The month of June is Caribbean-American Heritage Month—a month dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of June 2019, the Caribbean-American population of the U.S. was more than 13 million. “Caribbean Americans have […]

William Hare operated the largest pottery business in Delaware, despite not having a large, industrialized operation. Christopher Espenshade’s study of Hare’s work provides insight into Delaware’s pottery industry, 19th-century changes in pottery products, and the development of the modern city of Wilmington. William Hare: Master Potter of Wilmington, Delaware, 1839-1885 – by Christopher Espenshade   […]

George Alfred Townsend, known by his pen-name Gath, was one of Delaware’s most famous writers of the 19th century. Born the son of a Methodist pastor in Georgetown, Townsend would work as a war correspondent during the Civil War, write for several newspapers, and publish several books, both fictional and biographical. Many of Gath’s works […]

Museum honored for its project “Search, Discovery, and Interpretation of the African Burial Ground at the John Dickinson Plantation.”

With an introduction by Heritage Commission Chair Richard Carter, the journals of Reverend Wells provide a unique perspective on life in Sussex County at the turn of the century. Wells’ original journals still exist and can be viewed at the at the Delaware Public Archives. The Journals of the Reverend Lewis Wheeler Wells, Rector of […]

Delaware’s Coastal Defenses, tells the stories of two of Delaware’s longest-standing coastal forts: Fort Saulsbury, built during the Second World War and used as a prisoner-of-war camp, and Fort Miles, a location that has played a role in our state’s defense since the Revolutionary War, and the men who served and defended our shores. – […]

Secretary of State Jeff Bullock on Monday announced that Suzanne Savery will lead the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs as its next director after Tim Slavin’s departure on June 30, 2022. Ms. Savery most recently served as the deputy director of the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs and will assume the […]

Originally written by the Federal Writers Project as part of their classic “American Guide” series, this reprint depicts history, life, travel, and recreation in Delaware as it was in 1938. Including a full-size replica of the original tour map, this comprehensive guide includes art and engravings of various historic locations, dozens of vintage photos, and […]

Piloting, or the navigation of ship, is one of the oldest and most important professions on the North American coast. Traversing unfamiliar shores and unforgiving waters, early American merchant ships heavily relied on skilled pilots to travel safely from port to port. Andrew Knopp’s history, “One Hundred Year History of the Pilot’s Association, Bay and […]

Originally published by the Heritage Commission in 1988, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the ratification of the Constitution, the Delaware Heritage Cookbook is a collection of traditional, Delaware recipes, submitted by families from all over the First State. Now available digitally for the first time, we invite you to join us in celebrating Delaware’s […]

This year the Division will invest nearly $3 million in more than 100 arts and community organizations WILMINGTON, DEL. (July 15, 2022) – The Delaware Division of the Arts is investing nearly $3 million in more than 110 arts and community organizations that will serve Delawareans statewide with arts programming and services, arts education, and […]

MILFORD, Del. (July 21, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Small Business recognized 10 small businesses Thursday as winners of the fifth round of Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion (EDGE) grants. Awardees in the latest round of the competition include a company that created a resorbable vascular stent, a Puerto Rican inspired bakery, an outdoor […]

“Reminiscence Of A Town That Thought It Would Be A Metropolis: Delaware City, Delaware” presents reminiscences of the late William O. Wingate, who lived in Delaware City and was born in the last quarter of the the nineteenth century. Wingate’s writings were found in the local collection of the Delaware City Library and provides a […]

  Delaware Division of the Arts Winners to be Exhibited at CAMP Rehoboth   WILMINGTON, DEL. (July 29, 2022) – Works by the Delaware Division of the Arts award winners will be exhibited from Monday, August 1, to Monday, September 5, at CAMP Rehoboth located at 37 Baltimore, Ave., Rehoboth Beach. A winners reception is […]

This week, the Delaware Heritage Commission is proud to present the first installment in its Oral History series, now available in a digital format. This biographical series tells the stories of some of Delaware’s most notable governors, and we begin this week with Elbert Carvel. Consisting of interviews conducted with the governor between 1976 and […]

DOVER, Del. (August 1, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Small Business announced today that it is now accepting applications for the Site Readiness Fund from qualified businesses or local governments. Established through Senate Bill 127, the fund promotes economic growth and stability by investing in the development or improvement of commercial and industrial sites […]

This week we continue the Delaware Heritage Commission’s Oral History Series with Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt. Compiled using interviews conducted with Tribbitt and his colleagues, this book details the accomplishments and controversies of the governor’s administration. – by Roger A. Martin   You can view and/or download a PDF version of this book here.   […]

Continuing our Oral History series, this week’s Heritage Commission’s Book of the Week is, Russell W. Peterson: Governor of Delaware, 1969-1973. A reformer and an energetic leader, you can read for yourself the story of Peterson’s administration in the words of those who made it a success. – by Christopher L. Perry   You can […]

On August 10, 2022, the Public Service Commission granted the Division of the Public Advocate’s (“DPA”) petition to reduce Tidewater Utilities, Inc.’s (“Tidewater”) rates to a just and reasonable level pending further review. “No regulated utility should be allowed to earn above its authorized rate of return. While Tidewater opposed our petition, I’m delighted the […]

The Delaware Division of the Arts has announced the return of the popular transpARTation grant opportunity for Delaware schools. Schools may request up to $500 toward travel expenses, to include buses, fuel, parking, and tolls associated with these trips. “Access to the arts is pivotal to our students’ creative learning experiences and academic development as […]

On view from September 2-23, 2022 Wilmington, Del. (August 24, 2022) – The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery presents 2022 DDOA Individual Artist Fellow Kiara Florez’s exhibition, Inner Reflections, running September 2-23, 2022. Guests are invited to attend a Meet-the-Artist Reception on Friday, September 9, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Painter Kiara Florez was always involved in […]

Our Oral History continues this week with its fourth installment: Governor Charles Terry. This volume was written by Ned Davis, Governor Terry’s Press Secretary, and contains a study of Governor Terry and his administration, using oral histories, interviews with members of the administration, and Davis’ personal recollections. – by Ned Davis   You can view […]

DOVER, DE (August 30, 2022) – Young Delaware companies in need of funding to help expand their business can apply beginning Thursday, September 1, 2022, to compete for an Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion (EDGE) grant from the Division of Small Business. The division will be accepting EDGE grant applications September 1 through September 30 […]

Delaware’s history can be found all around us, not only in textbooks, but in the buildings and homes that we live and work in. Our state’s architecture has been influenced by several hundred years of growth, development, and cultural exchange, and many of these historic buildings are still standing in our towns and communities. George […]

In this monograph, Catherine Adams Masek examines the life and times of the Adams family and the farm they’ve lived on for seven generations. In fact, the farm has been continuously operated by the same family since 1862! Including original family photographs, this is an incredible story of family and tradition, through the lens of […]

The Delaware Secretary of State’s Office will be accepting nominations for the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award beginning on Monday, September 12, 2022. The award recognizes a gifted, civic-minded young Delawarean who has demonstrated leadership abilities, has a passion for social justice, and is improving the quality of life in their community. “John Lewis was […]

High school students in Delaware invited to compete in national poetry recitation contest,

Day-long series of activities explores occupations of the 1700s.

  On view from October 7-November 4, 2022   Wilmington, Del. (September 28, 2022) – The works by the Delaware Division of the Arts Award Winners are appearing at Cab Calloway School of the Arts from October 7 to November 4, 2022, with a reception on Friday, October 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. Special […]

  Wilmington, Del. (October 7, 2022) – At its June 2022 annual board meeting, Delaware Division of the Arts Director Jessica Ball was named by Mid Atlantic Arts as a new board member for the regional arts organization. Mid Atlantic Arts was established in 1979 to promote and support multi-state arts programming in a region […]

Dover, Del.—Delaware schools, nonprofits, and community organizations are invited to apply for a new round of state grant funds to support financial literacy education for people from all walks of life. Since the state’s Financial Literacy Education Fund (FLEF) was established in 2010, over $2.5 million has been awarded to dozens of organizations across the […]

For arts programming and projects taking place during fiscal year 2024 (September 2023 – August 2024)   Wilmington, Del. (December 2, 2022) – The Delaware Division of the Arts has opened its annual online application process for grants for arts programming and projects taking place during fiscal year 2024 (September 2023 – August 2024). Applications […]

Rate increase is one of the largest requested by the utility On December 15, 2022, Delmarva Power filed an application with the Public Service Commission to increase its electric distribution rates by $72.3 million. Pursuant to state law, this increase will become effective on a temporary basis on July 15, 2023, subject to refund, pending […]

  The prestigious Individual Artist Fellowships from the Delaware Division of the Arts recognize artists in a variety of disciplines for their outstanding quality of work and provide monetary awards.   Wilmington, Del. (January 17, 2023) – Seventeen Delaware artists are being recognized by the Delaware Division of the Arts for the high quality of […]

  THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS ANNOUNCES $34 MILLION IN GRANTS TO SUPPORT THE ARTS The Choir School of Delaware and State Education Agency Directors of Education to receive federal funding for arts projects   Wilmington, Del. (January 17, 2023) — As the only funder in the country to support arts activities in all […]

DOVER, Del. – The Delaware Division of Small Business recognized 10 small businesses Wednesday as winners of the sixth round of Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion (EDGE) grants. Awardees in the latest round of the competition include a company that created an app for parents to track school buses, a beer garden, an apiary, and an […]

The Division will provide up to $400,000 in matching funds to its FY2022 arts organization grantees in conjunction with the event   Wilmington, Del. (February 6, 2023) – The Delaware Division of the Arts is proud to support the arts sector through Delaware’s largest day of giving, Do More 24 Delaware, on March 2-3, 2024. […]

Wilmington, Del. (February 8, 2023) – Following a three year hiatus, Delaware’s Poetry Out Loud State Finals returns for the first in-person competition since 2020. The recitation contest will be hosted at the Smyrna Opera House on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at 7:00pm. Twelve student finalists will compete for the opportunity to represent Delaware and […]

More than 200 state employees and their family members have registered to show artwork at Delaware State University Art Center/Gallery   Dover, Del. (February 22, 2023) – The Delaware Division of the Arts is hosting the 12th annual Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition. The free exhibition will be open to the public from February 21 […]

The Division of Small Business will be accepting EDGE grant applications between now and March 31 from promising early-stage businesses throughout Delaware.

Wilmington, Del. (March 3, 2023) – From a field of twelve Delaware high school students, Maiss Hussein, a junior from Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School, earned the title of 2023 Poetry Out Loud Delaware State Champion at the state finals held on March 2 at the Smyrna Opera House. The first runner-up was […]

On Wednesday, the Delaware Public Service Commission approved a 23% decrease in Delmarva Power’s natural gas costs, effective April 1st. On Friday, February 24, 2023, Delmarva Power filed an application to amend its Gas Cost Rate (GCR) due to a warmer-than-expected winter and lower-than-forecasted natural gas prices over the past several months. The GCR represents […]

Washington, DC and Chicago, IL — After two years of virtual competitions, the Poetry Out Loud® National Finals are returning to Washington, DC, this Spring, May 9–10, 2023, and will be streamed live at Arts.gov/Poetry-Out-Loud. This annual event brings together high school students from across the country who memorize and recite classic and contemporary poems, […]

Delaware Secretary of State Jeff Bullock issued a statement following Senator Tom Carper’s decision to not seek reelection in 2024: Tom Carper has literally bent the arch of Delaware history. Everywhere you look up and down our state, Tom Carper has had an impact. His body of work is unprecedented, and it continues to grow, […]

The Delaware Division of the Arts’ Mezzanine Gallery presents 2022 DDOA Individual Artist Fellow Aaron Terry’s exhibition, “Patterns for Saturn,” running June 2-July 28, 2023.  Guests are invited to attend a Meet-the-Artist Reception on Friday, June 2 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Delaware Secretary of State Jeff Bullock has placed xylazine, also known as “Tranq”— a non-opioid drug used primarily in veterinary medicine—in Schedule III of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act. Tranq has been used increasingly as an additive in opioid abuse to create a “zombie-like” condition for users. Secretary Bullock’s actions follow a recommendation from the […]

Wilmington, Del. (June 6, 2023) – Five organizations in the State of Delaware will receive a total of $1,030,000 in federal grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, as part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ second round of funding, announced today. “The National Endowment for the Arts is pleased to support a […]

The Delaware Division of the Arts is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated exhibition, Award Winners XXIII, showcasing the exceptional talents of 17 artists who have been named the 2023 Individual Artist Fellows. This extraordinary exhibition is curated and hosted by the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover, Delaware.

The Delaware Division of the Arts announces the opening of its annual application process for its 2024 Individual Artist Fellowship program. Administered in partnership with Mid Atlantic Arts (MAA), this program aims to recognize and support exceptional artists in Delaware working across various artistic disciplines, including the visual, performing, media, folk, and literary arts.

This refreshed portal presents a diverse selection of talented artists from Delaware who are now available to exhibit, perform, or present programs throughout Delaware and the wider mid-Atlantic region. The Delaware Artist Roster is set to revolutionize the way artists and groups connect, fostering collaborations that will enrich the cultural landscape of Delaware.