Delaware is ranked third in the nation when it comes to legislative support for the arts. 

That’s the finding by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies which has released the Per Capita State Arts Agency Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2016.

That’s good news to Delaware Arts Alliance Executive Director Guillermina Gonzalez.

“We are very lucky to have a state where both the executive branch and the legislative branch support the arts so we need to keep on pushing to make sure that the arts are fully supported but for the time being, it's a time of celebration," said Gonzalez. 

In Delaware, the DAA advocates to the Joint Finance Committee each year for increased funding for the arts and keeping the arts in schools’ curriculum.

And Gonzalez says the DAA will continue to help ensure that the state’s arts organizations continue to thrive.

"Arts advocacy efforts need to be conducted at all times because this is a year to year situation," said Gonzalez. "As you know, elections are coming up and you never know who’s going to come to office and how supportive they might be on both the legislative and executive branches."

Gonzalez adds advocacy efforts help bring 80% state funding and 20% federal funding of the state arts budget managed by the Delaware Division of the Arts.

Minnesota and Washington D.C tied for the number one spot in the state arts agency appropriations report. Arizona ranked last.

This piece is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.