Hussein named Delaware’s finalist for second consecutive year

 

Wilmington, Del. (March 7, 2024) – Following a spirited competition featuring eleven talented high school students from Delaware, Maiss Hussein, a senior from Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School, emerged as the 2024 Poetry Out Loud Delaware State Champion. The exhilarating state finals took place on February 29th, 2024, at the Smyrna Opera House. Joelle Caternor from Smyrna High School secured the first runner-up position, while Jono McGarvey from Delaware Valley Classical School claimed the second runner-up title.

This victory marks Maiss as only the third participant in Delaware’s 18-year involvement with the program to secure consecutive wins. Reflecting on her achievement, Hussein remarked, “My first win was unforgettable, but the second time around has left me in awe. It feels like I’m still in shock!”

Hussein’s captivating recitation of “If They Should Come For Us” by Fatimah Asghar earned high praise from the adjudicators. The profound poem can be explored on the Poetry Foundation’s website.

In an ode to Maiss’s exceptional achievement, Jessica Ball, Director of the Division of the Arts, remarked, “Maiss Hussein’s victory is not just a triumph for her, but a testament to the power of poetry to transcend and inspire. We are immensely proud of her accomplishment and look forward to witnessing her shine on the national stage.”

As the 2024 Poetry Out Loud Delaware State Champion, Maiss will be awarded $200 and the esteemed opportunity to compete at the National Finals in Washington, D.C., scheduled from April 30th to May 2nd, 2024. Furthermore, Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School will receive a $500 stipend for the acquisition of poetry materials. Joelle Caternor, the first runner-up, will be granted $100, and Smyrna High School will receive $200 for its school library.

The Poetry Out Loud state competition, presented by the Delaware Division of the Arts in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, serves as a pivotal platform encouraging high school students to delve into great poetry through memorization, performance, and spirited competition. A recording of this year’s Competition can be found on the Division’s YouTube page.

For further details regarding the competition and a comprehensive list of state finalists, kindly visit our website.

Photo Credit: Sam Wilson, Moonloop Photography

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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.

Nominations for individuals and organizations in the arts
will be accepted through June 28

Wilmington, Del. (May 15, 2019) – Delaware’s Governor’s Awards for the Arts recognize the contributions of individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions and a lasting and profound impact on the artistic and cultural life of Delaware.

Nominees should be individuals with legal residence in Delaware or an organization or business based in Delaware. Division staff, Arts Council members, members of their families and previous recipients are not eligible for nomination. Posthumous nominations will not be accepted.

A late afternoon reception and awards ceremony will be held on October 28, 2019, in conjunction with the Delaware Arts Summit. Awardees will be selected by the Governor’s Awards Selection Panel, comprised of arts professionals from across the state.

Nominations are now being accepted until June 28, 2019 for these prestigious awards in the following categories:

Arts Administration – Individual who has shown sustained, impactful, and visionary executive leadership of an arts organization.

Arts Education – Individual or organization that has made significant contributions through leadership and creativity to advance arts education in Delaware’s schools and communities, or in community organizations.

Arts Patron – Individual, foundation or entity that, over time, has sustained and enhanced the arts in their community or the state of Delaware through contributions of their time, effort, or financial resources.

Community Engagement – Individual or organization that works to create or strengthen interactive arts participation among diverse community members while increasing the public awareness about the role of the arts in community life.

Government – An elected or appointed official whose work has resulted in significant support for the arts through local or state government action.

Complete information about the Governor’s Awards for the Arts, nomination form and instructions are available at https://arts.delaware.gov/governors-awards/. The deadline for the submission of the nomination packets is June 28, 2019. 

For more information or assistance, please contact Kristin Pleasanton at Kristin.Pleasanton@delaware.gov

History of the Governor’s Awards for the Arts

Governor Russell W. Peterson began the tradition of honoring Delaware artists in 1970. Since then, Delaware has paid tribute to 40 distinguished individuals and organizations that have had a profound and lasting impact on the state’s artistic and cultural life.

The previous Governor’s Awards for the Arts in 2014 were coordinated by the Division of the Arts in conjunction with the Delaware State Arts Council and the office of the Governor. Award recipients were selected from a pool of candidates solicited during an extensive nominating process.

For a list of the previous award winners, visit our website.

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

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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 24, 2017) – The Delaware Division of the Arts is investing nearly $3 million in more than 100 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 FY2018 includes: General Operating Support, Project Support, Arts Stabilization, and Education Resource grants.

“The arts in Delaware are integral to the fabric of our communities—from Claymont to Rehoboth Beach to Seaford. We are proud to invest in arts education, arts and community development, and arts for underserved communities,” said Paul Weagraff, director of the Delaware Division of the Arts.

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.

“In Delaware, the arts continue to be an important economic driver—generating $149.9 million in annual economic activity and supporting over 4,000 jobs for our citizens, providing business for our restaurants and other small enterprise, and tax revenue for our state and local governments—according to the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 national economic impact study conducted by Americans for the Arts. In addition to the important economic impacts, the arts benefit all Delawareans from children to senior citizens across the socioeconomic spectrum, and from rural communities to the cities,” said J. Mack Wathen, chair of the Delaware State Arts Council.

The awards include:

• Sixty-one (61) arts organizations will receive general operating support.
• Twenty-six (26) community-based organizations will receive support for arts programming for children and adults with physical or intellectual disabilities; economically disadvantaged and at-risk students; individuals and family members dealing with cancer; and young children and community members from across Delaware.
• Thirteen (13) 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 new Delaware Standards for Learning in the Visual and Performing Arts, will be funded.
• Seven (7) arts stabilization projects will provide support for capital improvements and repairs to facilities owned by arts organizations.

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 FY 2018 can be found here.

 

GRANT BREAKDOWN BY TYPE

Grant Program	# Grants	Amount Awarded
General Operating Support	61	$2,388,600
Project Support	26	$187,400
Arts Stabilization	7	$75,000
Education Resource	13	$134,000
TOTAL	107	$2,785,000

 

The Division also awards grants on an on-going basis throughout the year, including Arts Access grants, Artist Residencies, Individual Artist Fellowships, Individual Artist Opportunity grants, and TranspARTation 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 Delaware Division of the Arts 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 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 in order for students to attend arts performances, events and exhibits. Rolling deadline.

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 Foundation. FY18 Masters categories are Dance, Jazz or Music. Annual August 1 deadline. Applications now open. Deadline August 1 by 4:30 p.m.

Artist Opportunity Grants – provides up to $750 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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NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS CHAIRMAN JANE CHU
VISITS WILMINGTON AND DOVER TO MARK THE NEA’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Wilmington, DE – Chairman Chu concluded a day-long visit to the First State as part of the 50th anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Her trip included a tour at The Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington Creative District, The Grand Opera House, and the Biggs Museum of American Art.

“Thank you to the Delaware Division of the Arts for a meaningful tour of the state’s cultural community,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “I saw first-hand how the Division is creating experiences that connect people through the arts, instilling beauty in their world, deepening their sense of place and purpose, transforming their communities, and drawing out their own inner creativity. You are proof of why art matters.”

The visit, held on November 1, began with a tour of The Delaware Contemporary led by teaching artist Nanci Hersh and a presentation with the NEA-supported artist-in-residence, Alma Sheppard-Matsuo. Matsuo is working with the Kingswood Community Center on a 4-month printmaking residency engaging youth in the exploration of folktales from diverse cultures.

Next, was a walking tour through the Wilmington Creative District led by Carrie Gray, Executive Director of the Wilmington Renaissance Corporation. The Creative District project received an FY 16 NEA Our Town Grant of $75,000 to support the design of pocket parks and passages in Wilmington. This tour included Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Governor Jack A. Markell, Secretary of State of Delaware Jeffrey W. Bullock, and Democratic candidate for the Office of Mayor of the City of Wilmington, Mike Purzycki.

Then, Chairman Chu, Senator Coons, and Governor Markell gave remarks during the Town Hall meeting at the baby grand which was attended by over 150 guests. Chairman Chu spoked about the NEA’s 50th anniversary and took questions from the audience to learn more about how the arts play an important role in Delaware’s art community.

From left to right: J. Mack Wathen, Chair of the Delaware State of the Arts Council; Steve Bailey, Managing Director of Programming of The Grand Opera House; Mark Fields, Executive Director of The Grand Opera House; Jane Chu, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA); Senator Chris Coons (D-DE); Paul Weagraff, Director of the Division of the Arts; Laura Scanlan, Director of State and Regional Partnerships at the NEA at The Grand Opera House, Wilmington.

Later, Chairman Chu visited the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover, which included a tour of its galleries and an opportunity for a public meet and greet with the Kent and Sussex County arts communities.

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 artsdel.org or call 302-577-8278.

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. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts and the agency is celebrating this milestone with events and activities through September 2016.

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

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MEDIA ADVISORY: Thursday, October 27, 2016

Contacts:

Judith Kargbo (NEA), kargboj@arts.gov, 202-682-5528

Leeann Wallett (Delaware Division of Arts), leeann.wallett@delaware.gov, 302-577-8280

Brian Cunningham (Senator Coons), Brian_Cunningham@coons.senate.gov, 302-573- 6345

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu to Visit
Wilmington, Delaware on November 1, 2016

Washington, DC – On November 1, 2016, Jane Chu, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), will join Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) in engaging the Delaware arts community. Chairman Chu will tour The Delaware Contemporary and join Senator Coons in a public Town Hall meeting at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington. Chairman Chu will also tour the Biggs Museum of American Art and participate in a public meet and greet in Dover.

Chairman Chu will tour The Delaware Contemporary, an art museum and dynamic gathering place where art, design, and technology intersect to inspire creativity. She will have the opportunity to learn more about the many programs the museum offers, including its NEA-supported artist-in-residence program.

Then, the Delaware Division of the Arts hosts a Town Hall meeting at The Grand Opera House in Wilmington. Chairman Chu, Senator Coons, and Governor Jack Markell (D-DE) will give remarks. Chairman Chu will speak about the NEA’s 50th anniversary and take questions from the audience, giving her an opportunity to learn more about how the arts play an important role in Delaware’s arts community. Media who wish to attend this event should contact Leeann Wallett with the Delaware Division of the Arts at leeann.wallett@delaware.gov. After the Town Hall meeting, Chairman Chu is available for short one-on-one media interviews. Media should send their request in advance to Judith Kargbo, kargboj@arts.gov.

Later that afternoon, Chairman Chu will visit the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover, an art museum dedicated to promoting an understanding and appreciation of the fine and decorative arts of Delaware, the Mid-Atlantic Region and the nation from 1700 to the present. Following a tour of the museum, Chairman Chu will participate in a public meet and greet with the Dover arts community. Prior to the meet and greet, Chairman Chu is available for short one-on-one media interviews. Media should send their request in advance to Judith Kargbo, kargboj@arts.gov.

As part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ 50th anniversary celebration, the NEA created a story bank of multimedia content to showcase the impact of the arts. To date, hundreds of people from across the country, including Delaware, have submitted stories about how the arts and the National Endowment for the Arts have impacted their lives. In addition to a video about the arts and culture of Delaware, this section also includes a video from Senator Chris Coons, filmed at The Delaware Contemporary.

Media should contact Judith Kargbo at kargboj@arts.gov if they would like to attend any of the site visits or request an interview with Chairman Chu.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

9:00AM- 10:15AM The Delaware Contemporary Site Visit

Location: 200 S Madison St, Wilmington, DE 19801

Participants:

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts
Paul Weagraff, director, Delaware Division of the Arts
David Keller, interim executive director, The Delaware Contemporary Arts
Kathrine Page, board chair, The Delaware Contemporary Arts
Alma Sheppard-Matsuo, artist-in-residence, The Delaware Contemporary Arts

1:00PM –2:00PM Town Hall Meeting

Location: The Grand Opera House at the baby grand, 818 N Market St, Wilmington, DE 19801

Participants:

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts
Chris Coons, U.S. Senator, State of Delaware
Jack Markell, Governor, State of Delaware
Paul Weagraff, director, Delaware Division of the Arts
Mark Fields, executive director, the Grand Opera House

2:15PM –2:30PM Media Availability

Location: the baby grand, 818 N Market St, Wilmington, DE 19801

Participants:

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts
Chris Coons, U.S. Senator, State of Delaware

3:45PM- 4:10PM Biggs Museum Tour

Location: 406 Federal St, Dover, DE 19901

Participants:

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts
Paul Weagraff, director, Delaware Division of the Arts
Charles Guerin, executive director, Biggs Museum
Ryan Grover, curator, Biggs Museum

4:15PM- 4:30PM Media Availability

Location: Biggs Museum, 406 Federal St, Dover, DE 19901

Participants:

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts

4:30PM- 5:45PM Public Meet and Greet

Location: Biggs Museum, 406 Federal St, Dover, DE 19901

Participants:

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts
Paul Weagraff, director, Delaware Division of the Arts
Charles Guerin, executive director, Biggs Museum
Ryan Grover, curator, Biggs Museum

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. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts and the agency is celebrating this milestone with events and activities through September 2016.

About the Delaware Division of the Arts

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 artsdel.org or call 302-577-8278.