Humble beginnings.
The start of something different.
The Developing Artist Collaboration (DAC) was founded by Leah Beach (and many incredibly passionate community members over the years), a local artist inspired by her work with NGOs in remote communities worldwide. Witnessing the power of art to uplift communities, she envisioned a nonprofit that would help artists build sustainable careers and give back through their work.
DAC was founded from scratch. If you want to discover the incredible story of how Leah started DAC, check out the link below.
“My favorite part of this photo is that so many of our founding Artists are still going strong with us today.”
The Spark
In 2015, Leah launched the Dewey Sip & Shop, a small event that gave local artists a platform to sell their work. In 2017, she brought a group of her Artist friends together to create more opportunities in the community. The success of these pop-up galleries led to the official incorporation of DAC as a nonprofit in 2018, and the “Dewey Artist Collaboration” was born. At the start, we focused on two main programs:
Dirty Hands DIY – Hands-on art experiences guided by DAC artists.
Pop-Up Artist Events – Showcasing and selling artists' work in local venues.
Resilience & Growth
In 2020, when the pandemic halted in-person events, DAC faced a financial crisis. Instead of shutting down, Leah pivoted by launching an eCommerce site, generating $10,000 in sales in just two weeks. By the summer, DAC had raised nearly $30,000 and safely hosted 14 outdoor events, supporting 195 artists and engaging thousands of community members.
Recognizing the need for artists to adapt to a digital world, DAC expanded its programming to include career development and digital engagement resources, transforming into an artist workforce development nonprofit.
Major Milestones & Expansion
In 2021, DAC received a $155,000 grant from the Longwood Foundation, enabling rapid growth with four core programs:
Creative Career Support Program – aka CCSP, a professional development program helping artists build sustainable careers with local in-person workshops.
West Side Creative Market – We turned an empty parking lot into an outdoor public arts market showcasing emerging artists.
Out of the Box DIY – A DIY kit program and community arts events.
West Rehoboth Legacy Mural – A $50,000 investment in public art honoring local history.
Expanding as Light-Speed
In just one year, we transformed our vision into reality: we constructed a permanent home for the West Side Creative Market, reimagined our eCommerce art kit program “Out of the Box DIY” as the vibrant Artpothecary DIY-Space, and transitioned our Creative Career Support Program into a dynamic digital hub. We also proudly unveiled the West Rehoboth Legacy Mural to the community. Our impact scaled exponentially, and so did our operations.
Strengthening Our Foundation
By 2023, DAC’s rapid expansion brought significant financial and operational challenges. With unwavering support from our board and the addition of seasoned leadership, we bolstered our financial systems, refined our governance, and secured a pivotal grant from the Longwood Foundation to stabilize operations.
In 2024, we built on that momentum by professionalizing our team, streamlining our programs for long-term sustainability, and enhancing our initiatives—shaping DAC into the dynamic organization we are today.
Our Impact Since Day 1
Community Members Showed Up for Events & Programming
$2.2 Million
$1.5 Million
Total Artist Sales generated by Creative Market into DE Creative Economy
42
Total Revenue We have generated since inception from an organization we invented.
Staff and Board Members that have invested in growing and nurturing DAC since the start.
Artist Members Engaged in our Career Development Programming
Artists Served by Programs Since Inception
102K
57
938
The DAC We Are Today
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Empowered Artists
Providing the space, tools, connection, and mentorship artists need to grow their careers and creative practices, whatever their goals are.
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No More Starving Artists
Offering business education, marketing support, and income-generating opportunities to help artists thrive sustainably.
Love our story?
You’re going to love our Mission & Vision.