Eighteen Delaware artists are being recognized by the Division for the high quality of their artwork. Work samples from 126 Delaware choreographers, composers, musicians, writers, folk and visual artists were reviewed by out-of-state arts professionals, considering demonstrated creativity and skill in their art form. The 18 selected fellows reside throughout Delaware including Arden, Dover, Hockessin, Milton, Newark, Rehoboth Beach, and Wilmington.

Awards are given in three categories – $10,000 for the Masters Award, $6,000 for the Established Professional Award, and $3,000 for the Emerging Professional Award – and Fellows are required to offer at least one exhibit or performance during the upcoming year, providing an opportunity for the public to experience their work. The work of the Fellows will be featured in a group exhibition, Award Winners XVII, at the Biggs Museum this summer.

“Individual Artist Fellowship grants provide the recognition and exposure that artists need to successfully promote their work,” said Paul Weagraff, director of Delaware Division of the Arts. “The financial award allows them to pursue advanced training, purchase equipment and materials, or fulfill other needs to advance their careers.”

The Masters Fellowship is open to differing artistic disciplines each year. In Fiscal Year 2017, Masters Fellowship applications were accepted in Folk Arts or Visual Arts from artists who had previously received an Established Professional Fellowship. In addition to exemplifying high artistic quality, Masters Fellowship applicants must demonstrate their involvement and commitment to the arts in Delaware. Listed below are the Delaware Division of the Arts 2017 Individual Artist Fellows and four Honorable Mentions.

Yolanda Chetwynd has been awarded this year’s Masters Fellowship in Visual Arts: Painting. Chetwynd is a practicing artist who has been living in Newark, Delaware since 1987. She holds an advanced painting degree from The Slade School of Fine Art, University College London as well as a Masters in Professional Studies in Art Therapy from The Pratt Institute. An award-winning painter, Chetwynd has been invited to participate in exhibitions locally, nationally, and internationally. She is also devoted to reinforcing the role of art in education. Chetwynd has worked with the Delaware Institute for Arts in Education since 1992 and has collaborated with teachers on over 100 art projects in Delaware classrooms. She was selected as one of eight regional teaching artists from the National Association of Aesthetic Education Institutes to implement a series of national training workshops and served on the team to write the Visual Arts standards for the state of Delaware. Chetwynd has previously served on the boards of directors of Delcaps and the Newark Arts Alliance.

2017 Individual Artist Fellows

Masters Award ($10,000)
Yolanda Chetwynd, Newark, Visual Arts: Painting

Established Professional Award ($6,000)
Phillip Bannowsky, Newark, Literature: Poetry
Arden Bardol, Dover, Visual Arts: Crafts
Mahasveta (Gitu) Barua, Newark, Literature: Fiction
Kathryn Canavan, Wilmington, Literature: Creative Nonfiction
A.T. Moffett, Wilmington, Dance: Choreography
Hugh Phibbs, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Works on Paper
Troy Richards, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Painting
Chad States, Rehoboth Beach, Visual Arts: Sculpture
Beth Trepper, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Photography

Emerging Professional Award ($3,000)
Jennifer Borders, Arden, Visual Arts: Sculpture
Daniel Carunchio, Wilmington, Music: Solo Recital
Larry Kelts, Newark, Literature: Poetry
Kathy Maas, Hockessin, Literature: Creative Nonfiction
Ray Magnani, Newark, Visual Arts: Photography
Terrance Vann, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Painting
Aaron Wright, Newark, Literature: Playwriting
David Yurkovich, Milton, Literature: Fiction

Honorable Mention
Dennis Beach, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Sculpture
Luigi Ciuffetelli, Hockessin, Visual Arts: Photography
Liz Dolan, Rehoboth Beach, Literature: Fiction
Linda Harris Reynolds, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Work on Paper

The next deadline for Individual Artist Fellowship applications will be Tuesday, August 1, 2017 by 4:30 p.m.

To contact an individual artist, please email or call: Roxanne Stanulis, Program Officer, Artist Programs and Services, Roxanne.Stanulis@delaware.gov or 302-577-8283.

Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov

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