Each month we feature arts and community-based organizations and their programs and projects funded by the Delaware Division of the Arts in our Arts Spotlight which will be included on our monthly e-newsletter, Arts E-News and online.

Funding for Division of the Arts grants is provided by the Delaware General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. To view past grants awarded (1999 to present), please visit our Grants Awarded page.

Grant Types: GOS – General Operating Support; PS – Project Support

December 2025

 

an empty theatre

The Grand Opera House and The Playhouse on Rodney Square
Performing Arts in Delaware
Wilmington
General Operating Support

The Grand entertains, engages, and enriches our community with diverse live performances and educational programs in a welcoming, patron-centered environment. As proud stewards, we celebrate our cherished historic theaters that create economic vitality and lift the human spirit. For more than 150 years, The Grand Opera House has stood as a cultural cornerstone in Wilmington. But its legacy extends beyond performances – it’s about presence, connection, and impact.

This December, The Grand is thrilled to present a month of diverse programming that strengthens this impact-and celebrates the Holiday season! On December 12, The Grand will host Grammy nominated artist Joan Osborne in the baby grand for an intimate evening of music with “Joan Osborne Sings the Songs of Bob Dylan”. You won’t want to miss this night full of artistic and soulful reinterpretations of Bob Dylan’s greatest hits. On December 16 at The Playhouse on Rodney Square, international vocal sensation Matteo Bocelli celebrates the release of his new album Falling in Love with “MATTEO BOCELLI – Falling In Love World Tour”. With his eagerly-anticipated second album, Matteo steps confidently into the spotlight as the next generation artist, with the heart of a poet and the reach of a global pop star. From December 20-December 21, The Playhouse on Rodney Square presents the national tour of the timeless Holiday classic, “Meredith Willson’s Miracle on 34th Street, The Musical”. This beloved Holiday hit is a perfect fit for audience members of all ages. Finally, The Grand is proud to host one of its resident companies, First State Ballet Theatre, for a Holiday engagement of “The Nutcracker”, playing December 13-December 21 in Copeland Hall.

The Grand does much more than create great performances in its three venues. It also provides community education programs such as the Stages of Discovery school matinee series, Summer in the Parks, Summer Explorers, and Sensory-Friendly Family Shows that introduce live performance to over 35,000 children and families – the next generation of Grand patrons. It also partners with many community organizations to stage more than 400 events annually.

For more information, to buy tickets, or to learn more about the multiple ways you can support The Grand, please visit www.thegrandwilmington.org or call 302-652-5577.

two characters from Shrek the musical

Delaware Theatre Company
Shrek: The Musical
Wilmington
General Operating Support

The mission of Delaware Theatre Company is to create theatre of the highest professional quality in Delaware and thereby enrich the vitality of the area through artistic programming, education, and community service. At its heart, theatre is community. By telling our stories, by shining a light on our shared experiences, theatre strengthens the bonds between us. Connects us. That’s what community is about – and that’s what we’re about. Delaware Theatre Company has been connecting people for more than 45 years.

“Shrek the Musical,” based on the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks® movie, captures the spirit of transformation, as unlikely heroes and heroines embark on a journey to find their place in the world, but discover that true beauty lies within. This heartwarming show is perfect for the whole family, and is a festive reminder that we are the best versions of ourselves when sharing life with our communities and loved ones. Delaware Theatre Company is presenting this Wolf Performing Arts Center production and enjoying the opportunity to support their artistic vision with DTC’s technical team. It is exciting to bring regional theatre groups to our stage and shine a light, or more accurately a few dozen lights, on the talent throughout the Greater Wilmington area. Several cast members, in addition to being professional actors, are teaching artists at Wolf PAC.

“Shrek the Musical” is receiving warm reviews from audiences enjoying a fun, relaxing, and laughter-filled night out. Through 4 nearly-packed performances, over 1,000 children from Delaware schools are experiencing the joy of live theatre through DTC’s Student Matinee Program.

To learn more visit: https://www.delawaretheatre.org/shrek-the-musical 

The projects above are supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes these and other Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com.

The Division offers a variety of grant programs for individual artists; nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations chartered and based in Delaware; and schools and government entities that support arts activities. View a full list of Division grants on the Grants Overview page.