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.

This year 139 artists applied and 19 were awarded fellowships in the following categories – one, Masters; twelve, Established; and six, Emerging. In addition, two artists earned an honorable mention.

Masters Award ($10,000)
Mark Unruh, Wilmington, Folk Art: Music

Established Professional Award ($6,000)

Taylor Reid Adams, Wilmington, Literature: Fiction
Anne Colwell, Milton, Literature: Creative Nonfiction
Merideth Hite Estevez, Wilmington, Music: Solo Recital
Shelley Koon, Dover, Visual Arts: Photography
Ralph Gresham Lam, Wilmington, Folk Art: Music
Aaron Paskins, Dover, Visual Arts: Sculpture
Nicholas Serratore, Lewes, Visual Arts: Works on Paper
Constance M. Simon, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Painting
Caroline N. Simpson, Wilmington, Literature: Poetry
Robert Bruce Weston, Milton, Visual Arts: Crafts
Jonathan W. Whitney, Wilmington, Jazz: Composition
Michele Xiques, Milford, Dance: Choreography

Emerging Professional Award ($3,000)

Sarah Barnett, Rehoboth Beach, Literature: Creative Nonfiction
Kim DeCicco, Lewes, Literature: Fiction
Kari Ann Ebert, Dover, Literature: Poetry
Michael Fleishman, Milford, Visual Arts: Works on Paper
Chloe McEldowney, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Painting
Guy Miller, New Castle, Visual Arts: Sculpture

Honorable Mention
Crystal Heidel, Milton, Literature: Fiction
Colleen Zufelt, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Sculpture

Check out our special feature in DelawareScene.com for upcoming Fellow events.

Save the Dates!

The work of the Fellows will be featured in a group exhibition, Award Winners XX at the Biggs Museum from June 5 to July 23, 2020 with an award ceremony and reception on Wednesday, June 10 at 5 p.m.

Selections from Award Winners will travel to CAMP Rehoboth for the entire month of August and then Cab Calloway School of the Arts from September 4 to October 25. Opening receptions will be held June 5, August 1, and October 2 and are free and open to the public (Dates are subject to change).

Previous Artist Fellows by Year:

2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009

To contact an individual artist, please email or call: Roxanne Stanulis, Program Officer, Artist Programs and Services, Roxanne.Stanulis@delaware.gov or 302-577-8283.

The next deadline for Individual Artist Fellowship applications will be Monday, August 3, 2020 by 4:30 p.m.

About the Fellowship

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—$3,000 for Emerging Artists, $6,000 for Established Professionals, and $10,000 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 the Grants for Artist page.