Gallery walls filled with artwork by state employees

Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition

Don’t miss the chance to be recognized in Delaware for your creativity!

Enter your artwork in The Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition. Sponsored by The National Arts Program® in support and cooperation with the State of Delaware and the Delaware Division of the Arts, the exhibit is judged by professional artists and visual art professionals. The Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition is designed to give artists at all skill levels a unique opportunity to exhibit their creative work and to compete for cash prizes. Please read the full submission instructions here: Exhibit Information

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

  • 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.

Adult

  • Amateur: a person with little or no experience
  • Intermediate: a person with some experience/training, beginning art students, etc.
  • Professional: a person with advanced art training, or employed in an art-related job

Youth/Teen

  • Youth: 12 years and under
  • Teen: 13–18 years old

Best of Show: $400

People’s Choice Award ribbon: Chosen by popular vote

Adult: Amateur, Intermediate & Professional

  1. Three First Place Awards – $350
  2. Three Second Place Awards – $250
  3. Three Third Place Awards – $150

Youth/Teen: Youth 12 & under; Teen 13–18

  1. Two First Place Awards – $150
  2. Two Second Place Awards – $100
  3. Two Third Place Awards – $50

Art Education: $200

Other:

  • Honorable Mention ribbons will be awarded at the discretion of the judges
  • Awards are limited to one cash award per artist, per classification
  • Each artist receives a Certificate of Participation in the National Arts Program

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

text that describes how to photograph artwork

Submitting Entries

There are two steps to submitting entries in the exhibition:

  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 12-17, 2024

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Tuesday, Thursday: 11:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday: 12:00pm – 4:00pm

Picking up Entries

All entries must be picked up at the Arts Center/Gallery (DSU)

Pick-up: March 23-28, 2024, and Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Saturday, 3/23 – 12-4pm

Monday, 3/25 – 9am-4pm

Tuesday, 3/26 – 11am-6pm

Wednesday, 3/27 – 9am-4pm

Thursday, 3/28 – 11am-6pm

Tuesday, 4/2 – 11am-6pm

Artwork not picked up during this time will be donated.

Exhibit Dates: February 27-March 22, 2024 

People’s Choice Voting: February 29-March 20, 2024

Reception: March 10, 2024

Visitor Information & Map

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): TBA

People’s Choice Award (Ballot): TBA

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


Two artists discuss their participation in the State Employee Art Exhibition

 

Important Dates

Registration Opens: December 15, 2023

Registration Closes: January 29, 2024

Artwork Delivery: February 12-17, 2024

Exhibit Dates: February 27-March 22, 2024

People’s Choice Voting: February 29-March 20, 2024

Reception: March 10, 2024

Artwork Pick Up: March 23-28, 2024, and Tuesday, April 2, 2024

View Past Exhibitions

2023 All Artwork

2022 All Artwork

2021 All Artwork

2020 All Artwork

 

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