Wilmington, Del. (June 13, 2023) – The Delaware Division of the Arts is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated exhibition, Award Winners XXIII, showcasing the exceptional talents of 17 artists who have been named the 2023 Individual Artist Fellows. This extraordinary exhibition is curated and hosted by the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover, Delaware. This is the twenty-third year that the Biggs Museum has held an exhibition featuring the artwork of the Division’s Fellows. Award Winners XXIII will provide a unique opportunity for the public to engage with and appreciate the remarkable work of these accomplished artists.

The Division’s Individual Artist Fellowship program recognizes outstanding artists in various artistic disciplines, including choreography, folk art, jazz, literature, media arts, music, and visual arts. A rigorous selection process was undertaken, where the artists’ work samples were reviewed by out-of-state arts professionals who considered both the demonstrated creativity and skill in their respective art forms.

In 2023, the Division received an impressive number of work samples from 118 Delaware choreographers, composers, musicians, writers, and folk, media, and visual artists. Following an anonymous review process, 17 exceptional artists were awarded fellowships, representing the categories of two Masters, seven Established, and eight Emerging artists. These talented fellows reside throughout Delaware, from the communities of Bridgeville, Claymont, Felton, Harrington, Lewes, New Castle, Newark, Smyrna,  Wilmington and Wyoming.

Award Winners XXIII will be presented across three remarkable venues, each offering a distinctive atmosphere for visitors to immerse themselves in the captivating artwork:

Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover, DE

Exhibition Dates: July 13 – September 24, 2023

Reception & Award Ceremony: July 14, 6-9 p.m.

CAMP Rehoboth Community Center in Rehoboth Beach, DE

Exhibition Dates: August 10 – September 8, 2023

Reception: August 10, 6-8 p.m.

Cab Calloway School for the Arts in Wilmington, DE

Exhibition Dates: October 2 – November 3, 2023

Reception: October 6, 6-8 p.m.

Artist profiles for the 2023 Individual Artist Fellowship cohort can be found here.

“Supporting individual artists is vital for a thriving arts ecosystem,” says Jessica Ball, Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “These artists are the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and cultural expression. By investing in their work, we not only contribute to the growth and vitality of the arts community but also nurture the unique perspectives and voices that enrich our society.”

“Individual artists play a crucial role in inspiring new ideas,” says Deputy Director Kristin Pleasanton. “Through their work, they invite us to explore different perspectives, engage in meaningful dialogue, and reflect on the world around us. By attending these three exhibitions, the public can show their support for these remarkable artists and acknowledge the importance of their contributions to the artistic landscape of Delaware.”

“Some of these artists are well-known.  For others, this is their first museum show,” says Laura Fravel, Sewell C. Biggs Curator of American Art.  “It is exciting to see the range of voices and perspectives in the Award Winners XXIII exhibition.  The Biggs is dedicated to celebrating and advancing the arts in Delaware and, in honor of our 30th anniversary year, we are offering free admission during the run of this show to encourage greater public engagement with contemporary artists working in our state.” 

For additional information about the Individual Artist Fellowship program, please visit the Delaware Division of the Arts website at arts.delaware.gov/iafrecipients. For more information about the Award Winners XXIII exhibition, please visit the Biggs Museum of American Art website at https://www.biggsmuseum.org.

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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.

A group show featuring the work of the 2022 Individual Artist Fellows

Dover, Del. (May 25, 2022) – Each year, the Biggs Museum of American Art, in partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts, exhibits the work of Delaware’s Individual Artist Fellows. The Award Winners XXII exhibition recognizes the Fellows’ combined artistic accomplishments and will be on view from June 3 to July 23, 2022.

The Award Winners reception will be held at the Biggs Museum of American Art, Dover on Friday, June 3 from 5–8 p.m. with the awards presentation to be held at 6:30 p.m.

The event will feature special performances by various 2022 Individual Artist Fellows. Attendees can experience the work of all 25 artists in the Award Winners exhibit in the Biggs’ Galleries. The event is free and open to the public and will be outdoors if weather permits. Bring your own chair or blanket. Light refreshments will be served.

“We are excited to support and showcase the work of Delaware’s Artist Fellows,” said Curator Laura Fravel. “Award Winners XXII represents a cross-section of talented writers, musicians, and visual artists from across the state working in a wide range of media. The exhibition will feature large-scale paintings and drawings, animated video, lightbox artwork, sculptures incorporating LEDs, minutely detailed clay figurines, photography, graphic memoir, recordings of musical performances, and a reading nook of the authors’ work. The variety offers a fresh energy in dialogue with our museum’s historic collections.” 

 Each subsequent location will host a modified version of the Award Winners exhibition.

 Biggs Museum of American Art:

          Exhibition: June 3 to July 23

Reception: June 3 at 5 p.m.

 CAMP Rehoboth:

Exhibition: August 1 – September 5, 2022

Reception: August 5 from 6 to 8 p.m.

 Cab Calloway School of the Arts:

Exhibition: October 1 to November 1*

Reception: October 7 to coincide with Art Loop Wilmington

Learn more about this year’s artist fellows here.

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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.

A group show featuring the work of the 2019 Individual Artist Fellows
On view in all three counties this summer!

Dover, Del. (May 28, 2019) – Each year, the Biggs Museum of American Art, in partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts, exhibits the work of Delaware’s Individual Artist Fellows. The Award Winners XIX exhibition recognizes the Fellows’ combined artistic accomplishments and will be on view from June 7 to July 22.

The Award Winners reception and award ceremony will be held at the Biggs Museum of American Art, Dover on Wednesday, June 12 from 5–7 p.m.

The event will feature special performances by two of the 2019 Individual Artist Fellows. Attendees can experience the work of all 20 artists in the Award Winners exhibit in Galleries 8-17 on the second floor. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

The first part of the reception will feature a reading by Master Fellow in Fiction, Billie Travalini, and a musical performance by Established Fellow in Folk Music, Shelley Kelly, followed by the remarks and awards presentation.

“Highlights of the exhibition include video installations of the award winning writers, examples of works by every visual arts fellowship winner and wide variety of musical exhibits,” said Curator Ryan Grover. “This cross-section of the best of Delaware today will make striking and interesting contrasts against the best of Delaware’s past.”

Each subsequent location will host a modified version of the Award Winners exhibition.

2019 Individual Artist Fellows

Masters Award ($10,000)

Established Professional Award ($6,000)

Emerging Artist Award ($3,000)

Learn more about this year’s artist fellows: https://arts.delaware.gov/iafrecipients/2019_iafs/

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Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, 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.

(Photo: Join the Lenape Tribe of Delaware on The Green on Sept. 1, for a celebration of the tribe’s heritage.)

DOVER – DNREC’s First State Heritage Park will celebrate the “First People of the First State: The Lenape Tribe of Delaware,” for the First State Heritage Park’s monthly “First Saturday in the First State” on Sept. 1. The program will feature a variety of free events and activities.

The First Saturday programs will center on sharing aspects of the Lenape culture. “September is a time for Native-American people to gather in their homelands,” said Nena Todd, site supervisor for the state’s downtown Dover museums. “Traditionally, the coming of cooler weather provided a signal for native peoples to transition from a summer of hunting and fishing to more secure winter lodgings.”

This tradition of seasonal gathering continues in today’s Native-American communities with September serving as a time when families come together to honor their heritage with events such as the “The First People of the First State: A Lenape Celebration of Heritage” that will be held on the Dover Green from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Here is a list of programs and activities for First Saturday in the First State:

First Saturday – September 1

9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• Biggs Kids: Birds and Lenape
  Biggs Museum of American Art, 406 Federal Street
  Celebrate our visiting flock of John James Audubon bird prints and our state’s Native peoples with a special Lenape-inspired bird craft. Feathers will fly! For ages 5-10.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

• The First People of the First State: A Celebration of Heritage
  At The Old State House – 25 The Green
  Join the Lenape Tribe of Delaware as they celebrate their culture and Mother Earth with dancing and demonstrations.

10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

• “Native American Melodies”
  Johnson Victrola Museum, 275 S. New Street
  In the early 20th century, artists incorporated music found within Native American communities, and recorded it as “The Unique American Sound” for the Victor Talking Machine Company. Listen to these compositions on original talking machines.

Other programs:

9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• Digging for Old Delaware
  John Bell House on The Green, 43 The Green
  Roll up your sleeves as you learn the skills of an archaeologist to uncover Delaware’s past.
• A Capitol Experience
  Legislative Hall, 411 Legislative Avenue
  Tour Delaware’s state capital building and experience Delaware history. Photo ID is required for all adults entering the building.

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Tours of the Governor’s House
  At Woodburn – The Governor’s House, 151 King’s Highway
  Enjoy guided tours of the official residence of Delaware’s Governor since 1965, and Hall House, the Governor’s guest house.

10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

• Trades of The Green Walking Tour
  Meet at the John Bell House on The Green, 43 The Green
  In honor of Labor Day, explore the many skilled and unskilled trades once practiced on The Green in the past.
• Hands-On Archaeology
  John Bell House on The Green, 43 The Green
  Get down and dirty with state park archeologists and take part in an actual archaeological dig. Experience the thrill of discovery as you uncover small pieces of Dover’s past. For ages 10 and older. Weather dependent.

10:30 a.m.

• Trench Art
  Delaware Public Archives, 121 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
  Former director of the Air Mobility Command Museum Michael Leister will talk about the popular art, created out of used military equipment from the trenches during World War I.

1:30 – 4:00 p.m.

• The Once and Future Courthouse
  Kent County Courthouse, 38 The Green, Courtroom #1
  From the 1690s to the present, learn how this site went from a courthouse to a hotel and back again.

Admission to all park sites and programs is free. Centrally-located free parking is available at the First State Heritage Park Welcome Center and Galleries, located at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard North. For more information about “First Saturday” events and all First State Heritage Park programs, please call 302-739-9194 or visit www.destateparks.com/heritagepark.

The First State Heritage Park is Delaware’s first urban “park without boundaries,” linking historic and cultural sites in the city that has been the seat of state government since 1777. The park is a partnership of state agencies under the leadership of DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation, working in collaboration with city and county government, nonprofit organizations and the private sector.

Contact: Sarah Zimmerman, DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation, First State Heritage Park, 302-739-9194 or sarah.zimmerman@delaware.gov.

Vol. 48, No. 231

Division of the Arts to Honor 17 Artist Fellows at Annual Reception and Award Ceremony June 13

New this year, the Award Winners Exhibition will display contemporary art alongside historical decorative arts and travel to two new locations

Dover, Del. (June 8, 2018) – The Award Winners XVIII reception and award ceremony will be held at the Biggs Museum of American Art, Dover on Wednesday, June 13 from 5:30–7:30 p.m.

The event will feature special performances by three of the 2018 Individual Artist Fellows. Attendees can experience the work of all 17 artists in the Award Winners XVIII exhibit throughout the entire museum. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

The first part of the reception will feature music selections by Master Fellow in Music, Lloyd Shorter and a presentation by Joan Warburton-Phibbs, Established Fellow in Choreography, followed by the remarks and awards presentation. The second portion will end with a presentation of work by Emerging Fellow in Media Arts, Robert Waters.

Each year, the Biggs Museum of American Art, in partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts, exhibits the work of Delaware’s Individual Artist Fellows. The Award Winners XVIII exhibition on view now through July 22, recognizes the Fellows’ combined artistic accomplishments.

“The contemporary pieces from Award Winners will be on view alongside materials and works from 1700-1850,” said Curator Ryan Grover. “The exhibition will be immersive and will show the characteristics that these two timeframes share in common.” Highlights of the exhibition include a site-specific plywood sculpture by Kevin Bielicki and six video installations.

New this year, the Award Winners exhibition will travel to two venues, including CAMP Rehoboth, Rehoboth Beach; and Cab Calloway School of the Arts, Wilmington. Each location will host a modified version of the Award Winners exhibition.

• Biggs Museum of American Art: June 1 – July 22
  • Reception on June 13, 2018; 5-7 p.m. RSVP
• CAMP Rehoboth: August 3-26
  • Reception on August 9, 2018; 5:30-7:30 p.m. RSVP
• Cab Calloway School of the Arts: September 7-30
  • Reception on September 7; 5-7 p.m. RSVP

Learn more about the 2018 Artist Fellows

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

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 arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.