DAA Advocates for its Members at the OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (OMB)
On Monday, November 13th, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) convened in Dover, DE to conduct preliminary state budget hearings requesting more money from the Governor for the Delaware Division of the Arts. Over 100 people via Zoom and present in the room combined, came together to address Secretary of State Jeff Bullock, and the Office of Management and Budget Director Cerron Cade and staff. 
DAA’s Executive Director Neil Kirschling, and Kenyetta Smith, the Engagement and Operations Coordinator, both attended. They were joined by: Lianna Magerr representing Wilmington’s Children’s Chorus; Molly Williams, Program and Events Director of Freeman Arts Pavilion; Kari Ann Ebert of the Dover Art League, Rebecca Lowe, the Adult Program Coordinator for the Lewes Public Library, and Charlese Phillips, a Smyrna-based multi-textile artist and 2023 DDOA Emerging Artist fellowship recipient. Together, this group represented all three counties; visual and performing arts; and the perspective of small, medium, and large nonprofits, individual artists, and library partners.
They each acknowledged and thanked Secretary of State Jeff Bullock, Governor Carney, and the General Assembly for the $1M increase in FY24 budget that the arts received this year. During the Department of State’s section which houses the Division of the Arts, the advocates spoke of the need for an increase in the state’s budget for the arts in FY25 to reach parity with inflation and rising costs of their operations. They stressed how critical the state’s funding is to the work they do and the communities they serve.
Charlese Phillips, a Smyrna independent artist, said: “And I would like to say, this fellowship [from the DDOA] has changed my life. As a creative, my greatest hopes are that the art I make brings joy to many, puts a smile on someone’s face, inspires others, and encourages them to create. Since receiving my fellowship, I feel I now have the foundation in my career as an artist that I was searching for. ” [read her full statement here]
Molly Williams, the Program and Events Director of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation and a resident in Sussex County, said this in her address: “As demand in Sussex County for the arts continues to skyrocket, our expenses and operations have increased to keep pace. We are creating jobs and keeping pace with increased presenting costs. We also have invested in more safety and security measures and equipment to have a venue where people feel safe to enjoy live arts experiences. “ [read her full statement here]
Kari Ann Ebert, of Dover and Vice President of The DAL and a poet, writer, and teacher had this to say: “The historic DAL building has a beautiful space called the Holden Gallery upstairs where solo and group exhibitions were hung. […] We began looking at elevators, but as a small non-profit that was out of our reach. This year, we were thrilled to receive funding from the DDOA to purchase a chair lift which was recently installed, finally making the upstairs accessible to all.” [read her full statement here]
Rebecca Lowe, the Adult Program Coordinator, speaking on behalf of Sussex County’s Lewes Public Library, commented: “Lewes and the surrounding area are retirement destinations. The median age of a Lewes resident is 63. As a program director serving a
largely older population, I must think about the needs of retirees…Another consideration is that when they retire here, they’ve left behind their communities – their family, friends, and neighbors. They need to rebuild their social circle. And as adults, we all know how hard it is to make friends. In the library’s role as a community center, we offer ways for people to connect with others while also exploring their interests.” [read her full statement here]
Lianna Magerr, the Executive Director Wilmington Children’s Chorus, shared this: “Support from the state is vital in delivering these benefits to all Delawareans. Prior to last year, there had been no increase to the state art budget since 2014. For context, since that time, WCC’s budget has grown by 500%, and the number of children we serve has more than doubled.” [read her full statement here]
Finally, Kirschling added that the state participated in an Americans for the Arts ‘Arts and Economic Prosperity 6’ report, an economic and social impact study of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry, and its data supports the economic argument for boosting arts funding.
“The data from that study shows that a vibrant arts community attracts visitors who spend money and help keep local businesses thriving. They also keep Delaware residents spending their money locally, which is vital income for local merchants, and I would encourage you to talk to DDOA to get that local data and really see the economic impact we’re having.” [read his full statement here]
