Delaware
State employees show creativity at 14th annual Delaware Art Exhibition
The art exhibit runs from February 25 to March 21. (Photos courtesy of the Delaware Division of the Arts)
The First State’s employees are getting their time to shine their artistic juices.
The Delaware Division of the Arts is celebrating the creative talents of state employees and their families with the 14th Annual Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition, now open to the public at the Arts Center/Gallery at Delaware State University.
The free exhibition, running through March 21, 2025, highlights the diverse artwork of over 200 participants, with pieces created by state employees and their immediate family members.
The exhibition features a wide range of artistic categories, including Adult (Amateur, Intermediate, and Professional), Teen, and Youth.
A variety of cash prizes, ranging from $50 to $400, will be awarded to the best works in each category, along with a Best of Show and a People’s Choice Award.
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Governor Matt Meyer praised the event, emphasizing the importance of creativity in the workplace.
“Creativity is at the heart of innovation, and Delaware state employees embody that every day—whether through problem-solving, collaboration, or finding new ways to serve the people of Delaware,” Meyer said. “This exhibition reminds us that the arts are woven into the fabric of who we are, and the ingenuity that drives artistic expression also fuels our innovative work across state government.”
The event is not only a celebration of artistic achievement but also underscores the value of creative expression in professional settings.
Research has shown that engaging in the arts enhances problem-solving skills, boosts morale, and promotes innovation—qualities that are vital in the workplace.
“Art is an integral part of our daily lives,” said Delaware Division of the Arts Director Jessica Ball said. “It inspires, connects, and enriches our communities, often in ways we may not even realize.”
The exhibition will be on display at the Arts Center/Gallery, with varying hours throughout the week. A special awards ceremony and celebration event will take place on Sunday, March 9, from 12 to 4 p.m., where visitors can view the artwork, meet the winners, and enjoy refreshments, activities, and giveaways.
The exhibition is sponsored by the National Arts Program, in cooperation with the State of Delaware and the Delaware Division of the Arts. It offers a unique opportunity for artists of all skill levels to showcase their work and compete for prizes. All submitted pieces must be original works created by current state employees or their immediate family members, with all artworks completed within the past three years.
Art exhibition hours
- Monday: Closed to the public
- Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Thursday-Friday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Saturdays, March 1 and March 8: 12 – 4 p.m.
- Sunday, March 9: 12 – 4 p.m.
Click here to view the virtual gallery.
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
Jarek can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn.
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The Hagley Museum and Library houses a collection of patent models
The Hagley Museum and Library houses the nation’s second-largest collection of patent models, many of which the public never gets to see.
For most, 41 years of service is more than enough. For State Librarian Annie Norman, though, even retirement can’t slow her down.
“The work is never done; there’s always something to do,” she said. “I’m going to have to continue to help in other ways.”
Norman will step away this fall after 24 years as the Delaware state librarian and director of the Delaware Division of Libraries.
Throughout her tenure, Norman made waves; the director helped create the Delaware Library Consortium, which allowed all of Delaware’s Public libraries to share items, and brought the library system along during a wave of technological change. For these achievements, she was named to the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame in 2016 and appointed by President Joe Biden as a member of the National Museum and Library Services Board.
We spoke with Norman as she wraps up an accomplished career about her proudest achievements, and the state of libraries in 2026.
Question: As you look back on your tenure, what was your proudest accomplishment?
Answer: What I’ll be known for more than anything is probably the statewide library catalog and consortium. The politics of bringing all of those libraries together, after years of there being four separate library catalogs in Delaware, took about eight years. More recently, I think bringing the school libraries into that catalog is going to be really significant. We’ve got more than 50 school libraries to be a part of the statewide catalog, something we think can really help with the literacy crisis in this state.
One of the biggest challenges of your tenure was adjusting to the large wave of technology that came about. How have you and the Delaware libraries handled it?
It’s been very systematic. We have a great IT team that helps manage for us, as well as the state funding 100% of library technologies. The growth of the iPhone has certainly had a huge impact on literacy, but we’re really just working hard to bring back the excitement of reading.
The Delaware libraries’ programming have always been a popular resource. How important do you view these offerings to local communities, and will they continue to expand?
Yes, libraries are about enrichment, which means helping support people in things like entrepreneurship, education and innovation. We’ve had libraries start up job centers, which were so successful we could expand to entrepreneurship, and even help with more basic social needs, by starting a “social innovation team” to help with more of the social services-type work.
Where we still struggle is we can only help people access Delaware systems to help with their needs, not fix things within those systems. For that reason, we always encourage these systems to work with us, so the Delaware library system can fit everyone’s needs.
Cuts toward libraries just occurred in New Castle County, with the potential for more to come. How will the library system look to stay afloat?
Because of the economy, because of federal changes, things can get difficult, it’s not the first time we’ve experienced budget cuts. We’ve progressed significantly over the years, but there is much more work to do, and I don’t know that the public understands how critical libraries and librarians are to literacy.
The power of walking into a library and being able to choose what you want to read for a child is powerful, and until people understand that, we can’t achieve our literacy goals.
Adam Denn is an intern reporter for Delaware Online/The News Journal. You can reach him at apdenn@delawareonline.com.
Inspiration
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DELAWARE COUNTY, Ohio — People in Delaware County said it feels like new housing developments are popping up on every corner.
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“What haven’t you noticed, right? The whole area just exploded,” said Scott Shonebarger.
Scott Sanders, the executive director of the Regional Planning Commission, said companies like Intel and other industries are a main driver for thousands of people moving to Delaware County.
With the big boom comes an urgent need for more housing.
John Wicks is the developer at Real Property Design and Development.
He has spent over a decade building homes for families in Delaware County.
Wicks said the Olentangy School District is one of the hottest spots for new homes.
“I started with one high school up until the 90s, then now we’re up to four up to five different high schools so it’s just a big draw,” said Wicks. “It’s a beautiful community.”
The district has grown into the fourth largest in Ohio with a new elementary school opening next year, and a fifth high school in 2028.
Wicks said the growth has presented some challenges over the years like labor shortage and some opposition.
“It’s become a big issue for a lot of people that live in and around these areas. They tend to oppose new growth and new development, so restrictions have gotten a little bit harder. Costs have obviously gone up over the last 20 years,” said Wicks.
The planning commission says between 275,000 and 350,000 people could call Delaware County home by 2040.
That’s up from 214,000 in 2020.
Scott Shonebarger said he supports growth but wonders when is enough.
“I mean to a certain extent I think you know at some point right you have to have some sort of boundaries I think, getting into the fact that now you have five high schools,” said Shonebarger. “What’s the limit?”
Police in Wilmington, Delaware, shot and killed a 19-year-old man Wednesday night.
The incident happened in a residential area near 24th and Jessup streets just after 11 p.m., Wilmington police said in a news release. The person who was shot has not been publicly identified.
Officers were monitoring a large crowd gathered outside when they saw a man exit a home with a handgun and point it toward the crowd, police say.
When officers approached the man, he ran away and a foot pursuit began, police say.
At some point in the chase, an officer fired their weapon and hit the 19-year-old. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.
Police say they recovered a loaded gun from the man and that the officer was not injured.
Video filmed at the scene shows a crowd of residents gathered outside after the shooting.
Police are asking anyone with more information to come forward. The shooting is under investigation by the Delaware Department of Justice and Wilmington police.
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