About Us

Our History

Following the national fiscal crisis of 2008, artists, art professionals and civic leaders across Delaware grew concerned about the future of the arts sector. They formed a 16-member coalition with the goal to raise awareness of the importance of the arts for economic and community development. It was clear that Delaware needed a strong, unified voice speaking on behalf of arts and culture, and none existed at the time. The coalition brought together an initial group of 33 Delaware arts organizations to form the Delaware Arts Alliance in 2009. Since then, the alliance has nearly doubled in size and is a strong force in advocating for the arts at the state and national levels.

Our Vision

We envision the DAA will be the trusted coalition-builder that champions a statewide culture of investment in the arts. The DAA will catalyze implementation of policies that advance a diverse creative economy, which will improve quality of life and address the civic, cultural, economic, educational, and social needs of Delaware’s communities. 

FAQ

What is advocacy? Arts Advocacy

What is the creative economy? CREATE Plan 

Our State Government Partners

We have three major partners at the state government level who also cultivate and support the arts and arts education.

Delaware Division of the Arts* (DDOA) is a branch of the Delaware Department of State.

Delaware State Arts Council (DSAC) is the advisory body for the DDOA.

Delaware Department of Education (DOE) is in charge of public education in Delaware.

Together, DDOA and DSAC administer 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. The Delaware DOE partners with us to support arts education. Unlike these organizations, we are an independent nonprofit advocacy organization.