2026 National Arts Program Award Winners

It is my honor to welcome you to the 15th Annual Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition – a celebration that reminds all of us why Delaware’s public workforce is truly extraordinary.

Every day, state employees work tirelessly to maintain public spaces, support families, protect public health, and keep essential services moving across our state. This exhibition offers a different kind of window into that workforce — one that reveals the creativity, imagination, and personal stories that exist in every agency and department across Delaware.

Creativity is at the heart of innovation, and Delaware state employees embody that every day – whether through problem-solving, collaboration, or finding new ways to serve the people of our state. The arts strengthen that spirit. Engaging in creative work enhances problem-solving, builds connection, and fosters an environment where innovation can flourish. The talent on display in this exhibition is a testament to the whole people who make up our public workforce – people with passions and perspectives that extend far beyond the workplace.

This year, I was proud to introduce three Governor’s Choice Awards, one from each of Delaware’s counties, to honor outstanding works that reflect the remarkable talent found in every corner of our state. These awards are my way of personally recognizing the creativity that exists across all of Delaware, and of ensuring that no part of our state goes uncelebrated.

To every artist and family member who submitted work for this exhibition – thank you for sharing your creativity and your stories with your colleagues and your community. To all who came to view the gallery, I am grateful for your support of Delaware’s public servants and the arts.

Delaware is stronger because of the dedicated, talented, and creative people who serve it. This exhibition celebrates exactly that.

– Governor Matt Meyer

On behalf of the Delaware Division of the Arts and the Delaware State Arts Council, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 15th Annual Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition. To the 220 artists and family members who submitted work this year – congratulations! Your willingness to share your creativity with your colleagues and your community is what makes this exhibition such a meaningful tradition.

Creativity is not separate from public service – it strengthens it. The imagination, perspective, and discipline on display throughout this gallery are the same qualities that help state employees solve problems, serve the public, and find new ways to make Delaware better. This exhibition is a powerful reminder that the arts thrive within our state agencies, and that the people who serve Delaware bring remarkable depth and talent to everything they do.

Reaching a 15th anniversary is a milestone worth pausing to appreciate and it would not have been possible without the dedication of Deputy Director Kristin Pleasanton, who has helmed this project since its very beginning. For fifteen years, Kristin has worked to build a welcoming, community-centered exhibition that honors artists at every skill level, from youth entries to professional-level work. Her vision, care, and commitment are woven into every aspect of what this exhibition has become, and we are deeply grateful for her leadership.

Whether you are a seasoned artist or someone who picked up a brush for the first time this year, your participation matters. The act of creating, and of sharing that creation, enriches our workplaces, our communities, and each other. I encourage you to keep pushing your creative boundaries and to continue bringing your full selves to both your art and your work.

Thank you to all who submitted, to everyone who came to celebrate, and to the many partners who help make this exhibition possible year after year. We look forward to the next fifteen years.

– Director Jessica Ball