Deputy Director Kristin Pleasanton to Retire June 1 | | The Delaware Division of the Arts congratulates Deputy Director Kristin Pleasanton on her upcoming retirement, effective June 1, 2026, following 33 years of dedicated Delaware state service. Since joining the Division of the Arts in 2000, Kristin has played a leading role in strengthening Delaware’s creative sector through programs that support artists, expand public access to the arts, and celebrate creative excellence statewide. | | |
The Delaware Division of the Arts is pleased to announce the launch of its new website at arts.delaware.gov. The redesigned site offers a clearer, more user-friendly experience, making it easier for artists, arts organizations, educators, partners, and the public to find information about grants, programs, opportunities, events, and resources.
The new website also strengthens the Division’s ability to share the story of Delaware’s creative sector, including the work of our grantees and the impact of Division-supported programs across the state. Built with accessibility in mind, the site reflects our commitment to making information and opportunities more available to all Delawareans.
| | 2026 Writers Retreat Applications Now Open | | |
The Delaware Division of the Arts is hosting the 2026 Writers Retreat from November 5-8, 2026 at the Biden Environmental Center in Cape Henlopen State Park. This is a special opportunity to get away from everyday life and focus on creative writing in a relaxed coastal setting. Participants will have time to write, connect with peers, work alongside established authors, give and receive feedback in workshops, and get inspired!
Applications will be accepted from creative writers in the following areas: fiction; creative nonfiction; and poetry. The application process is competitive, and participants will be chosen based on the merit of their work. If selected, there will be a fee for the Retreat, which includes a private room and most meals.
Applications due by July 1, 2026 at 11:59pm.
| | 26th Annual Award Winners Ceremony - June 4 | | |
The Delaware Division of the Arts is thrilled to announce the exhibition, Award Winners XXVI, marking the 26th consecutive year of hosting this exhibition in partnership with the the Biggs Museum of American Art. Showcasing the exceptional work of Delaware's Individual Artist Fellowship recipients, the exhibition will be on view from May 28 to August 16, 2026.
An opening reception, awards ceremony, and public performances will be held on June 4 from 5:30-8:00pm. The Opening is free to attend and promises to be an exciting celebration of artistic excellence.
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Biggs Museum of American Art
May 28-August 16
Reception: Thursday,
June 4 I 5:30-8pm
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Historic Houses of Odessa
September 1-October 25
Reception: Thursday,
September 17 I 6-8pm
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CAMP Rehoboth
Community Center
November 4-January 8
Reception: Saturday,
November 7 I 2-4pm
| | National Poetry Month Recap | | |
National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s vital place in our culture.
The Division had four poets participate with us this month: Hadrian Cerulean, Yalonda JD Green, Katalina Montejo, and Phy Sulivan.
| | Upcoming Professional Development Opportunity | | |
Artists are often asked to write about themselves and their work, from bios and statements to social media posts, proposals, grant applications, and digital content. In this two-part workshop series, Robin Cembalest will help artists build practical skills for describing their creative practice, connecting identity to their work, placing projects in context, and communicating meaning, process, and intention with clarity.
Cembalest is a respected journalist, educator, consultant, and former longtime editor of ARTnews whose work focuses on helping artists and arts professionals communicate effectively in today’s digital landscape. Participants are encouraged to attend both 90-minute workshops, but each session will offer useful tools and examples for artists who are only able to attend one.
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Writing About Yourself and Your Work – Session One
Monday, June 8 from 6:30-8:00pm I FREE
Who are you and what do you do? Writing about yourself and your creative practice.
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Writing About Yourself and Your Work – Session Two
Monday, June 15 from 6:30-8:00pm I FREE
Showtime! Writing promotional texts for exhibitions, concerts, publications, programs, and other events
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Citizen Artist Open at Delaware Art Museum
| | As part of this moment of civic reflection during America 250, Citizen Photographer invited Delaware residents to become active contributors to this living legacy. Launched alongside Citizen Artist, this statewide initiative called on community members to reflect on identity, place, and civic life at the nation’s 250th anniversary, using photography to shape how Delaware’s story is seen and remembered. Images created by 24 Delaware photographers were selected for inclusion in this juried installation featured in the Citizen Artist exhibition on view through July 19, 2926. | Video by Andre Wright, Jr, 2026 Individual Artist Fellow | | 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. | | |
Next Arts and Culture Caucus Meeting - May 14, 2026
The bipartisan, bicameral Delaware Arts and Culture Caucus meets at least twice per session, providing a platform for experts, nonprofits, educators, artists, and stakeholders to discuss relevant policy initiatives supporting the arts and cultural sector. The caucus aims to cultivate legislative dedication to understanding the importance of arts and cultural offerings in Delaware, supporting diverse art disciplines and cultural programs for their intrinsic value in building resilient communities and fostering economic development. The caucus operates in collaboration with the Delaware General Assembly and Delaware Arts Alliance.
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On the Mezzanine
Kira Krell's Stone Formations
The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery is pleased to present Stone Formations, a solo exhibition of new work by Kira Krell, on view through May 29, 2026.
Stone Formations guides viewers from volcanic deserts to coastal shorelines through a series of layered, relief-like paintings that trace geological time and place. Krell builds her surfaces by combining sand, plaster, and earth pigments, adding, subtracting, and distressing these materials to achieve textures that appear weathered and time-worn. Intricate details emerge through dry brushing and mark-making with acrylics and pencils, revealing the inner structures of the geological forms she studies. Fascinated by the permanence and strength conveyed by natural landscapes, Krell offers an impression of steadiness and belonging – a counterpoint to the pace and instability of contemporary life. The exhibition invites viewers to pause, breathe, and reflect on the enduring presence of the physical world.
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Catharine Fichtner
Established, Visual Arts: Painting
“I am fascinated by things that are shattered and how to make what is broken whole, or at the very least, find some meaning in what remains"
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Michael Fleishman
Established, Visual Arts: Works on Paper
“I juggle paper, cardboard, and wood – and strive to address how materials function [both] as vehicle and structure.”
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Itzel Aguilar
Emerging, Folk Art: Visual Arts
“Choosing to be an artist is an act of sacrifice, but it has also granted me the freedom to pursue what I love most.”
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J.F. Arsenault
Emerging, Visual Art: Painting
“My work … is an homage to narrative art, filtered through a personal lens that embraces both order and absurdity.”
| | | | | 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. | | | | |
