Delaware Division of the Arts Announces $4.5M in Grants in First Round of FY25 Funding | |
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The Delaware Division of the Arts is investing nearly $4.5 million in more than 100 arts and community organizations that will serve Delawareans statewide with arts programming and services, arts education, and arts marketing and promotion. This first round of funding for FY2025 includes General Operating Support, Project Support, Arts Stabilization, StartUp and Education Resource grants.
"We are thrilled to announce the Delaware Division of the Arts' commitment to supporting Delaware's non-profit creative sector,” stated Jessica Ball, Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “These funds will play a crucial role in fostering a vibrant cultural environment and ensuring that the arts remain accessible to all Delawareans throughout the state. We extend our gratitude to Governor Carney, Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock, the Delaware General Assembly, and the National Endowment for the Arts for their continued support in making this investment possible."
Grant review panels made up of Delaware artists, arts educators, arts and nonprofit organization administrators, corporate and fundraising managers, and interested community members provided an impartial peer review of these grant applications based on established evaluation criteria, reflecting the importance of having diverse public and expert participation in the grant-making process.
Funding for the Delaware Division of the Arts comes from the Delaware General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, an independent federal agency. In addition, the funds for capital improvements grants—provided by the Arts Stabilization Fund—are drawn from the Arts Consortium of Delaware, Inc. (ArtCo) endowment.
A complete list of grants for the first round of FY2025 can be found here.
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Delaware Arts Alliance launches CREATE Plan | | |
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Since 2022, the Delaware Arts Alliance (DAA) has been driving a groundbreaking research process to propel Delaware’s creative economy and cultural tourism sector forward. The Creative Economy Advancement & Tourism Expansion (CREATE) Plan, an initiative led by DAA, engages Delawareans in shaping a shared vision for a thriving, inclusive, and interconnected creative economy. This project—which is the first of its kind in the nation—delves into the full creative landscape at the state, county, and city levels. Developed with input from over 600 Delawareans from all walks of life, the CREATE Plan tackles post-pandemic challenges and provides actionable solutions to strengthen Delaware’s creative economy. | |
COMING SOON: Statewide Public Art Map | |
We are thrilled to announce the creation of the Delaware Statewide Public Art Map, a comprehensive and ever-growing resource highlighting the rich and diverse array of public art across our state. From striking sculptures and vibrant murals to intricate installations and historical monuments, public art plays a vital role in enhancing our communities, sparking conversations, and celebrating the unique culture and history of Delaware. | |
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What is Public Art?
Public art refers to artworks that are displayed in public spaces, accessible to everyone. These pieces are often created with the community in mind, aiming to inspire, provoke thought, or simply beautify the surroundings. Whether it's a mural on the side of a building, a statue in a park, or a creative installation along a walkway, public art enriches our shared environment and reflects the spirit of our local communities. Learn more here.
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We Need Your Help!
To make this map as comprehensive as possible, we invite all Delawareans to contribute. If you know of any public art pieces in your area, we encourage you to share them with us. Simply click the button below to submit details about the public art near you, including photos and descriptions if available. Your contributions will help us showcase the full spectrum of Delaware's artistic landscape.
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SAVE THE DATE:
Award Winners XXIV Opens at CAMP Rehoboth
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Delaware’s Individual Artist Fellowships recognize artists for their outstanding quality of work. Each year, the Biggs Museum of American Art curates an exhibition of the Fellows’ artwork called Award Winners. Mark your calendars!
Opening reception at CAMP Rehoboth is scheduled on Thursday, August 8 from 6-8pm.
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OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE: Mondegreen | |
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Mondegreen, Phish's next festival, is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 15 through Sunday, Aug. 18 here at Dover Motor Speedway in The Woodlands. Mondegreen will see Phish performing over four days and nights, alongside an array of interactive fan experiences, specially curated regional food and drink, art installations, and much more. Phish fans from all over the world will descend upon Dover for this multi-day festival.
This unique art installation provides the opportunity for the community to come together in advance to be a part of something special. Local participants are needed to help build an iconic American monument – out of cardboard. Those that decide to join the adventure and participate in the workshop will be rewarded with access to Mondegreen! One day's workshop participation will provide a single-day general admission pass ($150 value), while participation in two or more days gets you a 4-day weekend general admission pass ($450 value).
Since 2003, Olivier Grossetête, a renowned visual artist from France, has created and built participative monumental constructions made from cardboard across the world. By 2023, he had completed over 300 different constructions spanning five continents, engaging thousands of participants in his cardboard and tape adventures. He is next headed to Dover, Del. in August to create his next structure.
This architectural and participative project invites anyone interested – adults, children, and seniors from diverse backgrounds – to join in an artistic and human adventure as you build the pieces that make the structure entirely without machinery. Participants will come together on-site at Dover Motor Speedway inside our NASCAR Cup Series garage, led by the artist and his team. Using the artist’s execution and assembly plans as a starting point, you will shape the cardboard boxes with adhesive tape, cut them to create the desired pieces, and assemble the pieces together. The boxes will then be moved to the Mondegreen festival site for guests to construct the finished product.
Lunch will be provided, and volunteers of all ages are encouraged and welcomed. It will be a fun, team-building opportunity with a neat location – inside the NASCAR Cup Series garage here at Dover Motor Speedway.
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Upcoming Grant Deadline for NEA's Our Town Program
Our Town is the NEA’s creative placemaking grants program. Through project-based funding, the program supports activities that integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts that strengthen communities over the long term. Our Town projects engage a wide range of local stakeholders in efforts to advance local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes in communities. Competitive projects are responsive to unique local conditions, develop meaningful and substantive engagement in communities, center equity, advance artful lives, and lay the groundwork for long-term systems change.
Important dates:
August 1 - Register to Grants.gov
August 8 - Applicant Portal Opens
August 15 - Applicant Portal Closes
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Free Professional Development Webinars Courtesy of South Arts
Each virtual workshop below is presented free-of-charge.
Department of Labor, The New Overtime Rule and Arts Organizations
August 22 from 11am-12:30pm
A Prescription for Art? Yes Please!
September 12 from 11am-12:30pm
Copyright Basics, the Arts, and AI
September 19 from 11am-12:30pm
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MidAtlantic Arts Grant Deadlines Upcoming
Mid Atlantic Arts’ grant programs for organizations and artists strengthen the region’s creative network, give communities access to high quality artistic experiences, build audiences, and provide opportunities for greater understanding and appreciation of the arts.
Upcoming Important Dates:
USArtists International: Additional details will be released in late summer 2024.
ArtsCONNECT: Application opens Fall 2024
Jazz Touring Network: Application due August 31, 2024
Mid Atlantic Tours: Presenter eligibility and schedule information for the FY26 Mid Atlantic Tours program will be available in Fall 2024.
Special Presenter Initiatives: Application opens Fall 2024
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Jazz Road Application:
A Program of South Arts
Jazz Road Tours supports small, three- to six-site tours at an array of venue types, often in rural communities and other areas traditionally underserved by the genre.
This artist-centric grant program—designed to support approximately 50 tours each year—is made possible with funds from the Doris Duke Foundation with additional support from the Mellon Foundation.
Grant amounts generally range from $5,000 to $15,000.
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17th Annual Lewes Creative Writers' Conference
Join the Lewes Public Library for a two day conference comprised of readings, workshops, and information sessions.
The event is free to the public, but donations are encouraged.
Use August 23 and 24 as an opportunity to fall in love with the written word as a handful of Delawareans present their new works for the group.
When: August 23 at 5pm and August 24 from 8am-3:30pm
Where: Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Avenue, Lewes, DE 19958
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Delaware Art Education Association presents their 2024 State Arts Conference
The Delaware Art Education Association (DAEA) is a non-profit organization that promotes visual arts education in the State of Delaware.
Teachers, artists, and advocates of visual arts are encouraged to attend.
When: September 10th, Tuesday (Primary Day),7:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Where: Dover Middle School 1 Patrick Lynn Dr, Dover, DE 19904
Cost: $50 for members, $75 for non-members
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Visitors Experience Group 2024 Conference in Richmond, VA
October 20-23, 2024
The cultural sector is in a period of significant change. It is imperative that we let go of outdated, inequitable practices and focus our energy on developing a field that is more inclusive and open to new ideas. With that in mind, we are focusing on new programs, new staffing models, new exhibits, new content, and new ideas for the 2024 Visitor Experience Conference. We encourage you all to try something new in your institutions this year, and then come back and tell us all about it in a session at next year's conference just outside of Richmond.
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Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums Conference in Philadelphia
October 8-10, 2024
The Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums Annual Meeting is an annual conference dedicated to fostering excellence in museums by providing our region’s museum professionals with high-quality professional development, networking opportunities, and special events.
Registration is now open! Early Bird Registration is available until September 1 for both members and non-members.
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Upcoming Artist Opportunity Deadline - October 1
Artist Opportunity Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to support unique professional and artistic development and presentation opportunities for artists. Examples include: materials to complete work for a specific show or program; the cost to rent a facility for a performance; study with a master for a specified period of time. Evaluation criteria include: anticipated impact on the artist’s work or career; financial feasibility and need; marketing plans; and uniqueness of the opportunity.
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Submit your
upcoming events!
DelawareScene is a comprehensive, up-to-date website calendar featuring Delaware’s arts and cultural events and attractions in and around Delaware. Acquaint yourself with one of Delaware’s many artists, get carried away by the magic of a theater performance, frequent one of Delaware’s world-renowned museums, experience one of Delaware’s many unique festivals.
REMINDER: All grantees MUST list all events on DelawareScene.com as soon as they are announced.
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On the Mezzanine - Vik Hart
The Mezzanine Gallery presents Vik Hart's "Odd Little Creatures", on view through August 30. This exhibition focuses on a series of works portraying small creatures in an imagined world, exploring their environments and how they adapt to unique features of the places they live.
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Meet the 2024 Fellows
The prestigious Individual Artist Fellowships from the Delaware Division of the Arts recognize a variety of disciplines and outstanding quality of work. Each month, we will highlight a few fellows from the 2024 cohort.
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L.J. Sysko
Established, Literature: Poetry
“I write poems because they suit my sensibilities as a writer, and if the form hadn't been invented, I'd be here in my living room wondering if I ought to be the brave one to do it.”
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Trebs Thompson
Established, Visual Arts: Crafts
“I love telling stories, and making art is one more way I can do that. I also love breathing new life into discarded materials.”
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Siegel JCC
The ART (Anti-Racism) Theater Project
Wilmington, Project Support
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Delaware Shakespeare
Julius Caesar
Wilmington, General Operating Support
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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. | | | | |
