Delaware Division of the Arts announces 2026 Individual Artist Fellowship recipients

The Delaware Division of the Arts awarded $184,000 in 2026 Individual Artist Fellowships to 27 Delaware musicians, writers, and visual and folk artists. (Photo courtesy of The Delaware Division of the Arts.)

The Delaware Division of the Arts has announced the recipients of its 2026 Individual Artist Fellowships, awarding a total of $184,000 to 27 artists from across the state.

The annual program recognizes exceptional artistic quality among Delaware-based musicians, writers, and folk, media, and visual artists. This year’s cycle drew 246 applications, the highest number the program has received, according to the Division of the Arts. In response to the demand, the agency increased its fellowship funding pool by 20 percent.

Since 2020, the Individual Artist Fellowship program has awarded more than $950,000 to artists statewide.

Applicants were reviewed by out-of-state arts professionals, who evaluated work samples for creativity and technical skill within each discipline. Fellowships were awarded across three categories: one Master Fellow, 14 Established Fellows, and 12 Emerging Fellows. Five additional artists were named runners-up and will receive honoraria.

Award amounts range from $5,000 for Emerging Professional Fellows to $12,000 for the Master Fellowship. Fellowship funds may be used flexibly, including for materials, equipment, studio time, rehearsal space, and other costs associated with artistic production. Fellowship recipients are also required to present at least one public exhibition or performance in the coming year.

“Delaware’s individual artists are the foundation of our cultural life, and these fellowships invest directly in their ability to make new work,” said Jessica Ball, Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “With 246 applications this year, we expanded the funding pool by 20% and are recognizing additional finalists with honoraria – so more exceptional Delaware artists can create, take risks, and share work with the public.”

“Artist fellowship funding helps artists cover the real costs of creating – materials, equipment, studio time, rehearsal space, and the dedicated time it takes to develop strong work,” said Roxanne Stanulis, Program Officer, Artist Programs and Services. “That flexibility supports individual artists while also bringing measurable value back to communities through exhibitions, performances, and the vitality that artists generate across Delaware.”

The 2026 fellows live throughout Delaware, including Milford, Georgetown, Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, Newark, Wilmington, Middletown, Smyrna, New Castle, Bear, Magnolia, Townsend, and Farmington.

Master Fellowship

The Master Fellowship rotates among artistic disciplines each year. For 2026, applications were accepted in Visual Arts and Folk Arts from artists who had previously received an Established Professional Fellowship.

Dennis Beach was selected as the 2026 Master Fellow in Visual Arts: Sculpture. Beach, a Wilmington-based sculptor and painter, has maintained a full-time studio practice for more than 20 years. His work explores color, geometric form, and movement and has been exhibited widely across the East Coast. Beach holds an M.F.A. from the University of Delaware and a B.F.A. from the Maryland Institute College of Art.

2026 Individual Artist Fellows

Master Fellow
Dennis Beach, Visual Arts: Sculpture, Wilmington

Established Fellows
Catharine Fichtner, Visual Arts: Painting, Wilmington
Michael Fleishman, Visual Arts: Works on Paper, Milford
Yalonda JD Green, Literature: Poetry, Wilmington
Jim Hawkins, Literature: Playwriting, Smyrna
Jawanza Kobie, Jazz: Composition, Wilmington
Erin Magnin, Music: Contemporary Performance, Newark
Jonathan Chaiim McConnell, Literature: Fiction, New Castle
Teddy Osei, Visual Arts: Crafts, New Castle
Martha B. Pitts, Literature: Creative Nonfiction, Middletown
Alan B. Tuttle, Visual Arts: Painting, Lewes
Jonathan Whitney, Music: Composition, Wilmington
Brian Wild, Media Arts: Video/Film, Wilmington
Rebecca Wilt, Music: Solo Recital, Newark
Andre’ Wright Jr, Visual Arts: Photography, Wilmington

Emerging Fellows
Itzel Aguilar, Folk Art: Visual Arts, Georgetown
J.F. Arsenault, Visual Arts: Painting, Rehoboth Beach
Deborah E. Baker, Literature: Fiction, Bethany Beach
Hadrian Cerulean, Literature: Poetry, Wilmington
Logan Farro, Visual Arts: Painting, Farmington
Vik Hart, Visual Arts: Works on Paper, Wilmington
Susan Isaacs, Visual Arts: Sculpture, Wilmington
Valerie Lane, Literature: Creative Nonfiction, Bear
Orlando Lewis (aka Raylo), Music: Composition, Townsend
Adaysela Reyes (aka Dayesla Ixtli), Visual Arts: Interdisciplinary, Newark
Jonathan Rivera (aka J Pvpi), Music: Contemporary Performance, Magnolia
David Warren Norbut, Visual Arts: Photography, Wilmington

Runners-up
Cassandra Lewis Slattery, Established, Literature: Creative Nonfiction, Wilmington
Carly Maiorano, Emerging, Visual Arts: Painting, Wilmington
Jennifer Polillo, Established, Visual Arts: Painting, Wilmington
Jennifer Small, Established, Visual Arts: Painting, Wilmington
Justin Tanksley (aka TANKSLEY), Established, Music: Contemporary Performance, Middletown

The deadline for applications for the 2027 Individual Artist Fellowship program is August 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Sara Uzer

Sara Uzer is a journalist from Sussex County with more than 15 years of experience as a writer, editor, and community advocate.  She started her career in Washington, DC and has lived in Sussex County for the past five years.