Developing Artist Collaboration

PROVIDING ARTISTS WITH ACCESS TO RESOURCES, DEVELOPMENT-BASED PROGRAMMING, STUDIO SPACE, AND A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY OF LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS.

ARTIST DEVELOPMENT FOCUSES ON PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES, CREATION SPACE, CONNECTION, AND INNOVATIVE PRESENTATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR ARTISTS. A MAJOR INITIATIVE OF ARTIST DEVELOPMENT IS THE CREATIVE CAREER SUPPORT PROGRAM (CCSP). CCSP IS AN INTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT PIVOT'S AN ARTIST'S CAREER IN JUST TWO MONTHS. WORKSHOPS, CONTENT CREATION, WEB DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS COACHING, AND MARKETING TOOLS ARE INCLUDED. WE USE ONE-ON-ONE AND GROUP SETTINGS TO FOSTER GROWTH AMONG SIMILAR PROFESSIONAL AND ABILITY LEVELS. IN 2021 WE HAD 12 ARTISTS GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY. OTHER ASPECTS OF ARTIST DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE:-DEVELOPMENT OF AN ARTIST PORTAL APP TO CONNECT ARTISTS WITH THEIR PEERS, POTENTIAL CLIENTS, AND DAC EVENTS AND SERVICE OFFERINGS.-MONTHLY ARTIST-LED MEETINGS THAT ALLOW DAC ARTISTS TO ENGAGE WITH ONE ANOTHER THROUGH MONTHLY OR BI-MONTHLY MEETINGS.-ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIPS BETWEEN ESTABLISHED ARTISTS AND EMERGING AND MID-CAREER ARTISTS.-WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOCUSED ON SKILLED VOLUNTEERING. ARTISTS MAY CONTRIBUTE HOURS TO OUT OF THE BOX, ARTREACH, WORKSHOPS, GROUP LEADERSHIP, AND/OR EVENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR ACCESS TO RESOURCES, STUDIOS, VENDOR FEES, CCSP AND/OR PRINT SERVICES. RELYING ON SKILLED ARTISTS TO DO IMPACTFUL WORK RESULTS IN QUALITY OUTPUT AND ENGAGEMENT IN OUR PROGRAMMING.-STUDIO AND COMMUNAL SPACES. OUR CURRENT FACILITY, "THE STUDIOS," HOUSES SIXTEEN ART STUDIOS THAT ARE ALL CURRENTLY RENTED.

OUT OF THE BOX DIY (OTB) IS OUR REVENUE-DRIVEN PROGRAM STAFFED BY WORKING ARTISTS. IT SELLS DIY ART KITS AND LIVE ART EXPERIENCES LOCALLY & THROUGH ECOMMERCE. OTB EXPERIENCED AN IMPACTFUL TRANSITION IN 2021 DUE TO A LARGE GRANT FROM THE LONGWOOD FOUNDATION. WE REBRANDED FROM DIRTY HANDS DIY INTO OUT OF THE BOX DIY IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS FROM OUR COMMUNITY OF COLOR ABOUT THE CONNOTATION OF THE TERM "DIRTY HANDS."IN 2021, WE EXPANDED THE REACH OF OTB FROM OUR IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY TO A NATIONAL MARKET. OTB IS PARTNERING WITH BRANDS LIKE DOGFISH HEAD CRAFT BREWERY TO CREATE CUSTOM KITS FEATURING BUSINESSES' BRANDS. THIS IS A UNIQUE MARKETING OPTION FOR THEM AND A GREAT WAY FOR US TO SELL BULK KITS DIRECTLY TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. WE ALSO ARE USING PODCASTS, TOURISM AGENCIES, AND OTHER COMPANIES TO EXPAND OUR REACH THROUGH LARGE PARTNERSHIPS, RATHER THAN SMALL UNFOCUSED CAMPAIGNS. OTB IS ALSO PIVOTING TO PROVIDE ART EXPERIENCES AT LARGE-SCALE EVENTS LIKE MUSIC FESTIVALS.WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON OTB ECOMMERCE AND EVENTS IN 2022, AS WELL AS BUILDING THE SUCCESS OF OUR BRICK-AND-MORTAR RETAIL SPACE. FOLLOWING A SERIES OF RENOVATIONS IN 2021, CUSTOMERS MAY NOW PURCHASE KITS AND ARTIST-MADE PRODUCTS IN-PERSON.

ARTREACH IS DAC'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND BEAUTIFICATION INITIATIVE. DAC IS FOUNDED ON THE BELIEF THAT THROUGH SKILLED VOLUNTEERING, ARTISTS CAN MAKE IMPACTFUL CHANGE. OUR CURRENT ARTREACH PROJECT IS THE WEST REHOBOTH HISTORICAL MURAL. WEST REHOBOTH HAS A RICH CULTURAL HISTORY THAT IS OVERSHADOWED BY A HARMFUL STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH THE STRUGGLES OF ITS COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THROUGH THE CREATION OF AN EDUCATIONAL MURAL AND HISTORICAL MARKERS, THIS PROJECT WILL HELP REMOVE STIGMA AND CULTIVATE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF WEST REHOBOTH TO THE GREATER DELAWARE BEACH AREA. MURAL ARTIST TERRANCE VANN, WHOSE FAMILY IS FROM WEST REHOBOTH, WILL CREATE THE MURAL BEGINNING IN 2022 BUT ALL PLANNING AND FUNDRAISING TOOK PLACE IN 2021. DAC PROGRAMMING DISTINGUISHES US FROM OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE AREA BECAUSE WE ONLY CHARGE ARTISTS FOR THE COST OF RESOURCES THEY UTILIZE, WHILE RELYING ON INCOME FROM OTB, GRANTS, AND INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS TO SUSTAIN THE ORGANIZATION. MANY LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS RELY HEAVILY ON MEMBERSHIP DUES, SALES PERCENTAGES, AND WORKSHOP FEES TO SUSTAIN THEIR PROGRAMMING. DAC DOES NOT. WE ALSO OFFER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DRIVEN PROGRAMMING, WHILE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE VERY PRESENTATION FOCUSED.