Arts and Culture Caucus Ignites Productive Dialogue at Legislative Hall
The Arts and Culture Caucus kicked off its first session on January 24th at Legislative Hall with enthusiasm and engagement. Co-chaired by Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman, Representative Bryan Shupe, and DAA’s Executive Director Neil Kirschling, the session drew over 40 attendees, both in-person and virtually.
At the meeting, we heard from Director Jessica Ball and Deputy Director Kristin Pleasanton of the Delaware Division of the Arts about the myriad work underway to promote the arts in partnership with individual artists, arts organizations, community organizations, and other partners. We heard from the Delaware Arts Alliance about the community’s appreciation for the $1M increase in state arts funding in FY24 – the first in nearly a decade, of $2M requested to keep up with since that time – and that advocates are seeking the remaining $1M increase in the FY25 budget. We learned key themes emerging from statewide community engagement that will inform the “Creative Economy and Cultural Tourism Recovery and Growth Plan”, which will be on the agenda at our April caucus meeting.
The caucus also featured a presentation by Neil Kirschling, offering an insider’s perspective on the highly anticipated “Creative Economy and Cultural Tourism and Growth Plan” by DAA. The plan includes an Assets Map, an Economic Plan, and Policy Recommendations, contributing to national efforts to recognize the arts as an independent economic sector.
In expressing the significance of such sessions with lawmakers, Neil Kirschling emphasized the value of the arts and culture caucus in Dover, stating, “Having this caucus here in Dover is such a great asset to the state, with legislators expressing readiness to collaborate. We’re excited about that.”
Looking ahead, mark your calendars for the next Arts and Culture Caucus meeting on April 23rd. Join us as we continue fostering understanding and support for the arts within the Delaware legislature.
So what’s next? Here’s how you can support the work of the Arts & Culture Caucus:
Promote DelawareScene.com — which features a calendar of events, an artist roster, and the ability to post jobs and other artist opportunities — to your constituents as a resource for the arts
Share about the caucus on social media! Feel free to use pictures taken during the meeting, as well as the article published on Delaware Public Media.
Save the dates for:
Thursday, March 14 at 11 a.m. – “March for the Arts,” a celebration of arts in our schools
Tuesday, April 23 at 10:30 a.m. – Arts & Culture Caucus meeting in the Senate Hearing Room on the second floor of Legislative Hall
For those who missed the session, the DDOA and DAA presentation slides are available here: [Link]
The DDOA video presentation can be found here:
Access Creative Aging 2023 – Whimsical Masterpieces: Pastels Participant Testimonials
Related news articles about the caucus:
Delaware Arts Caucus hears from arts community
About the Arts and Culture Caucus:
The bipartisan, bicameral Delaware Arts and Culture Caucus meets at least twice per session, providing a platform for experts, nonprofits, educators, artists, and stakeholders to discuss relevant policy initiatives supporting the arts and cultural sector. The caucus aims to cultivate legislative dedication to understanding the importance of arts and cultural offerings in Delaware, supporting diverse art disciplines and cultural programs for their intrinsic value in building resilient communities and fostering economic development. The caucus operates in collaboration with the Delaware General Assembly and Delaware Arts Alliance.