DOVER — Fifteen of Delaware’s best visual and literary artists will be on display at the Biggs Museum of American Art starting today through Oct. 21.

The exhibit, called “Award Winners XII,” will feature the paintings, photographs, music and literature from artists who are part of the Individual Artist Fellowship program through the Delaware Division of the Arts.

The Biggs summer 2012 exhibition series including the Winners display opens today with a First Look Party from 5-7 p.m. at the museum as part of the city of Dover’s First Friday festivities.

Additionally, an awards ceremony will be held at the Biggs Museum on July 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The program is free and open to the public.

“The fellowships recognize the best and most talented artists residing in Delaware,” said Kristen Pleasanton, program manager with the Division of the Arts.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for all of them to come together to be recognized in the museum setting at the Biggs, and for the public to get to know them through the ‘Award Winners’ exhibition and related programs.”

Each year, 10 to 15 artists are chosen as fellows judged by arts professionals from outside Delaware and awarded Individual Artist Fellowships from a pool of nearly 100 applications.

Winners receive grants — $3,000 for Emerging Artists, $6,000 for Established Professionals, and $10,000 for Masters — which allow the artist to pursue advanced training, purchase equipment and materials, or fulfill other needs that will help advance their careers, the Department of the Arts website said.

This year’s Individual Artist Fellowship winners include:

Visual arts – Carol Woolworth (Emerging Professional), David Brinley (Established Professional), Ellen Priest (Established Professional), Jessica Stephens (Emerging Professional), Nicholas Serratore (Emerging Professional), Ramona Maziarz (Emerging Professional), Sally Van Orden (Established Professional), William Bretzger (Established Professional).

Literature – Abby Millager (Emerging Professional), Anne Marie Cammarato (Established Professional), Gary Hanna (Established Professional), James Miller (Emerging Professional), and Mahasveta Barua (Emerging Professional).

Music – Fostina Dixon-Kilgoe (Established Professional), and Xiang Gao (Master)

Jennifer Kemske, spokeswoman for the Biggs Museum, said the exhibition will feature the media of all winning artists. In addition to viewing paintings and photographs on display, listening stations will also be set up in the museum so that visitors can hear the award-winning music, while two spiral-bound copies from each literary artist will be available to peruse.

Ms. Kemske said jewelry will also be on display.

Along with the exhibition the Biggs Museum will offer summer art workshops and demonstrations for adults, some of which are led by the 2012 Individual Artist Fellows. The classes conducted by professional artists offer participants the opportunity to learn about visual and literary arts.

For more information on the Award Winners XII exhibition and its accompanying programs, visit the museum website or call 674-2111.

The Biggs Museum is at 406 Federal St. in Dover.

Staff writer Jamie-Leigh Bissett can be reached at 741-8250 or JLHughes@newszap.com.