When people start cutting spending, arts and entertainment often take a hit. There was mention of that trend during the March 23 Greater Dover Arts Council meeting, which is why many of the meeting’s attendees were thrilled about new funding for arts programs in Kent County.
Rosemary Twilley was at the meeting to discuss the Kent County Fund for the Arts program she started with a $250,000 donation left by her husband Joshua M. Twilley, Esq., who passed away in 2008. The Twilleys have charged the Greater Dover Committee with raising matching funds. Although the Committee’s capital campaign has not yet started, Twilley and her son, Josh, plan to hand out $10,000 in grants this year to Kent County non-profit organizations, schools and clubs bringing the arts to the public.
“We see it as a much-needed opportunity for arts organizations in the community” said Shelley Cecchit, executive director of the Greater Dover Committee.
Rosemary would like to award grants that help foster and support arts in the county, with a leaning toward arts as a means of enhancing the quality of life, educating or broadening perspectives, or developing the community.
“I think the arts are invaluable when it comes to softening the harsh realities of life,” she said.
The Twilleys always have been involved in art, whether it be collecting it or creating it. It took on added importance, Josh said, when his dad fell ill five years ago.
“Painting was a means of escape, and finding satisfaction through his cancer,” Josh said. “That was such a powerful way for him to express himself.”
When it came time to invest part of her husband’s legacy, Rosemary thought the arts were a natural fit. She noticed upstate organizations often got help from grants set up in someone’s legacy, and thought her husband’s funding could help Kent County arts thrive.
Ideally, she would like to see groups working together to pool their resources.
“Funding has decreased enormously from the government and people aren’t giving to the arts like they used to ... so this is really a valuable way to make the arts go further, to see arts groups join,” Rosemary said.
Cecchit said the committee was happy to get behind the Twilleys. The group has been holding off on starting the capital campaign because of the slow economy, but with the upswing in sight, the campaign will be starting soon.
Greater Dover Arts Council Chair Fred Kaltreider was particularly happy that grant money was allowed to go toward advertising upcoming events, which is often a hardship for non-profits. In general, he said the money will be welcome by groups throughout the county.
“Whenever the Arts Council talks about getting groups together to talk about what we can do to help them, money is at the top of their lists. So I knew the arts groups would welcome this,” Kaltreider said.
Email Sarika Jagtiani at sarika.jagtiani@doverpost.com
