All About the Arts

The city is a welcoming place for people who create art—and for people who enjoy it. Since 1993, the Newark Arts Alliance has been a strong organization for the visual arts. The mission of the nonprofit is to provide people in Newark with a conduit for exploring and displaying their creativity, while building a community that supports an artistic culture.

The alliance presents several exhibitions each year to showcase local artists. It also offers art classes for students of all ages, talents and skill levels; a summer camp for kids; and events dedicated to the visual, literary and performing arts. Patrons can buy art in the gallery and the gallery shop. That artistic spirit is reflected in murals throughout the community.

“Murals are something people can enjoy just walking down the street, and we are looking forward to doing more of that, says Ricky Nietubicz, Downtown Newark Partnership administrator and assistant planning and development director. The city is also working on a downtown sculpture garden, he adds. Newark also is home to the Chapel Street Players, a theater company that has been entertaining audiences since 1934.

Delaware Dance Company supports two groups of artists: the Youth Dance Ensemble for intermediate dancers ages 11-13 and the pre-professional DDC Performing Company for experienced dancers who are high school age. Mid-Atlantic Ballet is a pre-professional conservatory that emphasizes the classical form of ballet. The Newark Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1966, plays at least eight concerts per season.

At UD, the department of music presents more than 250 concerts and events each academic year. That includes concerts by guest artists, as well as student ensemble recitals, student degree recitals, faculty recitals and guest artist recitals. Most events are open to the public. UD’s College of Theater has a full slate of plays each year. The Resident Ensemble Players offer professional productions at prices that are accessible to the public.