National Arts Program® in Delaware

Participants must be a current, benefit-eligible employee, or immediate family member of a current, benefit-eligible employee (spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandchild), of the State of Delaware. (Participating Group Members are also eligible.)

All entries must be the original work of the applicant completed within the last three years.

Not accepted: Kits; paint-by-number pieces; photocopies or photographs of artwork; magazine or book illustrations; low resolution photographs and snapshots; artwork entered in previous years.

The National Arts Program and the Delaware Division of the Arts reserve the right to disqualify entries they consider to be unacceptable or inappropriate for a public exhibition.

Limit one artwork per registered artist, no exceptions.

Please read the full submission instructions here: Exhibit Information

There are five categories related to the judging aspect of this program:

• Amateur: a person 18+ with little or no experience
• Intermediate: a person 18+ with some experience/training, beginning art students, etc.
• Professional: a person 18+ with advanced art training, or employed in an art-related job
• Teen: 13–18 years old
• Youth: 12 years and under

The following artistic mediums are accepted for exhibition:

• Painting (oil, acrylics)
• Works on Paper (watercolor, pencil, ink, charcoal, pastel, marker, crayon, digital, or reproductions of your original work)
• Photography (black & white, color)
• Sculpture
• Craft (ceramics, glasswork, jewelry, woodcarving, fiber, etc.)
• Mixed Media (a work of visual art that combines more than one medium)

Artwork will be judged in the classification of the artist’s selection. However, in some cases, the exhibition judges will make the final determination.

Preparing Entries

• Submit only entries that fit into the listed medium categories
• Prepare an image of your artwork to submit as part of the registration process. For tips, view the Tips for Photographing Artwork (below)
• All work (excluding textiles) must measure no more than 40 inches in any direction

Submitting Entries

There are two steps to submitting entries in the exhibition:

1. 1. Register online at National Arts Program
   2. Upload an image of your artwork to the registration form

Delivering Entries

All entries must be hand delivered to:
Arts Center/Gallery – Delaware State University
1200 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901 (302-857-6697)

Drop-off: February 10-15, 2025

Picking up Entries

All entries must be picked up at the Arts Center/Gallery (DSU). Artwork not picked up during this time will be donated.

Pick-up: March 22-28 and April 1, 2025

Exhibit Dates: February 25 – March 21, 2025

People’s Choice Voting: February 25 – March 20, 2025

Reception: March 9, 2025

Click here for a visitor’s guide and map of Delaware State University’s campus.

Sponsored by the National Arts Program and the Delaware Division of the Arts, this program is designed to give Delaware state employees and their families, at any skill level, a unique opportunity to exhibit their artwork and compete for ribbons and cash prizes. Each year, the exhibit is judged by different professionals in the visual arts.

2024 National Arts Program Award Winners

Best of Show: Hyo Lee, Intermediate, Solitude, Painting, Dover

People’s Choice Award (Facebook): Sarah Silves, Sunset Mules, Photography

People’s Choice Award (Ballot): Naomi Smith, Waiting, Painting, Dover

Art Education Award: Nathanael Taylor, Teen, My Dad, Works on Paper, Milton

Special Awards:

Monotone: Casey Williams from Brighton, MA, Baldwin’s Book Barn

Craft: Maggie Wieber from Denton, MD, Steampunk Rocket Lamp

Nature: Meg Grotti from Hockessin, Winter Bracken

Portrait: Jasmine Davis from Dover, When Queens Collide

Abstract: Raymond Lewis from Wilmington, Portrait of Smoke Lingering After Firework

Professional:

First Place: Brianna Shetzler from Clayton, Decomposition, Craft

Second Place: Sharif Sadiq from Seaford, Lady with a Floral Bun, Painting

Third Place: Joseph Repetti from Newark, The Great Breakwater Light, Works on Paper

Honorable Mentions:

Alex Mercado from Clayton, The Fabulous Five-Hip Hop 50

Yaprak Soysal from Wilmington, The Bond

Rick Burrow from Camden-Wyoming, Lambertville Tuesday

Intermediate:

First Place: Christopher Vasil from Ocean View, Faux Origami, Works on Paper

Second Place: Elizabeth Chen from Middletown, Teach Your Parents Well, Works on Paper

Third Place: Ashley Holmes from Clayton, Drying Lavender, Photography

Honorable Mentions:

Dan Friedrichsen, Cleft Cabinet

Ricki Truitt from Bridgeville, Cat Nap Couch

Jenesis Prioleau from Smyrna, Walk Towards Freedom

Amateur:                   

First Place: Cyndi Holbrook from North East, MD, Reflection-Jersey, Works on Paper

Second Place: Jeff Dorsch from Milton, Lost in the Loblollies, Photograph

Third Place: Kelly Nichol from Wilmington, Macha at the Brandywine, Painting

Honorable Mentions:

Allison Sharp from Wyoming, Abbey

Marcella Little from Bear, Mycelium and the Art of People

Emily Keulmann from Newark, Ribbons of Twilight

Teen (13-18 years old):

First Place: Kamora Jones from Wilmington, Peace of Mind, Painting

Second Place: Jolene Pham from Townsend, Tet, Painting

Third Place: EJ Egloff from Middletown, Spiny ‘Dragon’ Bush Viper (Atheris Hispida), Works on Paper

Honorable Mentions:

Alayna Reese from Townsend, The Deep Dive, Good vs Evil

Cora Brinson from Middletown, Leaves of Gold

Alliyah Gallimore-Prado from Wilmington, Literature of the Harlem Renaissance

Bella Burgett from Magnolia, Graffiti Art

Youth (12 years and under):

First Place: Izzabella West from Camden, A Walk in the Forest, Painting

Second Place: Genevieve Dinsmore from Wilmington, Pies, Works on Paper

Third Place: Sabrina Rambo, Hidden Garden, Painting

Honorable Mentions

Christopher Saxton, Jr from Camden, Tophasaurus

Eric Trzcinski from Middletown, Middle School

Natalie Sturgis from Clayton, Natalie’s Yarny Night

Audrey Sutton from Wilmington, A Snowy Night

View Past Exhibitions

2024 All Artwork

2023 All Artwork

2022 All Artwork

2021 All Artwork

2020 All Artwork