14th Annual State Employee Art Exhibition Open! | |
|
Don't miss your chance to see artwork from State of Delaware employees and their family members! The 14th annual Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition is now open until March 21 at the Delaware State University Art Center/Gallery.
People's Choice voting is now open! Let your voice be heard. Make sure you vote for your favorite piece(s) in the exhibition.
- You can "like" your favorite(s) on Facebook
-
Vote onsite at the Gallery
-
Send your choice(s) by email to Dana Wise
- Voting closes on March 20
Come celebrate with us: All participants and visitors are invited to the Arts Center/Gallery on Sunday, March 9 from 12-4 pm to enjoy the exhibition and view the winning pieces. The celebration is open to the public and will include refreshments, art activities, and giveaways for all ages.
| |
2025 Poetry Out Loud State Finalist Named | |
|
Congratulations to Olivia Stevens from Mount Sophia Academy for being named the Delaware State Finalist! Olivia will represent Delaware and advance to the Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, National Finals in Washington, DC on May 5-7, 2025, where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed.
Olivia Stevens, a junior, is an aspiring writer and vocalist. She has written and published a novel entitled The Locket Mystery and is currently working on her second. Olivia enjoys writing free verse poetry and short stories, which have won several awards and have been included in national and regional literary journals. As an active vocalist, she has participated in prestigious summer vocal academies, including the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Apart from storytelling, Olivia is the captain of a FIRST robotics team that represented Delaware at the 2019 and 2021 World Competitions.
| |
Did you miss it live?
Watch the livestream of the state finals here:
| | |
The Delaware Division of the Arts is proud to support Delaware’s vibrant arts sector by participating in Do More 24 Delaware, the state’s largest day of giving, on March 6-7, 2025. As part of this initiative, the Division will provide up to $200,000 in matching funds to its FY2025 general operating support grantees, encouraging individual philanthropy and maximizing the impact of every donation made through the DoMore24Delaware.org platform. | |
Next Delaware State Arts Caucus Meeting | |
|
The Arts & Culture Caucus provides a platform for experts, nonprofits, educators, artists, and stakeholders to discuss relevant policy initiatives supporting the creative economy. Everyone is welcomed to join.
Join the Delaware General Assembly and the Delaware Arts Alliance for two public Arts & Culture Caucuses:
- Thurs. March 27: March for the Arts in Education, 11:30-12:30PM at Legislative Hall
- Thurs. May 15: Arts & Culture Caucus, 11:30-12:30PM in Tatnall Building Room 112
| |
Upcoming Professional Development Webinar | |
Musicians—whether classically trained virtuosos, jazz improvisers, pop performers, or anything in between—have unique business and community needs. These quarterly meet-ups are designed to provide practical, real-world financial insights specifically tailored for Delaware musicians, along with opportunities for collaboration, support, and community-building. The mission is to build financial knowledge and skills while fostering a vibrant, creative community within Delaware – like a green room where the backstage conversations are all about money. | | |
|
|
2024 Taxes for Musicians
April 7 from 6-7:30pm
FREE!
If it is true that the only certain things in life are death and taxes, this workshop will make navigating one of those things considerably easier. We’ll review federal income tax basics for Delaware musicians including common business deductions claimed. We’ll also outline how the tax landscape changes based on the type of income a musician earns and highlight key aspects of tax law that impact financial wellness, including deducting interest for student loan payments and saving for retirement. We’ll touch briefly on some state and local income tax issues, and we’ll conclude by reviewing some tips and best practices to keep excellent records.
As part of this workshop, we will:
- Identify ordinary and necessary deductions common to musicians.
- Review the overall income tax landscape for common federal and state filings.
- Identify records to retain for tax purposes and effective systems for tracking expenses and income.
| | |
Spring Sessions of CreatiVeterans Now Open! | |
|
CreatiVeterans is an eight-week art course for Delaware's veteran population, hosted at convenient locations throughout Delaware. Led by a trained teaching artist, this course introduces a range of artistic techniques and mediums to explore. No prior experience is required, as the teaching artist will guide you through each step of the process. You’ll have the chance to express yourself, connect with fellow veterans, and experience the power of creativity. At the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to showcase your work in an exhibition, providing an opportunity to share your artistic achievements with family, friends, and the community.
| |
New Castle County
Cultivating Creativity
Taught by Traci Currie, PhD.
April 1 - May 27 I Tuesdays from 11-1pm
This class focuses on sharing who you are through storytelling. We will start with exercises that revolve around the power of our names and what our names mean to us. Most of the ‘naming’ exercises will lead us to share stories about who we are. Over the course, we will write, create visual collages, work in groups, and listen to each other’s stories.
Location: Delaware Theatre Company
| | |
Kent County
The Joy of Drawing
Taught by Rebecca Howell
April 1 - May 27 I Tuesdays from 1:30-3:30pm
Embrace your inner artist in a class that encourages experimentation and self-expression. This course introduces a variety of materials and unique approaches to drawing for the sake of joy. Materials used include pencil, charcoal, pen, ink, and pastel.
Location: Smyrna Opera House
| | |
Sussex County
Creating Art with Paint and Paper
Taught by Barbara Calkins
April 9 - June 4 I Wednesdays from 11-3pm
Join a small group of veterans for an engaging and creative class where you’ll connect, collaborate, and explore artmaking with paint and paper. Through guided instruction, you’ll create both individual and collaborative projects, transforming simple materials into meaningful works of art.
Location: Mispillion Art League
| | |
Call for Artists: Apply to Exhibit in the Mezzanine Gallery | |
|
Delaware artists, showcase your work in the Mezzanine Gallery! Located in the Carvel State Office Building in Wilmington, the gallery features monthly solo exhibitions highlighting a diverse range of visual arts, including painting, photography, sculpture, crafts, folk, and media arts.
To be considered, artists must submit a Mezzanine Gallery Application through smARTDE by March 15. Artists who have received an Individual Artist Fellowship in the visual arts are also eligible for an exhibition opportunity. Don’t miss this chance to share your work with the community!
| |
Delaware Nonprofits Invited to Apply for 2025 State Employees’ Charitable Campaign by March 31 | |
|
The State Employees’ Charitable Campaign (SECC) Steering Committee invites Delaware nonprofit organizations to apply for participation in the 2025 campaign. Applications opened on February 1, 2025, and must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2025.
As the State of Delaware’s primary charitable giving initiative for employees and retirees, the SECC partners with the United Way of Delaware to connect donors with local nonprofit organizations serving families, children, and adults. In the 2024 SECC, state employees raised $311,255.63, surpassing the $300,000 goal, and supported 158 charitable organizations. The 2025 campaign runs September 1 through October 31, 2025.
“I’m proud that Delaware’s state employees are committed to giving back, and last year’s campaign surpassed its goal, supporting over 150 nonprofits. I encourage eligible organizations to apply and be part of this effort,” said Governor Matt Meyer.
For eligibility details, visit the Resources for Charities page of the SECC website.
For additional information, contact Anna Davis, Statewide SECC Coordinator, by email at SECC@delaware.gov or call (302) 735-6300.
| |
Deadline Approaching: Walking Together | |
|
Walking Together: Investing in Folklife in Communities of Color supports folklife and traditional arts rooted in communities of color by investing in artists/practitioners and the community organizations that care for them. It is a national funding program managed by the six U.S. regional arts organizations (RAOs).
Summary Information:
- $15,000 grants for traditional artists/practitioners
- $50,000 grants for community organizations
- Grant funds have limited restrictions and do not have to be used for a specific project. They may be used to grow your work and help you support your community’s traditions into the future.
| |
Other Grant Opportunities from Mid Atlantic Arts | |
|
Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects Grants - Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects grants fund projects that support the vitality of traditional arts and cultures in the mid-Atlantic region. Deadline: March 10, 2025.
Mid Atlantic Tours - Mid Atlantic Tours brings exemplary performing arts ensembles to communities across the mid-Atlantic region. Deadline: March 27, 2025.
Special Presenter Initiatives - The Special Presenter Initiatives provide additional opportunities for the support of small to mid-sized performing arts presenters in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Native nations that share this geography. Deadline: March 13, 2025
| |
On the Mezzanine -
Virginia Lockman
The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery is pleased to showcase Figments, an exhibition of digital collages by artist Virginia Lockman, on view from March 7–28, 2025. An opening reception will be held on Friday, March 7, from 5:00–7:00 p.m., offering guests the opportunity to meet the artist and explore her imaginative works.
Inspired by an old family album, Figments is a deeply personal series of digital collages incorporating family photographs. Lockman’s work evokes the charm of childhood fairy tales, blending vintage imagery with birds, animals, celestial elements, and navigational references—guiding viewers through dreamlike interpretations of the past.
| |
Meet the Fellows
The prestigious Individual Artist Fellowships from the Delaware Division of the Arts recognize a variety of disciplines and outstanding quality of work. From writers to visual artists to musicians, these award-winning creatives have unique stories and talents.
To see the full listing of 2025's Individual Artist Fellows, visit https://arts.delaware.gov/iafrecipients/
| |
Viet Dinh, Master Fellow
Newark, Literature: Fiction
Viet Dinh is an award-winning fiction writer and educator whose work delves into themes of disaster, identity, and historical transformation. Born in Vietnam and raised in Colorado as a refugee, Dinh's storytelling is shaped by his lived experiences and a deep curiosity about how individuals and communities respond to radical change. He earned his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston, studying under renowned authors such as Antonya Nelson and Colson Whitehead. His debut novel, After Disasters, was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award, and his short fiction has appeared in prestigious publications such as Ploughshares, The O. Henry Prize Stories, and Best American Short Stories. Dinh’s exploration of queer identity, cultural displacement, and historical narratives highlights his nuanced approach to fiction, making his work both urgent and deeply resonant.
Currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Delaware, Dinh has spent over a decade mentoring aspiring writers and shaping literary discourse. His teaching portfolio includes courses on fiction writing, horror literature, and American identity. A recipient of multiple fellowships, including those from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, he has also been awarded residencies at esteemed institutions such as the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and the Ucross Foundation. His ongoing projects continue to examine historical upheavals and marginalized voices, including a novel-in-progress that explores German-American identity in post-World War I Wisconsin. Passionate about literature’s power to challenge and illuminate, Dinh remains a vital voice in contemporary fiction.
| | |
|  |
| |
|
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 arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278. | | | | |
