THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS ANNOUNCES FY 2017 GRANTS TO SUPPORT THE ARTS
Two Delaware organizations will receive over $690,000 in federal grants

Wilmington, Del. (June 16, 2017) – As the only funder in the country to support arts activities in all 50 states and five U.S. jurisdictions, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced that two Delaware organizations, including the Division of the Arts, will receive $691,100 in federal grants as part of the its second round of funding for FY 2017.

“The arts are all around us, enhancing our lives in ways both subtle and obvious, expected and unexpected,” says NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “Supporting projects like the ones in Delaware offers more opportunities to engage in the arts every day.”

The Delaware Division of the Arts will receive a Partnership (State & Regional) grant in the amount of $681,100 to support activities associated with carrying out its NEA-approved State strategic plan.

“Representing 17% of the Division’s budget, NEA funding is critical in supporting arts programming that directly reaches more than 30 communities throughout Delaware, serving more than one million youth and adults annually,” says Paul Weagraff, Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “This investment in Delaware’s creative sector contributes positively to vibrant communities, comprehensive educational opportunities, and robust economic activity.”

The Grand Opera House will receive an Art Works – Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works grant in the amount of $10,000 to support its Summer in the Parks series. In partnership with the City of Wilmington, The Grand will present free arts events for children and families in parks throughout the city. Local and regional artists working in dance, music, theater, and visual arts will create and present interactive performances and hands-on arts activities tailored for each neighborhood. Summer in the Parks staff also will work with schools, day camps, community centers, and teen programs to ensure the programming meets the needs of the community.

“We are honored to see The Grand’s Summer in the Parks program recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts. This funding is critical to our work within our community, and is the first time in nine years that The Grand has received a grant from the NEA. At such a pivotal time for the NEA and NEH, The Grand is honored to be a beacon of what this funding can accomplish in our neighborhoods,” says Mark Fields, Executive Director of The Grand Opera House & The Playhouse on Rodney Square.

The full NEA grant descriptions follow:

State and Regional Partnership Agreements
Through partnership agreements, the NEA translates national leadership into local and regional benefit. States and U.S. jurisdictions have their own arts agency that together receive 40 percent of the NEA’s grantmaking funds each year to support their programs and leverage state funding. In addition to these 55 agencies, six regional arts organizations are funded to manage programs across state, national, and international borders and across all arts disciplines.

Art Works II
Art Works is the NEA’s largest category and focuses on funding the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with art, lifelong learning in the arts, and strengthening of communities through the arts.

About the National Endowment for the Arts
Established by Congress in 1965, the NEA is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the NEA supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. For more information, visit www.arts.gov.

About the Delaware Division of the Arts
The Delaware Division of the Arts is an agency of the State of Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Funding for Division programs is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

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

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