Statewide, DEL. (August 8, 2023) – The Delaware Division of the Arts is investing nearly $4 million in more than 112 arts and community organizations that will serve Delawareans statewide with arts programming and services, arts education, and arts marketing and promotion. This first round of funding for FY2024 includes General Operating Support, Project Support, Arts Stabilization, StartUp and Education Resource grants.

“We are thrilled to announce the Delaware Division of the Arts’ commitment to supporting Delaware’s non-profit creative sector with an additional $1 million in grants for arts programming, education, and operations,” stated Jessica Ball, Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “These funds will play a crucial role in fostering a vibrant cultural environment and ensuring that the arts remain accessible to all Delawareans throughout the state. We extend our gratitude to Governor Carney, Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock, the Delaware General Assembly, and the National Endowment for the Arts for their continued support in making this investment possible.”

Funding for the Delaware Division of the Arts comes from the Delaware General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, an independent federal agency. In addition, the funds for capital improvements grants—provided by the Arts Stabilization Fund—are drawn from the Arts Consortium of Delaware, Inc. (ArtCo) endowment. A complete list of grants for the first round of FY2024 can be found here.

Grant review panels made up of Delaware artists, arts educators, arts and nonprofit organization administrators, corporate and fundraising managers, and interested community members, provided an impartial peer review of these grant applications based on established evaluation criteria, reflecting the importance of having diverse public and expert participation in the grant-making process.

The awards include:

• General Operating Support for sixty-three (63) arts organizations.
• Project Support for twenty-eight (28) community-based organizations that provide arts programming for children and adults with physical or intellectual disabilities; students whose schools are under-resourced and face multiple barriers, individuals and family members dealing with cancer; and young children and community members from across Delaware.
• Seven (7) Arts Stabilization projects that support capital improvements and repairs to facilities owned by arts organizations.
• StartUp Support for one emerging arts organization, Culture Restoration Project, providing a combination of technical assistance and financial support for this organization.
• Fourteen (14) education-based partnerships between Delaware’s schools, arts organizations and artists that provide teacher training and standards-based arts learning experiences for pre- K-12 students statewide, in alignment with the Delaware Standards for Learning in the Visual and Performing Arts.

The Division also awards grants on an on-going basis throughout the year, including Arts Access grants, Artist Residencies, Individual Artist Fellowships, and Individual Artist Opportunity grants. Full grant descriptions are available on the Division’s website and at the end of the release.

Interested members of the public, artists, arts organizations, and community leaders are encouraged to visit the Division’s website to learn more about these programs. Notification of grant deadlines, guidelines, and applications, as well as technical assistance opportunities are published in the monthly e-newsletter, Arts E-News. Please visit our website at arts.delaware.gov for more details.

 

GRANT BREAKDOWN BY TYPE

 

Grant Program	# Grants	Dollars Awarded
General Operating Support	63	$3,502,940
Project Support	28	$238,560
Arts Stabilization	7	$113,000
StartUp	1	$2,500
Education Resource	14	$121,495
TOTAL	113	$3,978,495

 

GRANT PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

Arts Organizations: Non-profit Delaware organizations whose primary mission is the promotion, production, presentation, or teaching of the arts.

General Operating Support – support of annual operating expenses to ensure that year-round participation in the arts is available to the people of Delaware. This grant category utilizes a three-year application cycle. Full applications are due every three years, with Interim applications due in the “off” years. Annual March 1 deadline.

Arts Stabilization – supports improvements to facilities owned (or under long-term lease) and operated by the organization. Arts Stabilization grants are funded through the Division’s participation in the Arts Consortium of Delaware, Inc. (ArtCo) endowment. Annual March 1 deadline.

StartUp – a comprehensive program of financial support, training, and consultation to develop and strengthen the management capacity of emerging arts organizations so that they can operate in a sustainable manner. Completion of the StartUp program is a prerequisite for emerging organizations seeking General Operating Support. Annual March 1 deadline.

Arts Access – supports small budget projects that include the presentation of performing, visual, literary, media, or folk arts in communities throughout the state. Applications must be submitted at least six weeks prior to the project start date, and are reviewed as they are received, beginning on July 1 of each year. Organizations that receive General Operating or Project Support from the Division are not eligible to apply. Rolling deadline.

Community-Based Organizations: Non-profit Delaware organizations, colleges, universities, and government entities that do not have the arts as their primary mission.

Project Support – supports arts programs provided by CBOs that assist in the growth of a vibrant cultural environment by encouraging the continued development of arts activities in communities throughout the state. College and university projects must be non-credit and serve the general community.  Annual March 1 deadline.

Arts Access – supports small budget projects that include the presentation of performing, visual, literary, media, or folk arts in communities throughout the state. Applications must be submitted at least six weeks prior to the project start date, and are reviewed as they are received, beginning on July 1 of each year. Organizations that receive General Operating or Project Support from the Division are not eligible to apply. Rolling deadline.

Schools: Delaware pre-K through 12 public, charter, private, and parochial schools.

Artist Residency – grants for residencies with visual, literary, performing, or media artists working with students in the classroom or in professional development workshops with teachers. Rolling deadline.

TranspARTation – grants that support transportation costs for schools to travel to Delaware arts and cultural institutions and venues for students to attend arts performances, events, and exhibits.

Arts Organizations and Schools:

Education Resource – grants to strengthen standards-based arts education projects, programs, and activities that utilize the arts education resources of the Delaware arts community or strengthen arts organizations’ capacity to serve as professional development resources for teaching artists and educators.  Annual March 1 deadline.

Individual Artists: Delaware residents, 18 years of age or older, not enrolled in a degree-granting program.

Artist Fellowships – supports individual artists in their work as visual, performing, media, folk, and/or literary artists. Applications are received and processed by Mid Atlantic Arts. FY2024 Masters categories are Dance, Jazz, and Music. Annual August 1 deadline.

Artist Opportunity Grants – provides up to $1,000 to support individual artists with unique professional and artistic development or presentation opportunities. Quarterly deadlines: January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.

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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.

Contact: Andrew Truscott, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications

302-577-8280, andrew.truscott@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. 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. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

 

Statewide, Del. (August 7, 2023) – Mid Atlantic Arts, in partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts, has announced over $102,000 in grants, across five states, through the 2023-2024 Special Presenter Initiatives program.

The Special Presenter Initiatives program provides funding to small and mid-size presenting organizations in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and the Native nations that share this geography. The program supports presenting projects with professional touring artists and ensembles from anywhere worldwide. The supported projects include public performances as well as community engagement activities that enhance the performance experience and offer meaningful exchanges between touring artists and a presenter’s community. The artistic engagements proposed by applicant presenters are diverse in performance genre and artist identity. 

“We congratulate the grantees of the 2023-2024 Special Presenter Initiatives program,” said Jessica Ball, the Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “These grants will play a pivotal role in bringing exceptional artists and diverse performances to the First State. Our mission at the Delaware Division of the Arts is to foster artistic excellence and enrich the cultural landscape of Delaware, and these grants align perfectly with that goal. We are excited to witness the meaningful exchanges between touring artists and our communities, and we look forward to the transformative impact these performances will have on our state.”

The 2023-2024 grantees from Delaware include:

• Arden Club, Inc., Wilmington presenting Lankum, Ireland
• Arden Club, Inc., Wilmington presenting Sona Jobarteh, DE
• Christina Cultural Arts Center, Inc., Wilmington presenting Stacey Harcum, DE
• Cityfest, Inc., Wilmington presenting Gerald Veasly Electric Mingus Project, PA
• Coastal Concerts, Inc., Lewes presenting JiJi, Guitar and Danbi Um, Violin, NY
• Coastal Concerts, Inc., Lewes presenting Michelle Cann, PA
• Delaware Symphony Association, Wilmington presenting André Raphel, PA

“Mid-Atlantic Arts plays a vital role in bringing exceptionally talented artists to our community through their generous support,” said Delaware Symphony Orchestra CEO J.C. Barker. “Not only does their assistance enable the DSO to showcase these important artists, but it also provided the necessary resources to foster a collaboration with young talents at the Music School of Delaware. This partnership created invaluable opportunities for aspiring young musicians to learn from a musical virtuoso.”

“CCAC is humbled and honored to be the recipient of a Special Presenter Initiative Grant from Mid Atlantic Arts,” said Christina Cultural Arts Center Executive Director James Rhodes. “As we continue to move beyond shuttered venues and welcome visitors back to CCAC, this funding allows us to engage dynamic artists from around our region and across the country to reconnect with our thousands of supporters.” 

Ron Ozer from the Arden Concert Gild stated, “the Special Presenters grant allows Arden Concert Gild to take bigger risks booking unusual eclectic but top tier artists from around the world, such as Lankum, in one of only 5 appearances across the US in one week in 2023.”

Carol Dennis, Executive Director of Coastal Concerts stated, “I’m a strong believer that music has a special way of inspiring and transforming our lives in a multitude of ways.  The Mid Atlantic Arts Special Presenter Initiative Program is a remarkable program that allows us to enrich the lives of the youth and adults in southern Delaware by supporting the presentation of our educational outreach programs and concerts by renowned musicians.”

Image: African Kora virtuoso Sona Jobarteh.

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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.

About Mid Atlantic Arts

Mid Atlantic Arts supports artists, presenters, and organizations through unique programming, grant support, partnerships, and information sharing. Created in 1979, Mid Atlantic Arts is aligned with the region’s state arts councils and the National Endowment for the Arts. We combine state and federal funding with private support from corporations, foundations, and individuals to nurture diverse artistic expression while connecting people to meaningful arts experiences within our region and beyond. To learn more about Mid Atlantic Arts visit www.midatlanticarts.org.

Contact: Andrew Truscott, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications

302-577-8280, andrew.truscott@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. 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. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

Wilmington, Del. (August 3, 2023) – The Delaware Division of the Arts recently secured new funding from a national grant program to advance creative aging programs for adults aged 55+ in Delaware.

Building upon the transformative success of the Leveraging State Investments in Creative Aging program, which catalyzed arts learning opportunities for adults aged 55+ in Delaware and nationwide, the Delaware Division of the Arts sought funding from the States Leading Creative Aging program, a new joint initiative of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) and E.A. Michelson Philanthropy. Delaware secured $95,000 for the Delaware Creative Aging program.

“Arts engagement helps adults aged 55+ to thrive and is a powerful antidote to isolation. But too many adults aged 55+ still lack access to these benefits,” said NASAA President and CEO Pam Breaux. “Our state leadership grants—combined with free professional development programs for all 56 states and jurisdictions—will help to expand creative aging programs to make them more accessible nationwide. NASAA is thrilled to continue this important work in collaboration with state arts agencies and E.A. Michelson Philanthropy.”

“E.A. Michelson Philanthropy is proud to partner with NASAA through our continued support of creative aging within our state and jurisdictional arts agencies,” said Ellen Michelson, founder and president. “We are delighted to see this leadership initiative strengthening existing creative aging programs and amplifying the creativity of adults aged 55+ across the country.”

“We are thrilled to secure this new funding for the Delaware Creative Aging program,” said Delaware Division of the Arts Director Jessica Ball. “Arts engagement has proven to be a powerful tool in helping adults aged 55+ thrive and learn new skills in a supportive and social environment. With this support from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and E.A. Michelson Philanthropy, we can expand our creative aging programs and make them more accessible to adults aged 55+ in underserved communities throughout Delaware.”

“The Delaware Division of the Arts has been doing exceptional work in promoting arts learning opportunities for Delaware’s older adults,” stated Delaware Governor John Carney. “This funding will strengthen the State’s efforts to support Delawareans aged 55+ that can benefit from the arts. I want to thank NASAA, E.A. Michelson Philanthropy, and the Delaware Division of the Arts for recognizing the importance of creative aging programs and investing in their expansion.”

The Delaware Division of the Arts is one of nine state arts agencies receiving awards from NASAA. With this funding, each state will build on existing creative aging programs to gain significant ground in meeting the needs of adults aged 55+ in underserved communities throughout their state. Activities will include expanding existing creative aging programs, supporting artist residencies within Delaware’s libraries, providing professional development for Delaware-based teaching artists, providing direct programming to older adult audiences, cultivating new creative aging partnerships and more.

For information about new creative aging activities taking place in Delaware, contact Andy Truscott at Andrew.Truscott@delaware.gov. For more information about NASAA’s States Leading Creative Aging initiative, visit https://tinyurl.com/59d4en9d. 

 

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Contact: Andrew Truscott, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications

302-577-8280, andrew.truscott@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. 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. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

Wilmington, Del. (July 25, 2023) – The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery presents Hannah Whiddon’s exhibition, “Between Light & Shadow,” running August 4-25, 2023.  Guests are invited to attend a Meet-the-Artist Reception on Friday, August 4 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Drawing inspiration from the beauty inherent in everyday life and the human form, Whiddon’s paintings transcend specific places and times, evoking feelings and memories rather than representing them. Her pieces celebrate human sensuality, employing compelling subjects, a vibrant palette, and bold, painterly textures.

Hannah Whiddon’s artistic journey has included participation in several exhibitions in the mid-Atlantic region. Her talent was showcased in the esteemed Sarah Silberman Art Gallery in 2016, and she further distinguished herself with a solo exhibition at the Baltimore Art Gallery in 2020, featuring a captivating collaboration with Charmed Kitchen.

In 2022, her evocative work earned her a place at the Hunt & Lane Gallery in Rehoboth Beach, and she continued to make an impact on the local art scene with a group pop-up show organized by the Village Improvement Association. Whiddon was awarded a Delaware Division of the Arts Artist Opportunity Grant in 2022 and was selected for the first-ever Artist Career Development Pilot Program cohort in 2023.

“Between Light & Shadow” showcases the artist’s profound understanding of the interplay between light and darkness. Each painting is a testament to her skillful brushwork, texture, and composition, masterfully highlighting the allure of her subjects while invoking contemplation and introspection. The exhibition presents a variety of works, some featuring dramatic scenes where shadows elongate and intertwine, imbuing a sense of mystery and intrigue. Other pieces gracefully capture the delicate balance between light and shadow, artfully representing the ephemeral nature of the world around us.

The Mezzanine Gallery, open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is located on the second floor of the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington.

Image: Hannah Whiddon, “Kick” (2023), acrylic, 18”x24”.

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Contact: Andrew Truscott, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications

302-577-8280, andrew.truscott@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. 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. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

New Castle County to Read and Celebrate “The Best We Could Do” by Thi Bui From September 2023 to March 2024

 

June 28, 2023—New Castle—New Castle County Libraries is one of 62 organizations nationwide selected to receive a 2023-2024 NEA Big Read grant. A grant of $20,000 will support a community reading program focusing on “The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir” by Thi Bui between September 2023 and March 2024. An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the power of a shared reading experience.

“New Castle County Libraries is excited to bring the NEA Big Read to our community. Thi Bui’s graphic memoir ‘The Best We Could Do’ was selected for its poignant portrayal of immigration, assimilation, culture, and the lasting effects that displacement can have on a family,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “The book’s evocative illustrations draw the reader in and bring Bui’s story to life. The Big Read program will allow our community members to engage with important topics while considering how historical events and issues of cultural and self-identity shape our present and future.”

“The NEA Big Read brings the transformative experience of reading to an entire community,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “This year’s grantees are taking themes off the page and using creative programming to navigate difficult topics, explore new perspectives, and strengthen bonds between neighbors.”

The NEA Big Read offers a range of titles that reflect many different voices and perspectives, aiming to inspire meaningful conversations, artistic responses, and new discoveries and connections in each community. The main feature of the initiative is a grants program, managed by Arts Midwest, which annually supports dynamic community reading programs, each designed around a single NEA Big Read selection.

“Using the captivating power of literature, NEA Big Read events unleash the creative spirit that resides within all of us,” said Torrie Allen, President and CEO of Arts Midwest. “We’re thrilled to support the work of grantees across the nation, including New Castle County Libraries, as they inspire conversations and artistic expressions through shared reading experiences.”

“We are immensely grateful to the National Endowment for the Arts for their generous grant to Delaware, which will allow New Castle County to engage our community in meaningful conversations and inspire artistic responses,” said Jessica Ball, Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “Through ‘The Best We Could Do,’ we hope to deepen our communities’ understanding of the immigrant experience and the resilience of families seeking a better future.”

The NEA Big Read grant is part of a nationwide initiative that invests in nonprofit organizations to develop innovative programming around a contemporary book. This year, the NEA is investing a total of $1,075,000 to support 62 organizations, with New Castle County Government being one of the selected grantees.

Since 2006, the National Endowment for the Arts has funded more than 1,800 NEA Big Read programs, providing more than $25 million to organizations nationwide. In addition, NEA Big Read activities have reached every Congressional district in the country. Over the past 15+ years, grantees have leveraged more than $57 million in local funding to support their NEA Big Read programs. More than 6 million Americans have attended an NEA Big Read event, over 100,000 volunteers have participated at the local level, and over 40,000 community organizations have partnered to make NEA Big Read activities possible. For more information about the NEA Big Read, including book and author information, podcasts, and videos, visit arts.gov/neabigread.

The mission of New Castle County Libraries is to enrich our community by providing library resources and services to meet the informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs of the citizens of New Castle County Libraries. Libraries serve as community centers where people come together to discuss, learn, grow, and share. Learn more at newcastlede.gov/libraries.

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. Visit arts.gov to learn more. 

Arts Midwest supports, informs, and celebrates Midwestern creativity. We build community and opportunity across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, the Native Nations that share this geography, and beyond. As one of six nonprofit United States Regional Arts Organizations, Arts Midwest works to strengthen local arts and culture efforts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, state agencies, private funders, and many others. Learn more at artsmidwest.org.

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Contact: Catherine Wimberley, 302-395-5478 / catherine.wimberley@newcastlede.gov

Contact: Andy Truscott, 302-577-8280 / andrew.truscott@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. 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. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.