On view from March 4-25, 2022

Wilmington, Del. (March 1, 2022) – The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery presents artist Colleen Zufelt’s exhibition, Recycle, Repurpose…RE-IMAGINE, showing March 4 through 25, 2022. Her exhibit will also be part of Art Loop Wilmington — the monthly self-guided tour of art in and around the city.

Zufelt spent over 15 years exhibiting her work throughout the U.S. In 1996, she stepped away from her studio to teach art in private and public schools. In fact, Zufelt was named Henry B. duPont Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2019. She has also previously taught classes and workshops at Delaware Art Museum, the Art Studios of New Castle County, Center for the Creative Arts, and Christina Cultural Arts Center. After retiring from public teaching in 2020, she returned to her studio full time.

Zufelt may be known to Delaware arts lovers more for her work in ceramics, but her full body of work includes not only ceramics but also clay compositions and vessels, and metal sculpture.

Her interest in metals came in 2016 after she attended a Marshall Bridge Workshop in Kennett Square with sculptor Stan Smokler. In that workshop, artists would search junk yards and scrap metal locations collecting tossed-away materials and “…envisioning what the next life would be for these pieces” through sculpture.

She continues that process, visiting junk shops, antiques stores, and the like, developing vessels that play with natural light and shadow when displayed outdoors. She is also working on adding elements of “illumination from within” to her sculptures.

Of her return to creating and her most recent works, Zufelt notes: “As I return to my studio full time, I strive to create a beauty from the discarded in my search for harmony.”

Her current series employs both metal and clay remnants — some Zufelt has saved over years of creating, and others that have evolved as she herself explored new processes.

“In our current fast-paced world, I hope to inspire viewers to slow down and contemplate the Spirit of Creation while at the same time, recycling, repurposing, and reusing,” she says.

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. Guests are invited to attend the Artists Opening Reception to be held Friday, March 4, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. as part of Art Loop Wilmington.

Learn more about Zufelt and her upcoming exhibition with our YouTube Meet the Artist video series.

Image: Gatekeeper III (2020), Steel; plasma cut/welded recycled parts, 37”h x 18”w.

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

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Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Community Engagement
302-577-8282, leeann.wallett@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 National Endowment for the Arts grants funding to 567 arts organizations to save jobs and to fund operations and facilities, health and safety supplies, and marketing and promotional efforts

Wilmington, Del. (February 2, 2022) – At the end of January, four Delaware arts organizations – Art Works for All, Inc., The Delaware Contemporary, Delaware Shakespeare, and Wilmington Children’s Chorus – received either $50,000 or $100,000 American Rescue Plan (ARP) grants directly from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). These four organizations are among 567 arts organizations nationwide – located in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, DC – that will receive a total of $57.75 million in nonmatching funds to save jobs and to fund operations and facilities, health and safety supplies, and marketing and promotional efforts to encourage attendance and participation.

“Our nation’s arts sector has been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Endowment for the Arts’ American Rescue Plan funding will help arts organizations rebuild and reopen,” said Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, chair of the NEA. “The arts are crucial to helping America’s communities heal, unite, and inspire as well as essential to our nation’s economic recovery.”

The NEA received more than 7,500 eligible applications requesting $695 million. To review applications, the agency employed more than 450 expert readers and panelists to review and score each application using the published review criteria.

The ARP grant awardees represent the diverse nature of arts organizations around the country, serving both rural and urban communities and representing all 15 of the NEA’s artistic disciplines. Seventy-eight percent of the awardees are small or medium sized organizations with budgets of less than $2 million and 27 percent are first-time NEA grantees due to the NEA’s active encouragement of applications from a variety of organizations for this opportunity while providing numerous resources for navigating the application process.

The ARP was signed into law in March 2021 and included $135 million to the NEA for the arts sector. This is the third installment of ARP funding. In April 2021, the NEA announced $52 million (40 percent) in ARP funding will be allocated to 62 state, jurisdictional, and regional arts organizations for subgranting through their respective programs. With this special award, the Delaware Division of the Arts developed two short-term grant opportunities to help secure jobs and support Delaware’s nonprofit arts organizations and artists that add value to the state’s economy and bolster the creative life of our communities. The Delaware Division of the Arts awarded ARP funds to 36 arts organizations and 13 individual artists.

About the National Endowment for the Arts

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts 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 Arts Endowment 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. Visit arts.gov to learn more.

Image Credit: Delaware Shakespeare’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream taken by Alessandra Nicole

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Contact: Kaitlin Ammon, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications
302-577-8280, kaitlin.ammon@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 Division will provide up to $400,000 in matching funds to its FY2022 arts organization grantees in conjunction with the event

Wilmington, Del. (February 1, 2022) – The Delaware Division of the Arts is proud to support the arts sector through Delaware’s largest day of giving, Do More 24 Delaware, on March 3-4, 2022. For the second year, the Division will provide up to $400,000 in matching funds to its FY2022 arts organization grantees in conjunction with the statewide giving day event. The Division’s “stretch pool” funds will be awarded to grantees who fundraise through the domore24delaware.org website over the 24-hour fundraising period starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 3 and ending at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 4. Do More 24 Delaware is organized by United Way of Delaware and Spur Impact Association.

Thanks to the Division’s support in 2021, Do More 24 Delaware raised nearly $2 million from more than 10,000 unique donors for 400+ Delaware nonprofits in 24 hours, and it is hoping to be just as successful this year, if not more. More than 40% of that total raised went to nonprofits in the arts sector. Division funds will again be allocated to its participating grantees in proportion to the donations they raise through the Do More 24 Delaware campaign.

Jessica Ball, Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts states, “Arts and culture organizations have been essential in keeping people engaged in creative activities throughout the pandemic and they continue to be an important part of our economic recovery. The public understands that the recent surge of the pandemic has impacted these organizations and we believe that this ‘stretch pool’ incentive will encourage donors to stretch their donations a bit further to support their favorite arts organizations.”

In conjunction with the giving day, Do More 24 Delaware is presenting two special events to add to the day’s fun and excitement. Once again, the public is invited to tune into the Do More 24 Delaware Livestream this year with Mr. Delaware Gives (Chris Bruce), who is returning for another 24-hour livestream for the length of the event. Starting around 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 3 and concluding 24 hours later, the public can view the livestream on Facebook and YouTube. The livestream will feature nonprofit guests and other leaders and Delebrities who will be chatting informally about their favorite nonprofits. It is a chance to learn more about Delaware nonprofits, the important work they do, and the services they provide to Delawareans.

Also, anyone who makes a $50 donation to one or more of the participating nonprofits during the giving day will receive a link to an exclusive, virtual, one night only benefit concert featuring Backtrack Vocals, an award-winning, five-person a capella group based in New York City. Two of the Backtrack Vocals members went to schools in Delaware. The concert will air on Friday, March 4 at 8 p.m. after the 24-hour giving day officially ends.

To see which Delaware arts organizations are participating in Do More 24 Delaware, or to see the full list of 400+ Delaware nonprofits participating in the fundraising event, people can visit Do More 24 Delaware’s Find a Cause to Support page.

The Delaware Division of the Arts remains committed to supporting the arts and cultivating creativity to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. This partnership with Spur Impact, United Way of Delaware, and the Do More 24 Delaware planning team continues to provide a great opportunity to work together in fostering philanthropy in support of the arts.

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Contact: Kaitlin Ammon, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications
302-577-8280, kaitlin.ammon@delaware.gov

Image: OperaDelaware, Joe del Tufo, Moonloop Photography

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.—Secretary of State Jeff Bullock has asked Jessica Ball to serve as the next Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. Ms. Ball most recently served as the Executive Director of the Delaware Arts Alliance and will assume the new role effective November 29^th, 2021.

“The Division of the Arts plays an integral and vital role in supporting the arts and cultivating creativity to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans,” said Secretary Bullock. “Jessica’s breadth of experience uniquely positions her to lead the Division to the next level, and I am excited that she has agreed to rise up to the challenge.”

“I’m honored to be appointed to serve the State of Delaware and its creative community as the Director of the Division of the Arts,” said Jessica Ball. “I am incredibly passionate about the ability of the arts to transform lives and communities for the better. The arts and culture sector stands ready to help Delaware recover from the social and economic trauma of the pandemic, and I’m excited to be a part of the rebuilding and reopening of our cultural scene.”

“My vision for the arts post-pandemic is one that is centered on increased access, diversity, equity, and inclusion. I am eager to work with the Division of the Arts staff and our partners throughout the State to advance the sector for the benefit of all Delawareans,” said Ball.

Having served as the Executive Director of the Delaware Arts Alliance since 2018, Ms. Ball oversaw all aspects of managing a statewide nonprofit organization and developed sector wide strategies to advance arts and culture. She serves as the Delaware State Captain for Americans for the Arts’ State Arts Action Network and volunteers on the Delaware Fund for Women’s Young Founders Committee and the Delaware MillSummit Planning Committee.

Ms. Ball holds dual master’s degrees in Historic Preservation and Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design and a Bachelor of Architecture from Florida International University.

The Division will provide up to $400,000 in matching funds to its FY2022 arts organization grantees in conjunction with the event

Wilmington, Del. (November 3, 2021) – The Delaware Division of the Arts is proud to support the arts sector through Delaware’s largest day of giving, Do More 24 Delaware, on March 3-4, 2022. For the second year, the Division will provide up to $400,000 in matching funds to its FY2022 arts organization grantees in conjunction with the statewide giving day event. The Division’s “stretch pool” funds will be awarded to grantees who fundraise through the domore24delaware.org website over the 24-hour fundraising period. Do More 24 Delaware is organized by United Way of Delaware and Spur Impact Association.

Thanks to the Division’s support in 2021, Do More 24 Delaware raised nearly $2 million from more than 10,000 unique donors for 400+ Delaware nonprofits in 24 hours. More than 40% of that total raised went to nonprofits in the arts sector. Division funds will again be allocated to its participating grantees in proportion to the donations they raise through the Do More 24 Delaware campaign. In 2021, OperaDelaware and Wilmington Ballet Academy of the Dance topped the Division’s fundraising leaderboards and raised the most money among the eligible nonprofits in the large and small divisions, respectively. Clear Space Theater Company and The Everett Theater received the most donations over the course of the event.

Kristin Pleasanton, Acting Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts states, “The data show that the public remains strongly supportive of the arts community and recognizes how important the arts are to our economy. Because arts organizations continue to be impacted by the pandemic, we expect that the ‘stretch pool’ incentive will again motivate their fundraising efforts and encourage individuals to stretch their donations a little further to support their favorite arts organizations.”

The Delaware Division of the Arts remains committed to supporting the arts and cultivating creativity to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. This partnership with Spur Impact, United Way of Delaware, and the Do More 24 Delaware planning team continues to provide a great opportunity to work together in fostering philanthropy in support of the arts.

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Contact: Kaitlin Ammon, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications
302-577-8280, kaitlin.ammon@delaware.gov

Image: OperaDelaware, Joe del Tufo, Moonloop Photography

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.