15th Annual State Employee Art Exhibition
Closes March 20!
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Don't miss your chance to see artwork from State of Delaware employees and their family members! The 15th annual Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition is now open until March 20 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
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Vote onsite at the Gallery
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Send your choice(s) by email to Dana Wise
- Voting closes on March 20
| | 2026 Poetry Out Loud State Finalist Named | | |
Congratulations to Natalia Gatti from Sussex Academy of Arts and Sciences for being named the Delaware State Finalist! Natalia will represent Delaware and advance to the Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, National Finals in Washington, DC on April 27-29, 2026, where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed.
Gatti, a tenth grader at Sussex Academy, brings a long-standing passion for poetry to the competition. This is her second year participating in Poetry Out Loud at the school level, and she is already making her mark on the state stage. Outside of poetry, she enjoys reading nonfiction and writing, and one day hopes to study astrophysics.
“Being named state champion is a dream come true,” said Gatti. “I am incredibly proud to be the first contestant from Sussex Academy to make it into the final round and to win the state competition. But more than the title, the whole experience was surreal. Meeting people who share the same passion for poetry was easily the best part of the whole event.”
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Did you miss it live?
Watch the livestream of the state finals here:
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Governor Matthew Meyer has officially declared March 2026 as March for the Arts Month in the State of Delaware.
The proclamation recognizes the arts, including dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts, as essential to the lives of all Delawareans and a cornerstone of lifelong education. It highlights research showing that arts education improves student attendance, graduation rates, and academic achievement.
March is a particularly active month for the arts in Delaware, spotlighting statewide music programs, spring theatrical productions, Music In Our Schools Month (sponsored by the National Association for Music Education), and Youth Art Month (administered by the Council for Art Education).
Governor Meyer is encouraging all Delawareans to celebrate by participating in, supporting, or attending arts-related events and activities throughout the month.
| | 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
The Courage to Create
Jane Quartarone
April 8 - June 3 I Wednesdays from 3-5pm
We are all born creative and often just need direction, opportunity, and a safe space to explore. With just paper and pencil, you’ll begin discovering your own visual language—letting go of “perfect” and embracing mistakes as part of the process. This course explores new ways of seeing through both realism and abstract art. Using graphite and a variety of colorful drawing materials, you’ll build confidence, crush creative fear, and express your unique point of view.
The workshop series will culminate with a celebratory event featuring the participants’ artwork. No previous experience is necessary.
Venue: American Legion Stahl Post 30, 156 A N Dupont Hwy, New Castle, DE 19720
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Kent County
Gelli Plate Printing with “Es”
Taught by Es Curtis
April 7-June 2 I Tuesdays from 5-7pm
Try out this incredibly satisfying art form and rethink how you “paint.” A gelli plate is a gelatin-like plate made of solidified mineral oil. We will explore transferring magazine images, preserving nature and everything in between! Create beautiful gelli plate art, page after page, learn the basics, and dive into more complex projects throughout the course of this class. The possibilities are endless!
The workshop series will culminate with a celebratory event featuring the participants’ artwork. No previous experience is necessary.
Venue: Smyrna VFW Post 8801, 4941 Wheatleys Pond Rd, Smyrna, DE 19977
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Sussex County
The Power of Visual Creativity
Taught by Barbara Calkins
April 9 - June 4 I Thursdays from 12-2pm
Drawing inspiration from iconic artists and our own lives, this class explores a wide range of materials—from paint and paper to graphic images, natural objects, and upcycled items. Participants will tap into their creative power, strengthen skills, and learn more about their personal creative process while building community with fellow Veterans. Open to all levels, classes include material introductions, demonstrations, one-on-one and group guidance, journal prompts, and guided meditations to help you discover your own creative voice.
The workshop series will culminate with a celebratory event featuring the participants’ artwork. No previous experience is necessary.
Venue: American Legion Post 17, 113 American Legion Rd, Lewes, DE 19958
| | | Opera America Conference Comes to Wilmington! | | |
Join OPERA America and OperaDelaware May 12-15 in Wilmington, DE, for the world's largest gathering of opera administrators, artists, trustees, and advocates at Opera Conference 2026. Featuring four days of networking, discussions, panels, and performances.
When you attend the Opera Conference, you join colleagues, peers, and associates from across North America with a shared dedication to advancing the art form and industry.
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Gain insights from inside and outside the field at inspiring plenary sessions.
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Learn practical tips in breakout sessions to expand your on-the-job skill sets.
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Reconnect with colleagues and expand your professional network to advance your career.
- Enjoy performances of new and traditional works produced by the conference’s host company.
Did we mention their keynote speaker is Stephen Schwartz?! Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for the current Broadway hit Wicked, and has also contributed music and lyrics to Godspell, Pippin, The Magic Show, The Baker’s Wife, Working, Children of Eden, and The Queen of Versailles, among other shows.
| | LAST CHANCE: 2026-2030 Strategic Plan Survey | | |
Along with our consultants, Cultural Planning Group, the Division is developing a new five-year strategic plan, and we’d like your input. This short five-minute survey will help us better understand the needs and interests of Delaware residents like you, so we can make arts, culture, and creative opportunities more available to everyone across our state!
Throughout the survey, when we say “arts, culture and creative activities,” we mean all artforms, cultural expressions, and individual creativity — ranging from a hobby or pastime, to student activity, personal endeavors, and professional pursuits.
The survey will close on March 20, 2026. Please consider taking it today.
| | Delaware Nonprofits Invited to Apply for 2026 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 2026 campaign. Applications opened on February 1, 2026, and must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2026.
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 2025 SECC, state employees raised $300,675, surpassing the $300,000 goal, and supported 168 charitable organizations. The 2026 campaign runs September 1 through October 31, 2026.
“Delaware’s state employees continue to show their commitment to giving back through SECC,” said Governor Matt Meyer. “This program helps support the nonprofit organizations that strengthen our communities, and I encourage eligible charities to apply to be part of this year’s campaign.”
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.
| | Additional DDOA Grant Opportunities | | The Delaware Division of the Arts offers a variety of grant programs for individual artists; nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations chartered and based in Delaware; and schools and government entities that support arts activities. | | |
Arts Access
Supports small budget projects that include the presentation of performing, visual, literary, media, or folk arts in communities throughout the state. Organizations that receive General Operating Support are generally not eligible to apply.
Rolling deadline – submit at least 6 weeks prior to the project start date.
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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 – submit at least 6 weeks prior to start of the scheduled residency.
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Artist Opportunity
Grants provide up to $1,000 to support individual artists with unique professional and artistic development or presentation opportunities. Please note: there are new application components required for this application to verify identity and residency requirements.
Next deadline: April 1
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TranspARTation
Grants that support transportation costs (up to $500) for schools to bring students to Delaware arts and cultural institutions and venues in order to attend arts performances, events, and exhibits.
Rolling deadline – submit at least 6 weeks prior to the field trip date.
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Applications for Mid Atlantic Arts' Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects Now Open
Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects grants fund projects that support the vitality of traditional arts and cultures in Mid Atlantic Arts' region. Non-profit organizations in DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, PR, USVI, VA, or WV may apply for $1,000 to $5,000 grants. A 1:1 match is required.
Eligible project activities may include performances, public art collaborations, workshops/training, exhibitions, fieldwork, documentation, and the creation of new traditional work. Mid Atlantic Arts encourages projects that cross state/territory borders, as well as projects that support or engage underserved or underrepresented artists, practitioners, traditions, or constituents.
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Applications for Mid Atlantic Arts' Mid Atlantic Presenter Initiative Now Open
The program supports performing arts engagements including public performance and community engagement at small and mid-size arts and community organizations, with budgets under $3 million.
Presenters can receive up to 50% subsidy for the presentation of an artist/company (including artistic compensation, housing, per diem, and travel.)
Mid Atlantic Arts is committed to supporting diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible programming in our region. We encourage projects that demonstrate clear mission impact, strong artistry, well-rounded community and artist engagements, and thoughtful and inclusive efforts to engage audiences systemically underserved by the arts.
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Design a bookmark. Share your story. Be a part of history.
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, the Office of the Second Lady of the United States, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), invites K–8 students nationwide to take part in the Bookmark Design Challenge: Celebrating America’s 250th.
Students are encouraged to create an original, hand-drawn bookmark that shows what America means to them—history or heritage, important moments or people, cultural traditions, hopes for the future, symbols of unity and democracy, ideas of community, creativity and innovation.
Deadline: March 31, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET
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Delaware Announces Second Annual "Futures in the Arts" Celebration
The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE), in partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts (DDOA) and the Delaware Arts Alliance (DAA), announced the second annual “Futures in the Arts” celebration, to be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 6:00pm at the Smyrna Opera House.
The event will recognize Delaware graduating high school seniors who plan to continue their education in arts-related fields – including (but not limited to) music, theatre, dance, visual arts, film, design, arts education, and creative industries – highlighting Delaware’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of creative leaders.
Eligible graduating seniors should complete the online registration form by March 23, 2026. Students will be asked to provide basic information such as their school, intended college/program, and area(s) of study. Families, educators, and school communities are encouraged to share this opportunity widely.
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On the Mezzanine -
Tanya Bracey
The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery is pleased to present Community, a solo exhibition of new work by Tanya Bracey, on view March 6–27, 2026. An opening reception will be held Friday, March 6, 5:00–7:00 p.m., in the Mezzanine Gallery, located in the Carvel State Office Building at 820 N. French Street, Wilmington.
In Community, Bracey’s figurative paintings explore “people capacity” - the strength, grace, and innate potential that emerges when individuals come together to support one another and create change. Each work is titled for a real or historical role in society, reflecting the many ways communities are shaped through the contributions of people who uplift others.
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Dennis Beach, Master Fellow
Wilmington, Visual Arts: Sculpture
Dennis Beach is a Delaware-based sculptor and visual artist with over twenty-five years of regional presence, known for transforming natural observation into elegant, abstracted artworks using materials like high-quality plywood and transparent acrylic. Born on Maryland's eastern shore and shaped by a childhood of wide-ranging travel, including time in Japan, Beach developed a broad visual sensibility that informs his practice. After serving in the Navy, where long stretches at sea sparked an unexpected interest in drawing, he pursued formal training at the Maryland Institute College of Art and later earned an MFA in sculpture from the University of Delaware. His work is held in notable collections including the Delaware Art Museum, Comcast, and Dansko.
Beach's artistic philosophy centers on observing the natural world and distilling it to its essential elements, shape, color, repetition, and movement, with goals of visual excitement and simple beauty always at the forefront. Mechanically skilled and drawn to experimentation, he embraces new materials and methods as creative challenges, working from his Newport studio since 2008. He is also committed to environmentally responsible studio practices. A recipient of both the Division's Established Fellowship in 2008 and the current Masters Fellowship, Beach values these awards not only for the financial support they provide but for the productive pressure and positive motivation they bring to his ongoing work.
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Dover Public Library
In Harmony Concert Series presents: The Smyrna High School Select Choir
Dover
Project Support
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Brandywine Baroque
Comus by Thoman Arne
Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach
General Operating Support
| | | | 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. | | | | |
