Delaware Art Museum Invites Community to Honor Dr. King with MLK Day of Service: “Illustrating the Dream”
The Delaware Art Museum invites the community to gather for a meaningful MLK Day of Service honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through reflection, creativity, and collective action. This year’s theme, “Illustrating the Dream,” draws inspiration from the Museum’s acclaimed exhibition Imprinted: Illustrating Race and celebrates the power of art to inspire social change.
The day will feature a keynote address by Patty Jackson of WDAS and a performance by the Wilmington Children’s Chorus. Guests can participate in guided gallery tours of Imprinted: Illustrating Race as well as a social justice–focused tour of the Museum’s permanent collection. Throughout the day, visitors are invited to engage with community nonprofit vendors and pick up free fresh groceries provided by Delaware Urban Greens. Artist Tay the Creator will lead a hands-on art activity, encouraging participants to reflect on Dr. King’s vision through creative expression. Select works created during the program will be exhibited at The Sold Firm Gallery in Wilmington throughout the month of February.
As part of the Museum’s commitment to service, attendees are encouraged to participate in a coat and blanket drive supporting families and individuals at the unhoused community site in Christina Park. Donations are being accepted now through January 19, 2026. All donated items must be new and may be dropped off at the Delaware Art Museum from now through the day of the event.
Event Schedule
- 11:00 AM Land Acknowledgment by Iz Balleto
- 11:05 AM Performance by the Wilmington Children’s Chorus
- 11:25 AM Keynote Address by Patty Jackson (WDAS)
- 11:45 AM Introduction of Artist Tay the Creator and Sold Firm Gallery Owner Nataki Oliver
- 12:00-1:45 PM Imprinted and Social Justice Tours – Two 30-minute guided tours will take place concurrently in separate galleries.
- 12:00-12:30 PM
- 1:15-1:45 PM
IF YOU GO
WHAT: MLK Day of Service: Illustrating the Dream
WHEN: January 19, 2026, 11 AM – 2PM
WHERE: Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19806
COST: Free
INFO: delart.org/mlk-day-of-service-illustrating-the-dream/
Sponsors
This event is sponsored by PNC Arts Alive, Delaware Urban Greens, Nuestras Raices, The Sold Firm, and the Wilmington Children’s Chorus. This organization is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.
About the Delaware Art Museum
The Delaware Art Museum is a nationally recognized regional museum that connects people through art and experience. Founded in 1912 to honor illustrator Howard Pyle, the Museum now houses over 13,000 works, including the largest Pre-Raphaelite collection outside the U.K. and a growing contemporary art collection. Its campus features galleries, a 6 acre sculpture garden, labyrinth, and event spaces—creating a dynamic center and vibrant cultural resource, offering exhibitions, classes, and community programs that reflect and engage the diverse Delaware community and beyond. Visit delart.org to for the latest exhibitions, programs, and performances or connect with us via social media.