Developing Artist Collaboration

OUT OF THE BOX DIY (OTB) IS OUR REVENUE-DRIVEN PROGRAM STAFFED BY WORKING ARTISTS. IT SELLS DIY ART KITS AND IN-PERSON ART EXPERIENCES LOCALLY & THROUGH OFFSITE EVENTS. 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 2022, WE EXPANDED OUR EVENT PROGRAMMING AND RENOVATED A PORTION OF OUR SPACE TO BETTER SERVE IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS TO INCLUDE OUR PAINT POUR PROCESS AS WELL AS TO OFFER A VENUE FOR DAC ARTIST MEMBERS.

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 WHICH IS NEARING COMPLETION. 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, IS EXPECTED TO FINISH IN 2023. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY AN EDUCATION INFOGRAPHIC AND WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT TO BETTER EDUCATE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS THEY VISIT THE AREA.