From the Director
When I was growing up, we didn’t start school until after Labor Day, and, in the words of Dana Carvey’s “grumpy old man” character, “We liked it!” Today, students return before Labor Day. It seems that summer, like childhood, is getting shorter. In any case, it’s fitting that the school year kicks off with National Arts Education Week. 

Think of our earliest educational experiences: songs, stories, nursery rhymes, picture books, pat-a-cake. The arts are at the beginning, and the core, of our learning, our understanding, and our communications. In a digital world, music, symbols, and graphics (dare I say emojis) become more pervasive. Our daily lives are infused with the arts, sometimes in obvious ways, and sometimes with more subtlety. Imagine a film without a score, or a commercial without a jingle. I recall asking an audience once how many of them were artists. Very few rose their hands. But when asked how many picked out their clothes that morning, including the color scheme, they all raised their hands. You see, they had all made an aesthetic, aka artistic, choice. 

As our children launch into the new school year, let us commit to engaging our children in the arts during and beyond National Arts Education Week. After all, it was singing in church every Sunday while growing up that produced the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. And it was finding joy in comedy films to escape a troubled childhood that inspired an icon of American theater, Neil Simon.
Delaware Arts in Education
The arts are an essential part of a complete education. Students of all ages - from kindergarten to college to creative aging programs - benefit from artistic learning, innovative thinking and creativity. National Arts in Education week—September 9-17—celebrates and recognizes the importance of the arts to a well-rounded education. Here are a few ways the Division supports arts in education.
2018-19 Poetry Out Loud School Registration
Register for the 2018-19 Poetry Out Loud competition, a program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country. Register now
Grants for Schools
young-boy-reading.jpg
The Division offers a variety of grants for Delaware Pre-K through 12 public, charter, private, and parochial schools that offer arts activities and programming: Artist Residency; Education Resource; and TranspARTation. Learn more
Calling all teaching artists! A feature has been added to the Division's Artist Roster which will allow interested parties to sort and identify artists who have an interest in teaching in the schools, and in, arts and community organizations. Login to update your current profile in the roster, if you have one. Or register to create a new profile.
Meet the Artist Fellows
Jack Clemons
Established Professional, Literature: Fiction
Clemons has enjoyed writing since he was very young, and the Lewes resident publishes regularly on science and technology. But a lifelong interest in fiction has recently resurfaced, and his historical fiction novel, The Outliers, set in turn of 20th century Delaware, is being circulated to publishers.

Gemelle John
Emerging Professional, Literature: Poetry
John grapples with and explores the ways in which poetry can enhance interpersonal communication and civility. And one of her solutions is her strong and evolving commitment to social justice groups and causes, both here in Delaware and with the Sanctuary Poets of Philadelphia. 

On the Mezzanine
Established Color by
Thomas del Porte
The Winning Cup , oil, 2018, 24" x 24"
Established Color, an exhibition of paintings by Thomas Del Porte, will be on view in the Mezzanine Gallery from September 7-28, 2018. Del Porte received a 2018 Fellowship Visual Arts: Painting. The artist will host a free opening reception on Friday, September 7 from 5-7 p.m. 

Del Porte explains, “I paint from direct observation, in the attempt to capture a unique portion of the infinite gifts of light, line, color and spaces that nature provides. My goal is to communicate a visual quality that reveals something new within the movement and drama of the images I translate.”

Learn more about Del Porte with our YouTube Meet the Artist video series.
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. 
Last Chance!
This is your last chance to view the 2018 Award Winners Exhibition.

Cab Calloway School of the Arts
September 7-30
Reception September 7; 5-7 p.m. RSVP
Featured Opportunities
The Delaware Art Education Association invites teachers to attend its annual fall arts conference to be held at Appoquinimink High School on Friday, October 5.

This conference features dynamic workshops and is geared towards visual art, music, digital media, dance and theater, but is not only limited to those disciplines. Continental breakfast and box lunch included in registration.

To receive clock hours, you must also register on PDMS:
  • Music:  Section: #48432
  • Visual/Media Arts:  Section: #48458
  • Dance and Theater: Section: #48460
Share Your Story: Delaware State of the Arts
The Division of the Arts, in partnership with News Radio 1450 WILM, hosts Delaware State of the Arts, a weekly radio show and podcast featuring issues and events in the Delaware arts scene. If you're interested in being interviewed, either to promote an upcoming event, your work in the arts, or an issue relevant to Delaware's arts and entertainment sector, you can request an interview.
DANA Upcoming Trainings & Events
DANA is committed to enhancing and strengthening the nonprofit sector by providing low cost education, consulting, and advocacy support for nonprofit leaders and boards of directors. Selected upcoming events include:
The Basics of Nonprofit Succession Planning

Webinar Series
Sept. 7, 14, 21
9-10 a.m.
Financial Literary
Workshop

Sept. 19, Wilmington
Sept. 20, Dover
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Board Financial
Excellence

Oct. 10, Wilmington
Oct. 11, Milford
5:30-8:30 p.m.
Volunteer Conference: Leading the Way, Not Managing the Day
Join the Delaware Association of Volunteer Administrators on Wednesday, October 24 for a day of learning from the best in the Volunteer Management field from the US and Canada without leaving Delaware.

This year's topic explores how volunteer leaders move from managing to leading. Its current streamable event (available to members only) consists of sessions delivered by multiple distinguished speakers, followed by a moderated discussion with the other presenters including responses to questions from the audience. Register today
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts - Creative Fellowship
Apply now for a residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and be considered for a 2019 Creative Fellowship, supported by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. Resident artists are provided with private studios, room and board, and the company of other artists from around the nation for intensive, self-guided creative exploration and development. Creative Fellows also receive a travel subsidy. Applications due September 15. Apply now
On-Site Evaluators Needed
If you love the arts and actively participate in programs or attend events, you may be a candidate to serve as an on-site evaluator for the Division. We are currently seeking to expand our list of potential evaluators who are dependable, articulate observers with knowledge in one or more art forms (you do not need to be professionally trained in the arts). 

Evaluators generally attend and produce a written review of two or more programs each year, including performances, exhibits, workshops or classes, and more. Experience new art forms and see more of Delaware’s treasures while serving a vital role in the review of grant-funded programs. If interested, please complete the On-Site Evaluator Self-Nomination Form and return it to Katie.West@state.de.us . 
The Division has embarked on a year-long digital advertising campaign to increase reach and engagement on DelawareScene.com . We remind and recommend that organizations, businesses and individual artists, submit their 2018-19 events as soon as they are scheduled, and no later than the recommended deadlines below. Submit now
Event Date
September & October
November & December
January & February, 2019
March & April, 2019
May & June, 2019
July & August 2019
Submission Deadline
As soon as possible
September 15
November 15
January 15
March 15
May 15
Ongoing Division Grant Deadlines
Please note: All new applications for grants will be submitted through smARTDE.
Artist Opportunity: deadline 10/1/18, for activities happening between 11/15/18-2/15/19.

Artist Residency: rolling deadline, submitted at least 6 weeks prior to start of scheduled residency

Artist Roster : rolling deadline.
Arts Access Grants: rolling deadline, submitted at least 6 weeks prior to project start date

TranspARTation Grant: rolling deadline, submitted at least 6 weeks prior to field trip date.
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.