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. If you haven’t signed up yet for Arts E-News, please do so here.

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

 

July 2022

Dover Art League
Monthly Open Mic Night
Dover
GOS

The Dover Art League hosts monthly open mic nights on the last Saturday of every month. This is a free community event in the heart of Downtown Dover where everyone is welcome to share their art. Artists of all levels, ages, and genres are to step up to the microphone during their timeslot. Sign-ups are at the door, so artists are encouraged to come early. Musicians, spoken-word artists, singer-songwriters, written-word poets, R&B singers, rappers, and folk/country artists have all shared the stage over the last several months. Since artists are new each time, each event is unique in its programming.

Cross pollination of artists from different genres collaborating in the arts is what truly brings about a sense of community as well as a creative energy that spreads. One example of this happened at an open mic when a spoken word artist performed. She used a specific sound sampler app to create beats to accompany her words. An experimental musician who played guitar and keyboard heard her set and approached her afterward asking about the unique sounds she created. Two months later, the musician came back and had written a new song using this app. Exchanges such as this are common at the open mics. Such conversations widen the knowledge-base and experience of the community. DAL seek to provide the opportunity for artists to meet and become inspired.

C.E.R.T.S.
Art Therapy Program
New Castle and Smyrna
PS

C.E.R.T.S. offers stimulating activities daily with the goal of maximizing independent expression as a form of communication. The art therapy program has been and continues to be a major contributor to this goal. Visiting artists implement creative aspects of pottery, painting, music and storytelling while considering the physical limitations, cognitive skills and communication abilities of our attendees. This is a demanding venture that can only be accomplished by a trained artist experienced in working with this population.

The Art Therapy Program is an invaluable, comprehensive asset to C.E.R.T.S. that involves all participants. Cognitive skills are impacted due to the need to stay focused and embrace the dynamics of each project. Physical skills are enriched through the use of equipment that promotes functional mobility while enhancing participation in art therapy program activities. Communication skills are unique to each person as needs and wants are interpreted by the familiarity of our staff because our population lacks the ability to actually verbally communicate. Art activities establish an alternate form of communication not available through any other program component. The diverse array of stimuli presented fosters the unique ability to convey emotion and inspire a sensitivity response not easily fostered with this population but when established, delivers emotional satisfaction, a sense of accomplishment and sensory gratification.

For more information, visit: www.certsinc.org

SummerCollab
Tyler’s Camp
New Castle and Wilmington
PS

Tyler’s Camps are SummerCollab’s summer learning programs, which welcome students from diverse backgrounds and interests to engage in exploratory and educational programming. At Tyler’s Camp, we execute inspiring, confidence-building experiences that fuel student motivation and success during the academic school year. Tyler’s Camp was founded as a place where student choice, voice and self direction are priority. Kids are defined by their interests and each one has their own unique sense of curiosity. Kids explore their passions, curiosities, and interests, whether it means painting, sculpting, music, performing in a play, dance or athletics. SummerLabs feature STEM-centered programs that bring hands-on experiences with 21st Century Skills and technologies to campers.

Big picture, SummerCollab exists to close the opportunity gap experienced by low-income black and brown children in our community by expanding educational opportunity to those farthest behind by making accessible high quality programming that increases exposure and targets literacy.  SummerCollab cultivates self esteem, self love, agency, creativity and self discovery through an intentional curriculum that features exposure to arts, sports, technology, science and literacy, and activates clarity of personal passion through personalized support. This powerful network of early career educators, supported by highly effective trainers of trauma informed care, youth engagement and culture development, not only inspire a new level of interest in urban education amongst high school and college students, but provide a powerful career entry point into urban education for diverse opportunity youth.

For more information, visit: https://summercollab.org/our-work/tylers-camp/

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.