Arts

Are you an artist or art lover interested in downtown Dover? Explore a variety of performing and creative arts options, as well as a local gallery featuring art from all over Delaware and the Chesapeake. Whether you want to volunteer for a play, purchase artwork, or take a dance class - downtown has the spot for you!

Musicians interested in downtown should also check out the DDP's Busking Program.
Painters should check out the annual Paint Dover! Plein Air Painting Event

"Backyard Birds" Mural
Located on the side of Mitten & Winters. Each birds represnts a species you can find throughout Delaware! Created by artist Joshua Nobling, local artisan in 2019 with Theresa Angela Drayton, Jim Moffett, Jacob Golden and more than 50 members from the community that came together to help put together downtown's beautiful wall murals.

Featured birds:

Blue Jay
Northern Cardinal
American Robin
Great Blue Heron
American Goldfinch

Rear of 117 W. Loockerman St.
Visible from 148 Minor St.

Biggs Museum of American Art
One of the finest collections of American fine and decorative arts. Special features of the permanent collection include the only comprehensive representational American paintings collections on the Delmarva Penninsula, as well as changing exhibitions throughout the year relating to historical and contemporary art topics. Intimate galleries offer guests an unexpected and personal experience with the collection. Also offers educational programming for adults and children.

Free admission during First Saturdays!

Registered Capital Key Card Holders

Receive $2 off standard adult admission.

(302) 674 - 2111
406 Federal St.

Children's Theatre
A non-profit community theatre committed to bringing opportunities for children to experience theatre arts and for audiences to enjoy fare that is appropriate for children and families. Visit their website for upcoming shows and activities!

(302) 336 - 8044
304 S Governors Ave.

Dance Factory
Offers Intellidance for infants through 3 years old, Young Dancers (3-8 years old), Youth Programs for dancers 8.5+ years old, Adult Programs, DANCEWORKS, and Hip Hop Workshops! The Dance Factory offers a variety of dance options, such as ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and hip hop classes.

(302) 678-1964
422 S. Governors Ave

Delaware Continentals
Located in front of Legislative Hall, the capitol building of Delaware, and erected in 2008, Wilmington, DE artist, Ron Tunison created the heroic size bronze sculpture of three advancing Revolutionary War soliders, each representing one of Delaware's three counties, atop a twenty-five foot granite pedastal.

Liberty St.

Dover Art League
A non-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for local artists, quality programming, gallery exhibits, and classes. Supported in part by the Delaware Division of the Arts.

(302) 747 - 7169
21 W. Loockerman St.

Dover Public Library
The Dover Public Library Art Gallery showcases local artists throughout the year on the walls of the first floor. Art of mulitple mediums is featured, including photgraphy, watercolor, and collage. An exhibit of children's art work is on display just outside of the Kids Space. Also, artwork on the second floor is on long-term loan from the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs featuring pieces such as "Sussex Winter, Abbott's Mill" and "By the Sea" by Peggy Kane Johnson. These paintings can be viewed on the walls at either end of the second floor, alongside 10 historic United States flags from the Air Mobility Command Museum.

(302) 736-7030
36 Loockerman Plz.

"Fleece Freedom Drinker" Mural
Located at the reincarnated historical tavern, the Golden Fleece, the "Fleece Freedom Drinker" pays homage to the revolutionary activity that occured at its original location - where Delaware legislators voted to ratify the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Created by artist Joshua Nobling, local artisan. More than 50 members from the community came together to help put together downtown's beautiful wall murals.

*Must be 21+ to enter premises. Mural is partially visible from the Loockerman Way Plaza. Please be respectful to the patrons at the Fleece.

132 W Loockerman St.
(302) 674-1776

Electrical Box Paintings
Discover 15 painted electrical boxes scattered throughout downtown Dover including Division St., Loockerman St., State St., and S Governors Ave. Local students from the middle and high school art clubs joined forced to paint each box that represents Dover and the state's theme and history.

"Greetings from Dover" Mural
Located around the corner from the Family Dollar, the "Greetings from Dover" mural highlights Loockerman's history. Created by artist Joshua Nobling, local artisan. More than 50 members from the community came together to help put together downtown's beautiful wall murals.

300 W Loockerman St.

Painted Crosswalk I
On Oct. 1, 2023 with support from the Delaware Divsion of the Arts, the Biggs Museum of American Art, the City of Dover, Dover Art League, DelDOT, and Delaware State University, the DDP installed the first painted crosswalk in downtown Dover. Artwork at this intersection was inspired by Breakfast Club by Edward Loper II (2022), a celebrated artist native to Delaware. The reference image was purchased during a Delaware State University Arts Center/Gallery exhibition, "Edward Loper II: The Journey of Perspective, Oct. 3 - Nov. 18, 2022" by the accredited Biggs Museum of American Art for their permanent collection. The design was created by Katherine Heisler (Milton, DE) and the project was overseen by Randi Meredith (Milton, DE).

The painted crosswalks pilot program reflects a goal in the Capital City 2030: Transforming Downtown Dover master plan by the Downtown Dover Partnership to implement creative placemaking strategies in downtown Dover and to engage the art community.

1 W Loockerman St.

Painted Crosswalk II
On Oct. 23, 2023 with support from the Delaware Divsion of the Arts, the Biggs Museum of American Art, the City of Dover, Dover Art League, DelDOT, and Delaware State University, the DDP installed the second painted crosswalk in downtown Dover. Artwork at this intersection is a geometric zig-zag/accordion pattern. The design playfully adds-on to the existing striping for a more lively and colorful crossing. The design was created by Katherine Heisler (Milton, DE) and the project was overseen by Randi Meredith (Milton, DE).

394 W Loockerman St.

Parke Green Gallery
The public studio of N Taylor Collins, located on a historically significant landmark - where Delaware ratified the U.S. Constitution as the first state in 1787! Discover local art by local artists including paintings, limited prints, mixed media, and work by friends! Also connected to Delaware Shoppes.

Registered Capital Key Card Holders:

Receive 10% off one item.

(302) 674-1787
331 S. State St.

Schwartz Center for the Arts
Restored 1904 Opera House hosting a variety of performances, from classical music to theater. Delaware State University took over ownership of the Center after acquiring the nearby Wesley College. Efforts to revitalize the Center are underway.

(302) 857-7393
226 S. State St.

State of Delaware World War I Memorial
Double sided memorial, each featuring a granite etching of public art created by Delaware artists. Side 1 (facing Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd) is Doughboys First (1919), a painting commissioned for a magazine illustration by Frank Schoonover, an American illustrator who worked in Wilmongton, DE. On the other side is Delaware Awake! (1918), originally a painting for a War Bond poster by Ethel Pennewill Brown Leach, a local painter and a founder of the Rehoboth Art League (Rehoboth Beach, DE).