Artist Opportunity Grants

To be eligible for an Individual Artist Opportunity Grant, applicants must be:

1. A resident of Delaware for at least one year at the time of application. A legal resident possesses a valid Delaware driver’s license or DMV issued identification card and files state income taxes in Delaware as a full-year resident
2. Eighteen (18) years of age or older
3. Not enrolled in a degree-granting program
4. Not a current Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship recipient

Artists who have received an opportunity grant must wait one (1) year before applying for a separate one. Priority may be given to new applicants.

The Grants for Artists program is open to artists who meet the eligibility requirements above.

Any applicant with questions about preparing an application is encouraged to reach out to relevant DDOA staff, as listed below. All applications are submitted via the secure online grants management system SmartSimple. Log in or create a free account at https://smartde.smartsimple.com.

Artist Opportunity Grants are intended to encourage artistic growth and career development. Common expenses include but are not limited to: materials to complete work for a specific show or program; the cost to rent a facility for a performance; study with a master for a specified period of time. Any applicant with questions about eligible uses of funds is encouraged to reach out to relevant DDOA staff, as listed below.

Artists will select one of two grant categories:

1. Professional and Artistic Development

Artists may apply for funding for unique, short-term opportunities that will significantly advance their work or careers, such as: study with a significant master available for a limited time, or participation in a residency or exchange program. Travel costs are not covered but should be included in the budget.

2. Presentation Opportunities

Artists may apply for funding for unique, short-term opportunities that will significantly advance their work or careers such as: materials to complete work committed to an exhibition, performance, or publication; contracting of professional services; or rental of equipment, instruments, or work space for a specific performance, exhibition, or publication opportunity.

Artist Opportunity Grant funds may not be used to compensate activities performed as part of regular, continuing employment; make contributions to any persons who hold, or are candidates for, elected office; to any political party, organization, or action committee; in connection with any political campaign or referendum; or for any lobbying activities.

Download the full Artist Opportunity Grant guidelines here.

The Delaware Division of the Arts strives to keep our Artist Opportunity Grant applications concise, while gathering the essential information needed for a thorough and fair evaluation. We aim to balance simplicity with the comprehensive details necessary to ensure we can effectively assess each project’s potential impact and success.

The Artist Opportunity Grant application requires:

• Your contact information
• Narrative questions describing the project and how it meets the evaluation criteria
• Conference/workshop brochure, mentor bio, or invitation from sponsoring entity, as applicable to the specific opportunity
• Project budget
• The artist’s professional resume
• Work samples

Opportunity grant applications have quarterly deadlines of January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1:

• January 2 for activities occurring between February 15 and May 15
• April 1 for activities occurring between May 15 and August 15
• July 1 for activities occurring between August 15 and November 15
• October 1 for activities occurring between November 15 and February 15

No more than two Opportunity Grant applications may be made in any calendar year without the permission of the Division Director.

Applications are evaluated on the following criteria as applicable to the category selected:

• Anticipated impact on the artist’s work or career
• Proposal’s financial feasibility and need as demonstrated in the submitted budget
• Plans for marketing the project to attract an audience or participants
• Immediacy and uniqueness of the opportunity

Division of the Arts staff members, in conjunction with the Division Director, review artists’ applications for Opportunity Grants. The Division Director then makes final decisions on funding. Priority may be given to new applicants.

For details on the grant review process and appeals procedure, read Delaware Division of the Arts Grant Review Process.

Notification:

All applicants will receive notification via email within four weeks of the application deadline. Applicants approved for a grant will receive additional instructions from Division staff via email to receive their payments.

eSupplier and Payment:

To receive a grant payment, individuals must have an active State of Delaware eSupplier record.

We recommend that you choose to receive payments through Automated Clearing House, an electronic fund transfer, when completing or updating your eSupplier record. Electronic fund transfers are faster than mailing a check.

• First-time grantees: will receive instructions on how to register electronically as an individual (not a business) in the State of Delaware’s eSupplier Portal. *If you’re an individual, your Tax Identification Number is your Social Security Number
• Past grantees: will receive instructions for checking and updating their eSupplier record.

After the Division staff receives confirmation of your eSupplier registration, payments will be sent to the accounting office to process.

You can expect to receive your full grant payment approximately four weeks after contacting Division staff with your eSupplier information.

Questions about eSupplier? Please contact: Division of Accounting by email at FSF_Supplier_Maintenance@delaware.gov or by phone at (302) 526-5600.

The Statement of Assurances is the contract that all Division grantees must sign. Grant applicants must indicate that they have read and agreed to the obligations of grant recipients, should a grant be awarded. Receipt of state and federal grants carries with it certain obligations and responsibilities. By submitting a Division of the Arts grant application, applicants are affirming that they are familiar with the requirements of the Delaware Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, as presented in the Division of the Arts Statement of Assurances, including but not limited to:

• Crediting the Division appropriately on all materials
• Keeping public arts events current on DelawareScene.com
• Notifying the Division of any significant changes to the program or budget
• Providing complimentary tickets for use by on-site evaluators, if appropriate
• Compliance with Accessibility Requirements
• Submitting all required Final Reports

An annual final report describes how funds were spent over the most recently completed granting period. The final report collects narrative, fiscal, and demographic information in keeping with DDOA and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) requirements. Successful completion of a final report is required for eligible grantees to be able to access future grants. Final reports are completed in SmartSimple, the same online grants management system used for applications. Final Reports are due 30 days after completion of the project.

Failure to submit reports may jeopardize current and/or future DDOA grants and may result in the required return of grant funds to the State of Delaware.

You can use this interactive tool to search for Delaware Division of the Arts grants awarded to organizations and individuals from 1999 through today.