur and an original partner in the acquisition and redevelopment of 219 East Hanover Street. Her work focuses on community led revitalization, place-based investment, and projects that combine economic activity with cultural and social impact.
She is the co-founder of Orchid House Café, a Downtown Trenton space centered on hospitality, neighborhood engagement, and educational programming. Christien also holds a leadership role with the Equitable Development Fund, where she supports strategies that expand access to capital and strengthen community-based organizations. Her work reflects an ongoing commitment to creative placemaking, community connection, and long-term economic empowerment in Trenton.
Managing Partner
Roland Pott is a Trenton-based real estate broker, developer, and community stakeholder with more than 25 years of experience in urban revitalization, arts-oriented development, and mixed-use projects in Downtown Trenton and Central New Jersey.
He is the Broker of Record and Managing Member of Pott Real Estate LLC, President of Trenton Makes®, Inc., and a managing partner of Hanover Creative. Roland played a central role in the acquisition, redevelopment, and long-term vision for 219 East Hanover Street as a hub for creative, commercial, and community activity. His work reflects a sustained commitment to using real estate and the arts to support economic vitality and place-based community development.
Operations Coordinator
Carlee Scott is a Trenton-born operations and community manager with deep roots in the city and surrounding area. She supports marketing, operations, and programming at Hanover Creative. She holds a master’s degree in Communication and Media from Rutgers University.
Open Fridays 11:30am-1:30pm and Saturdays 12:00pm-3:30pm