Grants for Artists

The Delaware Division of the Arts offers two grant options for artists including individual artist fellowships and opportunity grants. Please find a list of grants for artists that are Delaware residents, 18 years of age or older, not enrolled in a degree-granting program.

Individual Artist Fellowship (IAF) - FY18 Application is closed

Individual Artist Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis for quality as demonstrated by creativity and skill in an art form. Applications are accepted in eighteen artistic disciplines in the fields of choreography, folk art, jazz, literature, media arts, music, and visual arts. Applicants select between Emerging or Established categories. The Masters Fellowship is available in select disciplines on a three-year rotating basis to artists who meet specific criteria.

Out-of-state professionals evaluate the applications in an anonymous process. Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation assists with the administration of the program. Awards are $3,000 for Emerging; $6,000 for Established; and $10,000 for Masters. Annual August 1 deadline.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for Individual Artist Fellowship, applicants must:

Must be 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. All awards are subject to verification of Delaware residency.
Must be at least 18 years of age at time of application.
Must remain a Delaware resident during the grant period (January 1 – December 31).

Ineligible applicants:

Students currently enrolled in a degree or certificate-granting educational program at the time of application.
Any recipient of a Masters Fellowship.
Fellowship recipients who have received an award within the past three years are ineligible to apply in the Emerging or Established Professional categories.
Applicants who submit incomplete applications or applications that do not follow the required format.
Applicants with outstanding final reports from any past Division of the Arts grants.

Waiting Periods and Restrictions:

Only one fellowship application may be submitted per year.
Previous Individual Artist Fellowship recipients are not eligible to apply for a second fellowship in the same artistic discipline and category.
Emerging Artist Fellowship recipients may apply in the Established Professional category in the same discipline after a three-year hiatus that begins after the Fellowship year.
Fellowship recipients need to observe a three year waiting period before applying in a different artistic discipline at the Emerging or Established levels.
- Exception: Artists may apply in the Masters category if they received an Established Fellowship in that discipline more than seven years ago regardless of subsequent awards in different disciplines.

Guidelines:

Applicants may select between the Emerging ($3,000 award) and Established ($6,000 award) Professional categories:

An Emerging Professional is in the early stages of his/her career
Established Professional is more experienced and has achieved some recognition for his/her artwork (example: prizes, awards, publication)

The Masters ($10,000 award) category is offered to artists who have received an Established Professional Fellowship in the same artistic discipline from the Division more than 7 years ago (prior to January 2011). The Masters is offered in select disciplines that rotate on a three-year basis:

Fiscal Year 2018: Dance, Jazz, or Music
Fiscal Year 2019: Literary and Media Arts
Fiscal Year 2020: Visual Arts and Folk Arts

Download the 2018 Individual Artist Fellowship Guidelines here.

Deadline:

FY18 applications is closed.

Application:

Applications must be submitted electronically through Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s eGrant system.

Application components:

Artistic Statement (2000 characters or less): The statement provides the juror information about your current work. This statement should convey things such as your artistic inspiration, philosophy, evolution of style, current direction, etc. Artistic statements must be written in the first person.
Professional Resume: Upload a resume or a statement that outlines your artistic training, experience, and awards; publications, exhibitions, etc. This is for the Division’s use only – the jurors do not receive these.
Work samples: Requirements vary depending on the artistic discipline. See guidelines for full details. A Work Sample Preparation Guide is available.
Submission consent: Artists awarded a fellowship will enter into a contract with the State of Delaware. The Statement of Assurances is the contract that all Division grantees must sign. 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.

Notes:

Masters applicants must also submit a full CV or resume and a one-page narrative describing the breadth of their work to include the impact it has had in Delaware and beyond
To maintain your anonymity, do not provide any information which might reveal your identity to the jurors. Do not include your name in your artist statement, your work samples, embedded metadata, or in the work sample file names. Visual artists are encouraged to obscure their signatures.

Notification:

All applicants will be notified in writing after the December Delaware State Arts Council Meeting.

Grantee Requirements:

Fellowship funds may be used for studio rental, supplies and materials, equipment, technical production, score reproduction, or any other expenses that the recipient might incur in pursuing his or her individual creative work, excluding foreign travel and lobbying.

Artists awarded a fellowship will enter into a contract with the State of Delaware. The Statement of Assurances is the contract that all Division grantees must sign. 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 programs
Providing complimentary tickets to public events for use by on-site evaluators
Compliance with Accessibility Requirements
Submitting required Final Report. Fifteen percent (15%) of the fellowship amount will be forfeited if the Final Evaluation Form has not been submitted to the Division by the December deadline stated in the grant award materials.

In addition:

Fellowship recipients will be required to provide the Division with proof of residency: a copy of a DE driver’s license or DMV issued identification card and in some cases, a copy of last year’s Delaware resident income tax return.
Grant funds must be spent during the grant period of January 1 – December 31.
Fellowship recipients who enroll in a degree or certificate-granting education program during the fellowship period may be asked to return a portion of the fellowship.
Tax liability – awards are taxable and recipients must complete a Substitute W9 form. Recipients concerned about their tax liability should consult with their accountant. The Division of the Arts does not provide tax assistance.
Although fellowships are not intended to fund a specific project, recipients are required to present to the public examples of their work. This may be an exhibit, performance, screening, publication, public reading, recording, or other presentation appropriate to the artist’s discipline. The Division of the Arts must be consulted in advance regarding details of the artist’s public presentation.

Final Report:

A completed Final Evaluation Form is required of all fellowship recipients. Final Evaluations for Fiscal Year 2017 are due by December 1. Download the Final Report Form here.

Fifteen percent (15%) of the fellowship amount will be forfeited if the Final Evaluation Form has not been submitted to the Division by the December 1 deadline.

Contact:

Roxanne Stanulis
Program Officer, Artist Programs and Services
302- 577-8283
roxanne.stanulis@state.de.us

Artist Opportunity Grant

Artist Opportunity Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to support unique professional and artistic development and presentation opportunities for artists. Examples include: 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. Evaluation criteria include: anticipated impact on the artist’s work or career; financial feasibility and need; marketing plans; and uniqueness of the opportunity.

Applicants can request up to 80% of the opportunity cost not to exceed $750. Quarterly deadlines: January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.

Eligibility:

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

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
Eighteen (18) years of age or older
Not enrolled in a degree-granting program
Not a current Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship recipient

Waiting Period:

Artists who have received an Opportunity grant must wait a year before applying for another one. Priority may be given to new applicants.

Guidelines:

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.

Download the full Artist Opportunity Grant guidelines here.

Quarterly Deadlines:

January 1 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

Please read the guidelines before applying.

Application Components:

Individual 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
Professional resume
Work samples

Applications must be submitted electronically through the Division’s eGrant system.

Apply Here

Notification:

Applicants will be notified of the decision of the grant review committee within four weeks of the application deadline.

Grantee Requirements:

Full payment will be issued following notification of their selection and after the grantee has completed or updated Delaware’s Substitute Form W-9. Grantees may opt to receive payments through electronic fund transfer (recommended) when completing or updating Delaware’s Substitute Form W-9. Note: Grantees who have previously received payments from the State of Delaware should not create a new vendor account on the Substitute Form W-9, but may opt to update information through the “Change Profile” option.

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

Final Report:

Grantees are required to submit a final report for each grant received. Final Reports are due 30 days after completion of the project. To complete and submit your final reports, you must log into https://artsdel.egrant.net where you first submitted your application. Failure to submit this form may preclude future Division of the Arts funding.