On November 12, 2025, arts leaders from throughout Delaware provided public comment at the Office of Management and Budget, a way that advocates can help influence funding priorities and emphasize the importance of investment in our sector. The meeting starts with a presentation from the Secretary of State, Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez.
- Learn more about Secretary of State, Patibanda-Sanchez and the Meyer administration’s support of the arts: 7 Things to Know about the Meyer Administration Support of the Arts | Delaware Arts Alliance
DAA’s advocacy efforts have led to three successful budget increases for the Delaware Division of the Arts, totaling to $2.5M in increased funding. This includes testifying at the Joint Finance Committee hearings annually in February (2025 and 2024).
This year, arts leaders requested an additional budget increase for the DDOA in order to keep up with inflation, an influx of new eligible grantees, and to help the office provide new professional services and training to artists and art organizations.
Read the public comments below from those who participated in this year’s hearing:
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Jordan Resh, Engagement & Operations Coordinator of the Delaware Arts Alliance
“Specifically, an increase in spending authority will enable the Division of the Arts to:
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- Keep pace with rising costs across its grant programs;
- Expand workforce development and professional training for artists and arts administrators; and
- Strengthen technical assistance and community partnerships that sustain and grow Delaware’s creative economy.
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To further illustrate this impact, you’ll also hear today from individual artists and arts organizations who will share firsthand how recent state investments have strengthened their work and the broader arts sector…”
Read Jordan’s Full Public Comment Here
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Michael Miller, DDOA Artist Fellow
“In addition to essential quality of life outcomes related to the arts, I’d like to share what I see as Delaware’s leadership in key areas of quality of life and suggest that we can also truly lead in the arts. In the world beyond the arts, our state has given us three recent examples of how we, as a state, consciously choose to emphasize and enact our prosocial values.
One of these examples is our participation in the multi-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, where we have committed to maintaining environmental well-being. Another is the multi-state Regional Public Health Initiative, where we have committed to maintaining public health through appropriate vaccination guidelines and recommendations. The third and most recent is the creation of First State Food Assistance Funds intended to support food security in the absence of federal SNAP benefits. Each are examples of how our state has stepped forward with meaningful policy and action when such is lacking from others…”
Read Michael’s Full Public Comment Here
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Ursula Sadiq, Dover Art League and Newark Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors, staff at Biggs Museum of American Art, and an artist
“Here’s why it matters – three quick points:
1) Art is good for our health.
After a recent Newark Symphony concert, one person wrote to us, unprompted: “We have sustenance from food and sleep and laughter, but this music touches souls.” That’s the power of art. Making or experiencing art lowers stress, supports healing, and improves mental and physical well-being. Healthy people make for a healthy, thriving Delaware
2) Art strengthens community.
At the Biggs, our Thursday night programs have brought more than 100 people together to make, share, and experience art…”
Read Ursula’s Full Public Comment Here
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Lianna Magerr, Executive Director of the Wilmington Children’s Chorus
Help amplify our request by participating in our advocacy email campaign:
Click here to email the Meyer Administration in support of our Arts Budget increase.
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