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.

The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is excited to announce its New Castle County location for the 2023 season.

Starting August 1, 2023, the 45’ trailer will appear at DART First State in Wilmington every Tuesday from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm through October 31st except for holidays.

In its first year, the DMV on the Go trailer assisted over 1,200 customers by allowing them to renew their registrations, driver licenses, complete title work, and more right in their neighborhood. As of July 20, 2023, the DMV on the Go team has completed 537 transactions so far this season: 267 at the Lewes Transit Center and 270 at Big Lots in Seaford.

The trailer, featuring four fully functional workstations, made its debut last April. It’s ADA-accessible. It comes complete with an awning for bad weather, a wheelchair lift, and performs all transactions as a traditional DMV except for inspections, road exams, driver improvement, and uninsured motorist transactions. Customers needing these services would need to visit the Wilmington, Delaware City, Dover, or Georgetown DMV locations.

DMV on the Go locations now through October 31, 2023:

Mondays from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
DART’s Lewes Transit Center
17616 Coastal Highway
Lewes, DE 19958

Tuesdays from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
DART First State
119 Lower Beech Street
Wilmington, DE 19805

Thursdays from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Big Lots Plaza
820 Norman Eskridge Highway
Seaford, DE 19973

Customers interested can access the DMV on the Go schedule at dmv.de.gov. To access other DMV services or complete more than 20 transactions online, including Delaware driver license, identification, and vehicle registration renewals, duplicates, and address changes, visit mydmv.delaware.gov/.

Beach bound? Let DART do the driving for you. DART ‘s 305 Beach Connection, operates on weekends and holidays and serves the Wilmington Transit Center, Christiana Mall, Odessa Park & Ride in Middletown, Scarborough Road Park & Ride lot in Dover, Lewes Transit Center, just south of the Five Points, and the Rehoboth Park & Ride lot on Shuttle Road. The one-way cash fares are $6 from the Wilmington Transit Center, Christiana Mall, and Odessa Park & Ride (Middletown), and $4 from Dover. Riders traveling from New Castle County are encouraged to buy a 3-Zone Daily Pass for $10 and from Kent County a 2-Zone Daily Pass for $8, which can also be used on all Beach Bus Services. For more details CLICK HERE or visit dartfirststate.com.

Effective Monday, August 14, 2023, motorists can expect inspection and maintenance changes that will impact the registration of their vehicles, especially in Sussex County.

On January 11, 2023, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) revised the Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance regulations in Delaware in an attempt to reduce emissions and improve air quality.

The amendments to Regulation 1126 and Regulation 1131 include:

• OBD-II* testing for vehicles model year 1996 to 2007 with a MGVWR** up to, 8,500 lbs. in all three counties including Sussex County.
• OBD-II testing for vehicles model year 2008 and newer with a MGVWR up to 14,000 lbs. in all three counties including Sussex County.
• Vehicles model year 1995 and older will require a curb idle and gas cap test in all three counties including Sussex County.
• Stricter penalties for removing or modifying the emission control system in a vehicle in all three counties.

Currently, there are more than one million vehicles registered in the State of Delaware, with 323,576 vehicles registered in Sussex County. Residents, especially in Sussex County, are urged to give themselves extra time for registration renewal, particularly if they believe their vehicle will need repair under the new regulations. Motorists can renew their registration up to 90 days prior to its expiration.

For more information about the changes, CLICK HERE or visit dmv.de.gov.

*OBD-II (On-Board Diagnostics II) – plug inserted from a computer into a vehicle’s dashboard to download information about the performance of the vehicle’s emissions system.

*MGVWR – Manufacturer’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

New artist portal refreshed to allow for more photos and videos

Wilmington, Del. (June 13, 2023) – The Delaware Division of the Arts has announced the public launch of the highly anticipated Delaware Artist Roster, now hosted on the dynamic DelawareScene.com portal. This refreshed portal presents a diverse selection of talented artists from Delaware who are now available to exhibit, perform, or present programs throughout Delaware and the wider mid-Atlantic region. The Delaware Artist Roster is set to revolutionize the way artists and groups connect, fostering collaborations that will enrich the cultural landscape of Delaware.

The DelawareScene.com portal, the Division’s arts and culture digital calendar, will now serve as the home for the Delaware Artist Roster, offering artists and organizations an exciting new dimension of visibility and engagement. Artists and organizations listed in the Roster will have the ability to tag themselves in events from their artist roster profile, thereby increasing their visibility and creating a comprehensive artist appearance calendar. This integration allows the Artist Roster to benefit from the over 100,000 annual site visitors on DelawareScene.com, ensuring that artists receive maximum exposure and connection opportunities.

As the premier platform for artists available for hire, and organizations seeking local talent, the Delaware Artist Roster provides a comprehensive directory of accomplished artists, carefully curated by the Division of the Arts. While the Division does not jury artists for inclusion in the Roster through a formal process, each artist’s application is reviewed to ensure they meet the basic criteria established by the Division.

The Delaware Artist Roster serves two primary audiences, catering to the unique needs of each:

Artists looking to share their work with the public:

The Artist Roster offers a remarkable opportunity for artists to showcase their creative work to a broader audience. By creating a free profile on the roster, artists can establish a powerful online presence and gain exposure for their talent. The enhanced functionality of the DelawareScene.com portal ensures effortless navigation and increased ease of use,  providing a seamless experience as artists exhibit their portfolios. Moreover, artists can upload larger files and videos, captivating, and immersing viewers in their artistic vision directly from their profiles. The thriving web traffic on the website creates a unique avenue for artists to expand their reach and connect with a broader audience, opening doors to new opportunities and propelling their careers to new heights.

Companies or individuals seeking local artists for events or commissions:

The Delaware Artist Roster is the go-to resource for companies, event organizers, and individuals in search of local talent. Whether it’s a special event, a commissioned project, or a unique collaboration, the Artist Roster showcases an array of skilled artists who are ready to bring their creativity to any occasion. With the Roster’s easy-to-use interface, users can explore the profiles of artists, contact them directly, and embark on a journey of artistic discovery. By engaging with the Roster, companies and individuals can infuse their events and projects with the vibrancy and diversity of Delaware’s art community.

“The Delaware Artist Roster represents a significant step forward in promoting our state’s thriving arts scene,” says Jessica Ball, Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “We are delighted to offer this invaluable resource to both artists and organizations, fostering connections that will enrich the cultural fabric of Delaware. Whether you are an artist seeking wider exposure or a company searching for local talent, the Delaware Artist Roster is the gateway to a world of artistic possibilities.”

To learn more about the Delaware Artist Roster and start exploring the diverse talents of Delaware’s artists, please visit www.DelawareScene.com/artists. For artists inquiries, please contact Roxanne Stanulis at Roxanne.Stanulis@delaware.gov.  For press inquiries or further information, please contact Andrew Truscott at Andrew.Truscott@delaware.gov.

The Delaware Artist Roster was designed by Thomas Anthony with Zero Defect Designs.

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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.