ABOUT CREATIVE ARTS CLUB

The Creative Arts Club (CAC) is a fourteen-year-old educational enrichment program developed by The Delaware Contemporary to provide Wilmington-area teens with meaningful access to arts education, mentorship, and creative career exploration. Created in response to the growing loss of arts programming in schools due to reduced funding, CAC offers students a safe and inclusive museum-based environment where they can grow artistically, academically, and professionally.

Through authentic engagement with contemporary art and creative industry professionals, CAC helps students develop 21st-century leadership skills, creative confidence, and practical experience that supports both higher education and workforce readiness. Students participate in hands-on artmaking while learning valuable professional skills including:

• Portfolio development

• Visual arts and 3D design

• Writing artist statements

• Resume building

• Public presentation skills

• Collaborative project development

CAC also introduces teens to careers in the arts, design, museums, fabrication, entrepreneurship, and other creative industries through direct mentorship and exposure to working professionals.

This program is especially valuable for students interested in attending art school, pursuing careers in art and design, or exploring creative pathways that may otherwise be inaccessible to them.

CREATIVES IN RESIDENCE

CAC: BaCF focuses on teens’ artistic development which is possible thanks to our local Creatives-in-Residence (CIR). CIRs are Wilmington area artists who have a unique perspective on the art world as it relates to Delaware and nearby states. They know the art scene and how to be successful in it. Throughout the academic year, CIRs lead multi-week residencies focused on artistic exploration, collaboration, and portfolio development. Students work directly with artists to build technical skills, experiment with new materials and concepts, and create work that reflects their personal perspectives and experiences.

We are always taking applications for future Creatives-in-Residence. If you are interested in applying, please click the button below!

The History of CAC

CAC was originally developed through strong partnerships with local schools, including Howard High School of Technology, Delcastle Technical High School, and Freire Charter School Wilmington. These collaborations helped establish a sustainable model for arts enrichment rooted in community engagement, mentorship, and equitable access.

The program was designed specifically to support students attending under-resourced and Title I schools, particularly youth who have limited access to arts curriculum within traditional educational settings. Over the years, CAC has served hundreds of students across Wilmington and New Castle County by centering creative expression, cultural literacy, and workforce development within a museum setting.

Since 2020, Freire Charter School Wilmington has served as CAC’s primary school partner, helping sustain and evolve the program during a period of institutional transition and growth. As The Delaware Contemporary expands its education initiatives, CAC is now entering a new chapter focused on welcoming additional schools, community organizations, and youth-serving partners into the program.

Today, CAC continues to reflect The Delaware Contemporary’s commitment to lifelong learning, equity, inclusion, and preparing young people for success through the arts.

Join as a Partner Today

The Delaware Contemporary welcomes new partnerships with schools, educators, and community organizations interested in expanding access to arts education and creative workforce development opportunities for teens across Delaware.

Whether you are looking to bring students into the museum, collaborate on multi-week after-school programming, develop community-centered projects, or explore long-term educational partnerships, CAC offers flexible and meaningful ways to engage young people through contemporary art.

To learn more about partnering with CAC: Building a Creative Future, contact The Delaware Contemporary’s Director of Education today at joshua@decontemporary.org (Joshua Hollingsworth)

The Delaware Contemporary is actively seeking partnerships with:

• Title I schools

• Vocational and technical schools

• Charter schools

• After-school programs

• Youth-serving nonprofits

• Community centers and recreation programs

CAC is designed to support organizations that believe in the power of creativity, mentorship, and equitable arts access for young people.

Partner organizations gain access to:

• Museum-based arts education programming

• Professional teaching artists and mentors

• Contemporary art experiences

• Career and workforce development opportunities

• Collaborative community projects

• Student exhibition opportunities

• Safe and inclusive creative spaces for teens

Programs can include workshops, long-term residencies, artist talks, exhibition tours, collaborative projects, and customized learning experiences tailored to the needs of participating students and organizations.

Together, we can provide teens with opportunities to build confidence, strengthen creative and critical thinking skills, and imagine futures within the arts and beyond.

CAC: Building a Creative Future is made possible in part by Freire Charter School Wilmington