Arts E-News
January 2008
Paul Weagraff, Director
www.artsdel.org

Joint Finance Committee Public Hearing on February 5

The General Assembly's Joint Finance Committee will hear from the Department of State for the FY 2009 Operating Budget at 1 p.m. on February 5 in the Senate Chamber, Legislative Hall. Division Director Paul Weagraff is scheduled to appear, and State Arts Council Advocacy Chair Theda Blackwelder will make a presentation to the Committee. Members of the arts community are encouraged to be present as a show of support for the arts in Delaware.

You’re Invited! Poetry Out Loud State Finals to be held on February 28

The public is invited to Delaware's state finals of Poetry Out Loud, the 3rd annual national poetry recitation contest. Students from sixteen schools throughout the state will compete. This free event will be held at the Schwartz Center for the Arts in Dover, at 7:00 p.m. with a reception following. Governor Minner has been invited to make opening remarks. The winner will go on to compete in the national finals in Washington DC in late April.

Grant applications and Interim Reports due March 3, 2008

Grant guidelines and applications for Fiscal Year 2009 are available on the Division's website at www.artsdel.org/grants. For organizations in the two-year grant cycle, requirements for the Interim Reports are posted. Division staff is available to answer questions about program eligibility and assist organizations during the application process. First-time applicants should contact the Division prior to applying to verify eligibility and the appropriate funding category.

Division appoints Communications Coordinator

Roxanne Stanulis was named Communications Coordinator for the Division, replacing Izzy Mead. Stanulis most recently served as coordinator for the Division's volunteers, and for the Mezzanine Gallery, located in the Carvel State Office Building. Prior to joining the Division, she worked for various arts organizations including the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover, Delaware.

"State of the Arts Study in Delaware" Released

Commissioned by the Delaware Division of the Arts with funding support from the Welfare Foundation, the study was completed by the Nonprofit Finance Fund using five years of financial data from 33 organizations throughout the state. The study highlights the need for long-term sustainability for the arts in Delaware. Click here to read the study.

Individual Artist Fellowship grants announced for Fiscal Year 2008

Thirteen individual Delaware artists are being recognized for the high quality of their work in the visual arts, literature, music, and media arts. Artists were selected from towns throughout the state including Rehoboth Beach, Harbeson, Dover, Newark, and Wilmington. To see the list of recipients, click here.

The work of Pahl Hluchan, 2008 Individual Artist Fellow in Media Arts: Video, is on view in the Mezzanine Gallery through February 29, 2008.

National Endowment of the Arts Receives Increase

The National Endowment of the Arts received a $20.1 million increase in a federal 2008 spending bill signed into law in December. This brings federal funding for the arts to the highest level since 1995. Roughly 40% of that increase, or $7.7 million, will be allocated to the 50 states through direct grants and targeted NEA initiatives. Read more from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Public Affairs program Perspective Delaware

Philadelphia's Channel 6ABC hosts Perspective Delaware to give community organizations, nonprofits, and state agencies an opportunity to promote their programs and events. The program featuring Division Director Paul Weagraff and State Arts Council member Lise Monty will air on February 16 at 5:30 a.m. To be considered for this public service program, send information to the producer, Johnnie Braxton, at Johnnie.Braxton@abc.com.

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