Delaware’s Individual Artist Fellowships recognize artists for their outstanding quality of work and provide monetary awards. Individual Artist Fellows are publicly acknowledged and benefit from the additional exposure to their work. Fellows are required to showcase their work in a public exhibition or performance, so we’ve set up a special section on DelawareScene.com for you to experience their work.
In 2025, the Division received work samples from 191 Delaware choreographers; composers; 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. Twenty-one artists were awarded fellowships in the following categories – one, Masters; eleven, Established; nine, Emerging; and thirteen runners-up. The twenty-one selected fellows reside throughout Delaware including Bear, Clayton, Dagsboro, Lewes, Milton, Newark, New Castle, Rehoboth Beach, Smyrna, and Wilmington.
The work of the Fellows will be featured in a group exhibition, Award Winners XXV, at the Biggs Museum of American Art, and will travel to CAMP Rehoboth and Cab Calloway School of the Arts.
Newark
Literature: Fiction
Rehoboth Beach
Literature: Creative Nonfiction
Wilmington
Visual Arts: Works on Paper
Bear
Dance: Choreography
New Castle
Music: Solo Recital
Smyrna
Literature: Poetry
Newark
Literature: Fiction
Wilmington
Music: Contemporary Performance
Dagsboro
Visual Arts: Painting
Clayton
Visual Arts: Painting
Wilmington
Music: Composition
Wilmington
Visual Arts: Photography
Wilmington
Visual Arts Painting
Wilmington
Folk Art: Visual Arts
Lewes
Literature: Creative Nonfiction
Milton
Visual Arts: Photography
Wilmington
Literature: Poetry
Newark
Media Arts: Video/Film
Wilmington
Literature: Fiction
Wilmington
Music: Contemporary Performance
Wilmington
Literature: Creative Nonfiction
Wilmington
Visual Arts: Works on Paper
Milton
Literature: Poetry
Rehoboth Beach
Literature: Fiction
Hockessin
Literature: Creative Nonfiction
Middletown
Literature: Poetry
Middletown
Literature: Fiction
Newark
Visual Arts: Interdisciplinary
Wilmington
Music: Solo Recital
Millsboro
Visual Arts: Painting
Lewes
Folk Art: Music
Wilmington
Media Arts: Video/Film
Newark
Visual Arts: Photography
Wilmington
Visual Arts: Sculpture
The Division offers fellowships in the artistic disciplines of choreography, folk art, jazz, literature, media arts, music, and visual arts. Artists’ work samples are reviewed by nationally recognized out-of-state arts professionals, considering both demonstrated creativity and skill in the art form.
The awards—$5,000 for Emerging Artists, $8,000 for Established Professionals, and $12,000 for Masters—allow artists to pursue advanced training, purchase equipment and materials, or fulfill other needs that will help advance their careers.
The highest honor—the Masters Fellow—is reserved for those who meet rigorous criteria. Only one Masters Fellow can be awarded each year. Disciplines rotate every three years.
During the fellowship year, recipients are required to showcase their work in a public exhibit or performance in Delaware
For more details about the Individual Artist Fellowship program, please visit our Grants for Artists page.
Fellowship Home