Create and appreciate: Mispillion Art League in Milford celebrates 20 years

MILFORD — The Mispillion Art League, a downtown facility that spurs creativity of all types, is reaching its 20th anniversary this year.

In preparation for the September celebration, the agency’s leaders and staff are reflecting on how far the league has come.

In 2004, it was nothing more than a floating nonprofit, with no building to call home. Three years later, the entity moved into its first location, on Front Street.

A later move relocated the art league to 5 N. Walnut St., where it currently sits.

These days, Molly Honey King is an artist, instructor and marketing chair for the group. She hopes that it facilitates art for anyone.

“As our president likes to say, ‘Art is everywhere,’ and we want to expose as many people to art in all its forms as best we can,” she said.

Organizers do so by hosting a variety of classes for creators of any level.

“We offer opportunities to curious creatives, casual Sunday painters, old pros looking to brush off the dust and even those working toward a career in the arts,” Ms. Honey King said, adding that courses can be taught by private instructors or be open workshops. And they include painting, drawing, pottery and more.

“We hope to give the community a welcoming and judgment-free space, where folks can share and expand their creativity,” she continued. “We want your Wednesday night painting class to be a little escape from reality. We want the teenagers who hang out downtown after school to pop into the gallery and discover something new.”

However, like most nonprofits, the Mispillion Art League relies heavily on funding from sponsors and donations.

“Another goal is one of most nonprofits, which is more funding,” Ms. Honey King said. “MAL is almost exclusively run by volunteers, with two part-time employees. We are funded in part by the Delaware Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.”

Through such funding, the league has shared art education with many city residents.

“One of our accomplishments that we are proud of is our Outreach Program,” she said. “We offer art classes to groups from (Kent-Sussex Industries), The Salvation Army Creative heARTS and the Home of the Brave foundation, as well as monthly Senior Workshops.

“These programs show that we’ve accomplished a primary goal set out by the MAL founders, which is to provide accessible artistic opportunities for underserved community members.”

Ms. Honey King added that art is an important lens through which to view the world.

“Not only is it useful in academic/career fields, but art is an expressive way to learn about oneself. Art making can be therapeutic, confidence boosting and just plain fun,” she explained.

And that goes for all ages.

“Visual arts programs are particularly important for children because of limited access to them through schools,” Ms. Honey King said. “While there are many options in sports for athletic kids and plays and musicals for the outgoing ones, students leaning towards the visual arts are often left with few or no extracurricular activities that fill this need.”

The league’s 20th Anniversary Gala will be 5-8 p.m. Sept. 14 at the facility. Tickets are $50 per person or $75 per couple.

To purchase tickets or learn more, visit mispillionarts.org .