2023 FINAL MEETING RECAP
On Tuesday, May 16th, the Delaware Arts Alliance (DAA) organized this year’s second and final Arts and Culture Caucus at the Legislative Hall in Dover, Delaware. Thanks to the panelists and legislators, the caucus was a successful event, fostering dialogue and understanding between artists, arts organizations, stakeholders, and legislators. Moderated by Neil Kirschling, Executive Director of the DAA, and cohosted by Senator Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman and State Representative Bryan Shupe. The panelists shared anecdotal experiences and presented key metrics to emphasize the fundamental role of the arts in the lives of Delawareans and the state’s economic growth. They stressed the need for supportive policies and increased funding for the arts community.
The panel comprised a diverse group of experts from various artistic disciplines and backgrounds, including Jonathan Whitney, a composer and jazz drummer; Leah Beach, the founder of the Developing Artist Collaboration non-profit; Matt Conlin, a multimedia marketing coordinator; Sara M. Bluhm, an Economic Development and Community Engagement Administrator for the City of Milford; and Jean Dahlgren, the President of the Delaware College of Art and Design. We kicked off the meeting with a poem performed by Maiss Hussein, this year’s extraordinarily talented winner of the “Poetry Out Loud” competition.
Their collective insights brought valuable perspectives to the discussion and sparked a lively conversation with key legislators, including Senators Tizzy Lockman (D), David P. Sokola (D), Kyle Evans Gay (D), Sarah McBride (D), Russell Huxtable (D), as well as Representatives Bryan W. Shupe (R) and Jeffrey N. Spiegelman (R). These bicameral and bipartisan legislators representing all three counties demonstrated their willingness to understand the issues and policies that affect individual artists and arts organizations statewide.
Next year, the Delaware Arts Alliance (DAA) will once again collaborate with our legislative partners to tackle the new policy agenda derived from the developing “Creative Economy and Cultural Tourism Recovery and Growth Plan.” The hope is that these conversations and special initiatives will influence future policy decisions and lead to a more vibrant and thriving arts community in Delaware.
