Wilmington, Del. (September 1, 2023) – The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery presents Bryant “Tee” Bell’s exhibition, “Enlightenment,” running September 1-29, 2023.  Bell is an Emerging 2023 Individual Artist Fellow in the field of visual arts: painting. Guests are invited to attend a Meet-the-Artist Reception on Friday, September 8 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. (Art Loop Wilmington has been moved to the second Friday of September due to the Labor Day Holiday).

Bell’s artwork takes a critical view of social, political, and cultural issues regarding inclusion and representation in our society.  His work examines the reality of the American dream for different cultures and engages diverse subjects that may include Caribbean, African American, Muslim, American Indian, Caucasian, homeless and poor people, in addition to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and Veterans.  Bell’s work shares “a look at some Americans that make up the very fabric of our society, who are often unseen and overlooked in their daily struggle for equal rights, opportunity, and their piece of a dream that we call freedom in America.”

Bell’s paintings are sometimes people of color with facial features often expressing the stress and experiences of their everyday lives. Each of Bell’s projects consist of multiple ideas, using a range of different media, grouped around specific themes and meanings.  It has required him to research other artists, color choices, materials, approaches and concepts to produce new works of art.

As a painter, Bell consistently works to master new mediums, seeking to learn techniques and paint on a larger scale. He exhibits regularly throughout Delaware – frequently at the Mispillion Art League (Milford), at the Biggs Museum of American Art (Dover), and at CAMP Rehoboth. He also works to relate music, photography, sculpture, and other mediums to his practice, and he finds that meeting new artists and viewers is especially fruitful and rewarding.

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: Joyful Noise, 2023, acrylic on canvas, 18 x 24 inches

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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.

DOVER, Del. – On the heels of a well-attended ceremony to announce winners from the Spring 2023 competition, the Fall 2023 Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion (EDGE) application period opens Friday Sept. 1. The Delaware Division of Small Business (DSB) will be accepting EDGE grant applications from Sept. 1 through Sept. 29, from promising early-stage businesses throughout Delaware.

In advance of the competition’s reopening, DSB is hosting an EDGE informational webinar on Wed. Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. Interested persons can register through de.gov/edge. For anyone unable to participate, a recording will be placed on the web page later the same day. Additionally, DSB is hosting a companion webinar on how to use its free business analytics tool, SizeUP Delaware, to strengthen EDGE applications on Wed. Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. Registration for this webinar is also available on de.gov/edge. The web page is also where EDGE applications will be made available, starting Sept. 1.

Businesses that are less than seven years old and employ no more than 10 employees are eligible to apply for an EDGE grant.

“We’re proud to be able to offer this opportunity to early-stage small businesses,” said DSB Director Regina Mitchell. “It’s a way to help level the playing field for those that don’t have access to the same level of capital that larger businesses do.”

EDGE grants are awarded through a competitive selection process. Five STEM-based companies can receive up to $100,000 for eligible expenses while five Entrepreneur Class (non-STEM) businesses can receive up to $50,000. This round, DSB is hoping to see a greater number of STEM applications coming from Kent and Sussex counties.

EDGE is a matching grant program. DSB matches a winning business’s investment on a 3-to-1 basis. The business can spend grant funds on expenses that help improve the company’s long-term chances of success, such as a marketing campaign to help acquire more customers or purchasing a needed piece of equipment that can increase production capacity.

Applications for the competition round will be accepted until Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. After several rounds of internal scoring, finalists will be invited to pitch their grant proposals to a panel of expert judges at the end of November. Winners will be notified in early December.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Delaware’s economy” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “The EDGE grants will enable small businesses that might otherwise fail, to have a stronger chance at succeeding.”

Since EDGE launched in 2019, $5.0 million has been awarded to 80 promising Delaware small businesses in industries ranging from renewable energy technology to fitness centers to restaurants. This will be the eighth round of the program since its launch.

Businesses should visit de.gov/edge for eligibility requirements, to download the grant application and to see frequently asked questions. Visit our website at business.delaware.gov to connect with a Regional Business Manager for application assistance.

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The Delaware Division of Small Business is a service-focused state agency, within the Delaware Department of State, that is committed to helping businesses start and grow in Delaware. Our Regional Business Managers can help you navigate government processes, connect with partner organizations that offer resources to small businesses and identify opportunities to access capital.

 

Over 200 creative professionals to convene in Dewey Beach

 

STATEWIDE, Del. (August 21, 2023) – The Delaware Division of the Arts has announced that registration is now open for the highly anticipated 2023 Delaware Arts Summit, a momentous gathering of Delaware’s arts community including arts professionals, artists, creative minds, and art enthusiasts. This exciting event will take place on October 8 and 9 at the Hyatt Place in Dewey Beach, Delaware, and promises to be inspirational and enlightening. To register and explore the detailed schedule of events, please visit the official Delaware Arts Summit website at Arts.Delaware.Gov/Summit.

Reflection, Renewal, and Rejuvenation are goals for this year’s Arts Summit as we move beyond the challenges of the past several years. The Summit will provide time, sessions, and experiences designed to make us stronger individually and as organizations by promoting mindfulness, stress reduction, better internal and external communications, and methods to manage uncertainty. The arts community is invited to come together to unify and strengthen our creative collective, because the stronger we are, the greater our impact!

“We are delighted to announce the opening of registration for the 2023 Delaware Arts Summit in Dewey Beach,” said Kristin Pleasanton, Deputy Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “This summit promises to be a celebration and acknowledgement of the importance of the arts in Delaware and all who play a role in their creation and presentation. We encourage everyone to secure their spot and join us for this exceptional event.”

“Professional development opportunities play a crucial role in advancing Delaware’s creative sector, nurturing talent, and fostering a vibrant and sustainable arts community,” says Jessica Ball, Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “Such opportunities provide artists, creators, and arts professionals with access to specialized training, knowledge, and information. Workshops offered by nationally recognized speakers provide valuable learning experiences that empower individuals to assess, refine, and grow. This, in turn, enhances innovation and cultivates a culture of continuous improvement within the creative sector.”

Key highlights of the 2023 Delaware Arts Summit include:

• Inspiring Speakers: Esteemed experts and artists will share their insights and experience.
• Interactive Workshops: Attendees will have the opportunity to participate and engage with speakers and colleagues.
• Artistic Showcases: The summit will feature performances spotlighting the exceptional talent within the Delaware arts community.
• Networking Opportunities: Participants can forge meaningful connections with fellow artists, art organizations, and potential collaborators.

Details of the event are:

Location: Hyatt Place Dewey Beach: Hyatt Place Dewey Beach, 1301 Coastal Hwy, Dewey Beach, DE 19971

Dates: Monday, October 9, 2023, with an optional pre-conference on Sunday, October 8, 2023.

Registration Fees: $55 for the conference, $20 add on for the pre-conference.

For media inquiries, partnership opportunities, or further information, please contact Andrew Truscott at Andrew.Truscott@delaware.gov.

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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

 

Artists will receive professional development, trainings, and $20,000 over two years

 

Statewide, DEL. (August 10, 2023) – Three Delaware artists have been selected for the Artist Career Development (ACD) pilot program which provides two-years of sustained career support for emerging or mid-career Delaware artists, one in each county. The three ACD artists for the program are Stephanie Boateng (New Castle), Guy Miller (Kent), and Hannah Whiddon (Sussex).

“This initiative represents a tremendous opportunity for emerging artists to receive increased funding and jump-start the next phase of their careers as creative entrepreneurs,” said Jessica Ball, Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “By supporting their artistic and business practices, we aim to empower these talented individuals to realize their full potential and make a significant impact on the cultural scene in our state. We believe that through this strategic investment, we are fostering a thriving community of artists who will drive innovation, creativity, and collaboration across Delaware.”

The three artists selected will receive $10,000 for two years to advance their artistic and business practices, and to build community connections. In year two, the three ACD artists will continue growing their businesses while planning and executing an arts activity for a community in the artist’s county of residence, in partnership with an arts or community-based organization.

“It didn’t hit me until now how deeply the Division is investing in me and my career,” said Hannah Whiddon, a painter from Lewes, DE, who draws inspiration from the beauty inherent in everyday life and the human form. “The headshots and the various career-focused workshops all support my growth as an emerging artist.”

The application process was competitive, and the Division received letters of intent (LOIs) from 47 Delaware musicians, writers, and visual artists for the three spots in the program. An experienced panel reviewed the 47 letters of intent and selected seven artists to submit a full application.

Four semifinalists have received $1,500 to support professional development expenses including, but not limited to equipment, materials and supplies, professional development, space rental, marketing, and publicity of events/activities, etc.

About the Program

The ACD program includes a hybrid cohort model with some professional development and meetings in-person and others asynchronous focused on the artists’ current and future needs to sustain their work. Courses include:

• Targeted career development workshops presented by Springboard Arts: Career Planning; Engaging Your Customers; and Artist Working in Community
• Financial literacy with Elaine Grogan Luttrull of Minerva Financial Arts: Tax Basics for Creative Entrepreneurs; and individual financial coaching
• Resources from the Delaware Division of the Arts: Delaware Artist Roster, Delaware Arts Summit, Marketing and Communications workshop by program officer, Andy Truscott, and professional headshots by Moonloop Photography, Joe del Tufo

Program Goals

The ACD program was created to expand geographic reach of funded programming and address specific outcomes as outlined in the Delaware Division of the Art’s Strategic Plan:

• Enhance artists’ career-building skills by facilitating artist connections and providing training opportunities
• Engage artists by connecting them to one another to enhance their work
• Encourage greater collaboration among arts organizations and artists statewide

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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 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.