2015 Individual Artist Fellowships

The prestigious Individual Artist Fellowships from the Delaware Division of the Arts recognize artists in a variety of disciplines for their outstanding quality of work and provide monetary awards. This year, work samples from 91 Delaware choreographers, composers, musicians, writers, and visual artists were reviewed by out-of-state arts professionals, considering demonstrated creativity and skill in their art form. Sixteen (16) artists were selected for Fellowships in three categories, and three artists received Honorable Mentions. Congratulations to all!

Masters Award ($10,000):

• Kimberly Reighley, Wilmington, Music: Solo Recital

Established Professional Award ($6,000):

• Robert M. Bickey, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Sculpture
• Gail Braune Comorat, Lewes, Literature: Poetry
• Kevin Cope, Newark, Music: Composition
• Christopher Nichols, Newark, Music: Solo Recital
• Russell Reece, Bethel, Literature: Fiction
• Jeffrey Rubin, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Photography
• Billie Travalini, Wilmington, Literature: Creative Nonfiction
• Lance Winn, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Painting

Emerging Professional Award ($3,000):

• Judy Catterton, Rehoboth Beach, Literature: Creative Nonfiction
• Barbara Gray, Wilmington, Literature: Fiction
• Tom Newby, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Painting
• Britania Redington, Dover, Music: Solo Recital
• James Ulry, Dover, Visual Arts: Crafts
• Lindsey Warren, Newark, Literature: Poetry
• Karoline Wileczek, Newark, Visual Arts: Works on Paper

Honorable Mention:

• Kevin Bielicki, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Sculpture
• Yaprak Soysal, Bear, Visual Arts: Photography
• Shannon Connor Winward, Newark, Literature: Fiction

Upcoming Mezzanine Exhibits

The Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of work by 2014 Individual Artist Fellow B. Proud (Wilmington) from February 6-27, with an opening reception on February 6, 5-8 p.m.

Photographs by Proud from her "First Comes Love" project capture LGBTQ couples who have been together for 10, 20, 30, 40, and even 50+ years. 

A schedule for all 2014/2015 Mezzanine Exhibits can be found here. 

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

 Image: B. Proud, Del and Harriet

Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud (POL), a statewide high school poetry recitation competition, will take place at the Smyrna Opera House on Tuesday, February 24 at 7 p.m. Eighteen (18) Delaware high schools plan to send one student each to the competition. The event is free and open to the public. No RSVP required.

The winner of this statewide event will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, to compete in the National Finals on April 27-29, 2015. The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, sponsors of the national competition, will award $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends at the National Finals, with a $20,000 award for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion.

Poetry Out Loud encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country. More than 100,000 students are expected to take part in POL nationwide each year.

Image: Kathleen Becker, 2014 Delaware POL Champion

7th Annual Nonprofit Sector Survey

Nonprofit Finance Fund is conducting its seventh annual nationwide survey examining the state of the nonprofit sector, and we hope that you will contribute to this collective effort. The survey, which is anonymous and takes about 10-15 minutes to fill out, collects data on challenges and trends among nonprofits. NFF is committed to putting the data into action and shares the results openly across our communities. Please take the survey and share it with other nonprofits in your network! 

Arden Club Accepted into Jazz Touring Network

Get ready for more jazz music in Arden, Delaware! 
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation has accepted the Arden Club into the Jazz Touring Network (JTN). The network provides professional development and peer mentoring, and facilitates jazz music touring through collective action and performance fee subsidies. The JTN is made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts' Regional Touring Program.
 

Joint Finance Committee Scheduled to Review Arts Funding

The Governor's proposed FY2016 budget will be released and available for public review on January 29. Following the release of the budget, the General Assembly's Joint Finance Committee (JFC) will conduct public hearings to review each department's proposed budget.

 The Department of State's budget hearing before JFC is slated for review on Wednesday, February 4 at 2:00 p.m. in Legislative Hall. The Division of the Arts, an agency in the Department of State, will be included in this review. These hearings are open to the public. Please check the legislative calendar for updates to the schedule.

 The Delaware Arts Alliance plans to coordinate a presentation to address the value of the arts in economic development, education, and quality of life. For details, contact the Delaware Arts Alliance.

Professional Development Corner

Delaware arts organizations can receive a significant discount to attend the Arts Reach National Arts Marketing, Development & Ticketing Conference : March 19 - 21, 2015, at NYU's Kimmel Center in New York City. Organizations or individuals that have received a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts and indicate their affiliation with the Division on the conference registration form will receive a $130 registration discount!  In addition, if you register by January 31 (early bird deadline), two additional colleagues from your organization can attend for FREE! The conference will include a multitude of sessions focused on the latest resources and technologies used to gain, retain, and upgrade patrons. 

• Three annual application deadlines: 1/15/15, 5/15/15, and 9/15/15

• Artist registration deadline: 1/28/15
• Exhibit: Feb. 23 - Mar. 14, 2015; reception/awards Mar. 14, 1-3 p.m.

• Two annual application deadlines: 2/19/15 and 7/23/15
• Webinar 1/21/15, 3 p.m.

• Application deadline: 2/20/15
• Webinar 1/21/15, 2 p.m.

• Postmark deadline: 3/1/15

• Application deadline: 3/2/15

• Application deadline: 3/13/15
• Webinars 1/22/15 & 2/10/15, 2 p.m.

• Application deadline: 4/16/15
• Webinar 3/11/15, 3 p.m.