Delaware Division of the Arts announces first round of grants

The Delaware Division of the Arts is investing almost $3 million in more than 100 arts and community organizations that will serve Delawareans with arts programming and services, arts education, and arts marketing and promotion. This first round of funding for FY2017 includes the major grant categories: General Operating Support, Project Support, Arts Stabilization Fund, Education Resource, and StartUp. 

Grant review panels are made up of Delaware artists, arts educators, arts and nonprofit organization administrators, corporate and fundraising managers, and interested community members. This panel reflects the importance of having a diverse grant-making process.

“We are proud to invest in communities across Delaware, from Claymont to Selbyville, through grants that support arts education, arts and community development, arts service organizations, and arts for underserved communities,” said Paul Weagraff, director of the Division of the Arts.

 Awards include support for more than 70 arts organizations statewide. These project and education-based grants bring teaching artists into the classroom to integrate the arts in the STEM curriculum. This provides reading readiness activities in early childhood centers, support after-school arts learning opportunities, and provide arts activities for those struggling with addiction, physical and intellectual disabilities; and incarceration. Six grants provide support for capital improvements and repairs to facilities owned by arts organizations.

 The Division also awards grants throughout the year, including Arts Access grants, Artist Residencies, Individual Artist Fellowships, Individual Artist Opportunity grants, and TranspARTation grants. Full grant descriptions are available on the Division’s website.

 Interested members of the public, artists, arts organizations, and community leaders are encouraged to visit the Delaware Division of the Arts website to learn more about these programs. Notification of grant deadlines, guidelines and applications, as well as technical assistance opportunities are published in the monthly e-newsletter, Arts E-News. Please visit their website at www.artsdel.org for more details.