REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. - As more people stay busy with home projects, one local community arts nonprofit is thriving. The Developing Artist Collaboration (DAC) usually lets locals make Do it Yourself (DIY) art projects at its station in Rehoboth Beach. When Governor Carney issued the Stay-at-home order for Delaware, the artists began shipping the DIY kits to people's homes.
The Dirty Hands DIY program was created to raise money to connect upcoming artists with resources and career opportunities. Normally people come to the station in Rehoboth Beach and choose from a menu of projects or attend birthday parties and other events. Executive Director Leah Beach says the artists had been talking about packaging up the projects for people to make at home prior to COVID-19. The pandemic pushed that vision to become reality.
The DIY kits range in price from $25 to $40. All proceeds go to the DAC.
"This has brought us enough income to actually start developing websites for our artists to actually get artists work online," says Beach.
By Tuesday more than 350 kits had been sold across 27 states. The artists even shipped one to Australia.
"We have our string art," says Beach. "That's probably one of our most popular ones. We also are offering acrylic pour at home."
Only three artists work in the building to assemble the kits and they wear gloves and masks. 6 different DIY projects can be ordered. Beach says people can order a customized kit if they want to make something specific. She says these projects are designed for all ages.
A Mother's Day kit is currently available for people to make with or give to their mothers. It consists of supplies to make tea towels, a body scrub, soy candles or a distressed picture frame. A detailed instruction packet with pictures is inside the box. As many restaurant employees aren't handling food during the pandemic, now may be the time to get their hands dirty. "We've partnered with Crooked Hammock Brewery and essentially made a project that they made at home," says Beach. Beach says the program is partnering with the
Delaware Arts Allianceon a project to show lawmakers how people expressed themselves through art during the pandemic. She says the artists will be shipping origami paper crane kits throughout the state and that the goal is to display the finished products in Legislative Hall. Shipping costs $6 or kits can be picked up for free at the Dirty Hands DIY Station. The artists pack them up and leave them in a bin outside of the building.
Click hereto order a DIY Togo.