Sixteen Delaware artists are being recognized for their work.
The Delaware Division of the Arts recently announced the newest recipients of the agency’s fellowship grants.
More than 100 applicants from around the state vied for the awards in disciplines ranging from visual arts and music to literature and dance.
Paul Weagraff is the Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. He says state lawmakers have been strong supporters of the arts.
“We have been very fortunate to have a number of arts advocates within the General Assembly," he notes. “By and large they recognize the value of the arts for what they contribute to quality of life, to economic development, to jobs in Delaware as well as an important component of education.”
Fellowship awards are given in three categories – $10,000 for the Masters Award, $6,000 for the Established Professional Award, and $3,000 for the Emerging Professional Award.
Artist fellows are required to offer at least one exhibit or performance during the upcoming year.
Weagraff says the financial award allows artists to pursue advanced training, purchase equipment and materials, or fulfill other needs to advance their careers. Additionally, Delawareans will have many opportunities to experience the work of the winning artists.
“What we also do annually in partnership with the Biggs Museum in Dover is to have an exhibition in the early fall as well as a reception during that exhibition period at which time the performing artists appear and do short performances during the course of the reception.”
This year’s Masters Fellowship winner is Newark based author, Ramona De Felice Long. You can hear a conversation with Long on our weekly newsmagazine, The Green on Friday.
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.