Grants for Schools- Artist Residency

The Delaware Division of the Arts offers ongoing Artist Residency grants aimed at enhancing arts education in schools. These grants support residencies with professional artists who engage students and teachers in creative processes, aligning with state arts standards. Eligible applicants include Delaware public, charter, private, and parochial schools, as well as not-for-profits providing preschool services. Applicants can request up to 75% of artist fees, not exceeding $450 per day, to facilitate meaningful artistic experiences in educational settings.

Note: Artist Residency applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, but must be submitted at least six (6) weeks prior to the start of the scheduled residency. Earlier applications are recommended, whenever possible.
Delaware Division of the Arts
The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is committed to supporting the arts and cultivating creativity to enhance the quality of life in Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life.
Artist Residency Grants
Artist Residency grants are for residencies with visual, literary, performing or media artists working with students in the classroom or in professional development workshops with teachers.
The Division of the Arts has established three goals for Artist Residency grants:
Actively engage students in the creative process with a professional artistProvide new arts knowledge and skills to classroom teachers and arts specialistsFacilitate teaching opportunities for teaching artists
Eligible schools may request funding for artist residencies that support visual, literary, performing or media artists working with students in the classroom under teacher supervision, or in professional development workshops with teachers. The focus of the artist’s activities should be on classroom learning or teacher workshops. A public assembly may be a component of the artist’s visit, but not the solitary purpose of the visit. In any case, the proposed arts education activity must be an integral part of the residency site’s regular standards-based curriculum or professional development plans for the organization.
Proposed activities and objectives must be aligned with Delaware’s Visual and Performing Arts Standards found here.
Evaluation Criteria for Artist Residencies
Residency applications are evaluated on the following criteria:
Qualifications of participating artist(s) Integration of the arts activity into the existing curriculum, educational programming, or professional development activitiesConnection to the Delaware Visual and Performing Arts StandardsProjected goals for the residency and measurable results (both tangible products and anticipated impact on the participants)Inclusion of teachers or on-site coordinators in the planning and execution of the residencyWhere practical, a public component (exhibit, performance, or culminating presentation).

Eligibility

All Delaware Pre K-12 public, charter, private, and parochial schools with an established arts curriculum and staff are eligible to apply. Not-for-profit agencies incorporated in the state of Delaware that are licensed to provide services for preschool (pre-K – K) students are also eligible to apply. No more than one residency application may be submitted by the same organization in any school year (September through June) without the permission of the Division Director.Applicants may request up to 75% of the artist fees, not to exceed $450/day for individual artists. The applicant school or organization is responsible for all contractual obligations to the artist(s) and other costs incurred during the activity. All expenses beyond Division grant funding must be covered by the host site or funds from other sources.