Delaware arts fellowships awarded

Article by UDaily staff January 17, 2017

State agency recognizes 18 residents for high-quality creative work

The Delaware Division of the Arts has awarded 2017 Individual Artist Fellowships to 18 state residents, including four University of Delaware faculty members, in recognition of the high quality of their work.

Among those receiving awards in the “established professional” category were Troy Richards, A.T. Moffett, Phillip Bannowsky and Mahasveta (Gitu) Barua. Awards in that category provide a $6,000 grant.

Richards, who is associate professor of art and design and interim associate dean for the arts in the College of Arts and Sciences, was recognized in the visual arts category for his work as a painter. Moffett, an adjunct faculty member in the dance program, was recognized for choreography.

Bannowsky and Barua, adjunct faculty members in the Department of English as well as UD alumni, received awards in the literature category, Bannowsky for poetry and Barua for fiction writing. Bannowsky earned his bachelor’s degree in 1989 and a master’s degree in 1990, both in English, and Barua earned a master’s degree in English in 1987.

The division awarded an honorable mention to Dennis Beach, who received his master’s degree in fine arts at UD in 2005 and was recognized for his work as a sculptor.

To give the public an opportunity to experience their work, fellows are required to offer at least one exhibit or performance during the coming year. Their work will be featured in a group exhibition, “Award Winners XVII,” at the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover this summer.

“Individual Artist Fellowship grants provide the recognition and exposure that artists need to successfully promote their work,” said Paul Weagraff, director of the Delaware Division of the Arts. “The financial award allows them to pursue advanced training, purchase equipment and materials or fulfill other needs to advance their careers.”

The division, a state agency, works with its advisory group, the Delaware State Arts Council, to support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts and integrate the arts into all facets of life in Delaware.