DDOA Names 2023 Individual Artist Fellowships

The content of this post comes from a press release from the Delaware Division of the Arts...

Image detail: Artwork of Lauren E. Peters, 2023 Established Arts Fellow

The prestigious Individual Artist Fellowships from the Delaware Division of the Arts recognize artists in a variety of disciplines for their outstanding quality of work and provide monetary awards.

In 2023, the Division received work samples from 118 Delaware musicians, writers, and folk, media, and visual artists. The work samples were reviewed by out-of-state arts professionals who considered the demonstrated creativity and skill in each artist’s respective art form. Seventeen artists were awarded fellowships in the following categories — two Masters; seven Established; and eight Emerging. The 17 selected fellows reside throughout Delaware including Bridgeville, Claymont, Felton, Harrington, Lewes, Newark, Smyrna, and Wilmington.

NEW FOR 2023: Thanks to a generous increase in funding from the Department of State, the awards have increased — $5,000 for Emerging Artists; $8,000 for Established Professionals; and $12,000 for Masters — to allow artists to pursue advanced training, purchase equipment and materials, or fulfill other needs that will help advance their careers. This funding has also allowed the Division to award a second Masters Fellowship.

Master Fellowship ($12,000)

• B. Proud — Visual Arts: Photography, Wilmington
• TAHIRA — Folk Art: Oral Literature, Claymont

Established Fellowship ($8,000)

• Joyce Barbagallo — Literature: Fiction, Wilmington
• Ron Meick — Visual Arts: Sculpture, Wilmington
• Michael Miller — Folk Art: Music, Felton
• Mary Pauer — Literature: Creative Nonfiction, Bridgeville
• Christopher Penna — Literature: Poetry, Newark
• Lauren E. Peters — Visual Arts: Painting, Wilmington
• IVA (Emily Tepe) — Music: Contemporary Performance, Wilmington

Emerging Fellowship ($5,000)

• Jill Althouse-Wood — Visual Arts: Painting, Wilmington
• Bryant (Tee) Bell — Visual Arts: Painting, Wilmington
• Liz DeJesus — Literature: Creative Nonfiction, Wilmington
• Constanza (Cony) Madariaga — Visual Arts: Painting, Wilmington
• James Morgan — Media Arts: Video/Film, Harrington
• Charlese Phillips — Visual Arts: Interdisciplinary, Smyrna
• Kim Hoey Stevenson — Literature: Fiction, Lewes
• Anne Yarbrough — Literature: Poetry, New Castle

Delaware Division of the Arts Announces 2019 Individual Artist Fellowships

This post content originated from a press release by the Delaware Division of the Arts...

Twenty Delaware artists are being recognized by the Delaware Division of the Arts (DDOA) for the high quality of their work. Samples from 136 Delaware choreographers, composers, musicians, writers, folk and visual artists were reviewed by out-of-state arts professionals, considering demonstrated creativity and skill in the art forms. The 20 selected fellows reside throughout Delaware including Bear, Bridgeville, Claymont, Dover, Frankford, Lewes, Middletown, Newark and Wilmington.

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. Fellows are required to offer at least one exhibit or performance during the upcoming year, providing an opportunity for the public to experience their work.

"Individual Artist Fellowship grants provide the recognition and exposure that artists need to successfully promote their work," said Paul Weagraff, DDOA Director. "The financial award allows them to pursue advanced training, purchase equipment and materials, or fulfill other needs to advance their careers." 

The work of the Fellows will be featured in a group exhibition, Award Winners XIX, at the Biggs Museum in Dover from June 7 to July 21, 2019. Selections from Award Winners will travel to CAMP Rehoboth in August and early September and then Cab Calloway School of the Arts during September and October. 

A photo from last year’s Award Winners' exhibition
at the Biggs. The painting is from Thomas del Porte,
2018 Established Professional, Visual Arts: Painting.

"It’s a very diverse cohort this year," notes Leeann Wallett, DDOA's Program Officer of Communications and Marketing. "I'm excited to see what they bring to the annual Award Winners' exhibition at the Biggs."

The Masters Fellowship is open to differing artistic disciplines each year. In Fiscal Year 2019, Masters Fellowship applications were accepted in Literary and Media Arts from artists who had previously received an Established Professional Fellowship. In addition to exemplifying high artistic quality, Masters Fellowship applicants must demonstrate their involvement and commitment to the arts in Delaware and beyond. Listed below are the Delaware Division of the Arts 2019 Individual Artist Fellows as well as three Honorable Mentions.

Billie Travalini has been awarded this year's Masters Fellowship in Literature: Fiction. Travalini, an internationally award-winning writer and educator, teaches English and creative writing at Wilmington University. She has taught creative writing to encourage critical thinking at youth detention centers statewide, which led to Teaching Troubled Youth: A Practical Pedagogical Guide, an award-winning book with an important message on the human condition. In addition, she has taught poetry and playwriting at various Boys and Girls Clubs. 

In 2014, Travalini received the Governor's Award for the Arts for her extensive career and work in education. Travalini, co-founder and coordinator of the Lewes Creative Writers' Conference, is currently working with Fort DuPont to have the children of Governor Bacon remembered by serving the children of today. Her passion for creative writing has led her to "promote the need to include everyone in the conversation."

2019 Individual Artist Fellows
Masters Award — $10,000 

• Billie Travalini (Wilmington), Literature: Fiction 

Established Professional Award — $6,000

• Susan Benarcik (Wilmington), Visual Arts: Works on Paper 
• Shawn Faust (Bear), Visual Arts: Painting 
• Don Foster (Dover), Literature: Fiction 
• Daniel Jackson (Claymont), Visual Arts: Photography 
• Shelley Kelley (Newark), Folk Art: Music 
• Leslie Hsu Oh (Middletown), Literature: Creative Nonfiction 
• Chet'la Sebree (Middletown), Literature: Poetry 
• IVA (Wilmington), Music: Solo Recital 

Emerging Professional Award — $3,000

• Jenifer Adams-Mitchell (Frankford), Literature: Fiction 
• Kevin J. Cope (Newark), Music: Solo Recital 
• Kaitlyn Evans (Lewes), Visual Arts: Crafts 
• Matthew Glick (Claymont), Visual Arts: Works on Paper 
• Geraldo Gonzalez (Wilmington), Folk Arts: Visual Arts 
• Karen Hurley-Heyman (Newark), Literature: Poetry 
• Mary-Margaret Pauer (Bridgeville), Literature: Creative Nonfiction 
• D.H. Regnier (Newark), Music: Composition 
• Gregg Silvis (Newark), Visual Arts: Sculpture 
• G.W. Thompson (Lewes), Visual Arts: Painting 
• Shannon Woodloe (Wilmington), Visual Arts: Photography 

Honorable Mention

• Howard Eberle (Lewes), Visual Arts: Works on Paper 
• Jane Miller (Wilmington), Literature: Poetry 
• Jim Salt (Newark), Literature: Fiction 

News from the Delaware Division of the Arts

Information reposted courtesy of The Delaware Division of the Arts Arts E-News Email.
New Deputy Director at Division of the Arts
The Division of the Arts is pleased to announce the appointment of Kristin Pleasanton as the new Deputy Director of the Division of the Arts, replacing Susan Salkin who retired at the end of October.

---

DelawareScene.com: 5 Years of Promoting Delaware Arts
The Division’s website of arts and cultural events launched in October 2008. The site provides search options by date, discipline, location, and key word for events happening state-wide. Sign up to receive the Scene Stealers e-newsletter published every other week featuring highlights happening over a two-week period.

---

Updated DDOA Artist Roster Now Available
We invite Delaware performing, visual, literary and media artists to join the artist roster by visiting http://www.delaware.gov/artistroster/ and applying to this free marketing tool. Artists can add their biographies, resumes, artist statements, documents, and links to YouTube videos, articles, social media, and websites.

---

State of Delaware Employee Art Exhibition
DDOA is working with The National Arts Program to exhibit the artwork of State of Delaware employees and their families. This year the exhibition will be held at the Arts Center/Gallery at Delaware State University in Dover from February 24-March 15, 2014.

---

Sussex Arts Organizations: Dogfish Head Offers Awards
Dogfish Head’s Beer & Benevolence program is accepting entries from nonprofits in each of three categories – art, community, and the environment.Organizations must be nonprofits based in Sussex County, and provide an executive summary along with a one-minute video. Entries are due by November 15, 2013. For details and how to apply, read more at Dogfish.

---

Tourism Office’s Video Contest: Great Way to Showcase Delaware Arts!
Amateur and professional videographers alike are invited to enter the Delaware Tourism Office’s inaugural Video Contest, a competition to highlight Delaware’s appeal. Entries accepted  through December 31, 2013. For more information, go to www.visitdelaware.com/videocontest.

---

NEA Funding Opportunities Available
Our Town Grant Program
Organizations may apply for creative placemaking projects that contribute to the livability of communities and place the arts at their core. Matching grants range from $25,000-$200,000.
Deadline: January 13, 2014
Notification: July 2014
Earliest Start Date: September 1, 2014
See more at: http://arts.gov/grants/organizations-apply#sthash.8179exld.dpuf

The Big Read, 2014-2015
The Big Read is accepting applications from non-profit organizations to develop community-wide reading programs between September 2014 and June 2015. Organizations interested in applying should visit The Big Read website for guidelines and application instructions. Application procedure: Submit applications electronically via eGrant
Application deadline: Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. (CST)