May 2025 Arts & Culture Caucus

From Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez:

Meeting Summary

May 15, Arts & Culture Caucus Agenda Link

On May 15, 2025, the Arts and Culture Caucus met in the Tatnall Building in Dover for the third and final caucus of the 2025 legislative session. An estimated 70 legislators and arts advocates joined in person and virtually to address the Arts & Culture Caucus priorities underway:

1. Support for a budget increase to the Delaware Division of the Arts to: 
   1. Cover increased costs of grant programs. DDOA grants benefit arts organizations of all types, individual artists, schools, and community organizations. An increase would account for inflation and new grantee growth. 
   2. Provide new essential workforce development, professional training, and technical assistance to the entire sector
   3. Learn more and read our template email at: Ask Legislators to Support Increased Arts Funding in Delaware
2. Exploring a resolution to begin the process of developing a state CTE pathway for the creative economy. To learn more, please visit the March for the Arts Events Blog: March for the Arts Events Blog Link

Senator Lockman, co-chair of the Arts & Culture Caucus alongside Representative Shupe, began the caucus meeting with a welcoming statement to all participants, then reviewed the ongoing caucus efforts of supporting a budget increase to the Delaware Division of the Arts for creative economy stimulation. She also elaborated on possible resolutions to begin the process of developing a statewide CTE pathway for the arts and creative economy.

Conversation with the Secretary of State 

Secretary Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez spoke on the diverse interconnection of the State and the arts and their endless possibilities for collaboration. Patibanda-Sanchez reflected on her personal background in classical Indian dance as an extracurricular, and how dance or the performing arts provide a safe space for expression and growth. She also expands on how progress in the arts is progress in society, which inspires the want for future collaborations. Patibanda-Sanchez has also made a point of prioritizing art events in Delaware, such as attending the Poetry Out Loud or Culmination event for CreatiVeterans events, meanwhile has focused efforts on her ‘passion project’ the Delaware Libraries. 

Following, Patibanda-Sanchez spoke about the upcoming budget for the Arts ‘Edge 2.0’, which will aim to promote small businesses, including artists, through job creation and economic development. A new topic of discussion was the filming locations and aspects that Delaware has to offer that should be further promoted for production of film and media arts within the state. 

“One way to foster the creative economy is through filming. We have unique and interesting assets that cannot be found in other locations. There’s a whole ecosystem to filming I learned about during my time in Los Angeles, and we just need to find creative ways to fill the gaps in Delaware to get things moving. We have a benefit of having great talent in Delaware that are passionate about Delaware, and we want to bring them to the table as well.” Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez

On May 13th, the ‘Futures in the Arts Celebration’ was held at the Smyrna Opera House, which acknowledged and celebrated 20 Delaware high school seniors who are further pursuing their artistry in higher education. This event, alongside other programming noted by the Secretary of State, highlights the range of talent and passion for the arts present throughout the state. 

Steps for the Legislature in the Create Plan: 

The CREATE Plan Link 

To further discuss ways to advance the creative economy, Libby Bowen, a University of Delaware Legislative Fellow with the Senate Majority Caucus, presented her research on the CREATE Plan and upcoming steps to help small businesses and the arts. In progress with legislation are the development of ‘Creative Pathways’ in public education to expand the future Creative Economy, as well as a ‘Letter of Support’ for FY2026 funding.

Currently, the economic development within the Creative Economy accounts for an estimated 2.5% of the workforce, $3.7 billion in output, $2.2 in total value added, and 2,534 creative economy assets, though this does not include many indirect influences and sectors. Of the potential solutions outlined by the CREATE plan, recommended solid foundational steps for economic development for legislators are; continuation of circulated FY2026 funding letter of support, establishment of tax incentive program for media production in the state, and monitor federal funding cuts in the arts, culture, and humanities. Regarding small businesses, the recommendations for legislation to investigate a potential government position to represent the self-employed or small business in the creative economy, and an act for the implementation of the CREATE plan. For tourism, potential developments could include a designated Arts & Entertainment district for cultural tourism, or further opportunities for capital funding to support venue development to attract more tourism.

Open Dialogue: 

To close out the caucus, there was an open discussion for all active participants. Participants elaborated on the ‘push back’ of arts against the growing imposition of technology in daily lives and education, where the arts help focus, relaxation, and development that technology cannot replicate. Similarly, with the National Endowment for the Humanities, every state has their own sector, but currently Delaware does not have funding. While the state does have arts programming, it is still very important that all these communities can convene with the arts in-person.