Delaware Division of the Arts names Jessica Ball director

Secretary of State Jeff Bullock has asked Jessica Ball to serve as the next director of the Delaware Division of the Arts.

Ball most recently served as executive director of the Delaware Arts Alliance.

“The Division of the Arts plays an integral and vital role in supporting the arts and cultivating creativity to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans,” said Bullock. “Jessica’s breadth of experience uniquely positions her to lead the division to the next level, and I am excited that she has agreed to rise up to the challenge.”

“I’m honored to be appointed to serve the State of Delaware and its creative community as the director of the Division of the Arts,” said Ball. “I am incredibly passionate about the ability of the arts to transform lives and communities for the better. The arts and culture sector stands ready to help Delaware recover from the social and economic trauma of the pandemic, and I’m excited to be a part of the rebuilding and reopening of our cultural scene. My vision for the arts post-pandemic is one that is centered on increased access, diversity, equity, and inclusion. I am eager to work with the Division of the Arts staff and our partners throughout the state to advance the sector for the benefit of all Delawareans.”

Having served as executive director of the Delaware Arts Alliance since 2018, Ball oversaw all aspects of managing a statewide nonprofit organization, and developed sector-wide strategies to advance arts and culture. She serves as the Delaware state captain for Americans for the Arts’ State Arts Action Network, and she volunteers on the Delaware Fund for Women’s Young Founders Committee and the Delaware MillSummit Planning Committee.

Ball holds dual master’s degrees in historic preservation and landscape architecture from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design, and a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Florida International University.