The District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH), in partnership with the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT), and District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), seeks District-based artists experienced in large-scale exterior murals, youth engagement, and community-based projects to design and install ground murals in the intersections near three DCPS schools in Washington, DC.
Donor Name: District of Columbia Commission On the Arts And Humanities
State: District of Columbia
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 01/12/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Goals
Color the Curb: School Safety Program invites mural artists and designers to collaborate with selected elementary school students to design artwork that will contribute to making their commute to school safer and more vibrant. Through this RFA, CAH seeks to install artwork that:
- Supports slower and safer roadways on the blocks adjacent to selected school entrances;
- Engages students in the creative and design process to make an impact on, and foster a sense of stewardship in, their community; and
- Creates a public canvas that features the artwork of local artists and/or graphic designers inspired by youth from each school.
Funding Information
Grants Up to $30,000.
Eligibility Criteria
An individual may submit one application for a funding opportunity on their own behalf; a Lead Artist may apply for an Artist Team in which they are included. All applicants must meet all eligibility requirements at the time the application is submitted. Failure to meet any individual requirement may make the application ineligible for further review and award. An Artist Team is defined to include two artists and/or designers working together. Artist Teams must identify a Lead Artist, who will apply for the grant and if selected actively engage in the design, facilitation, and installation of the project. Artist Leads must be District residents, while Artist Team members may reside outside of the District of Columbia. Artist/Lead Artist may apply having met the following eligibility requirements at the time of application:
- Artist/Lead Artist was not awarded the Color the Curb: School Safety Program grant in FY25.
- Artist/Lead Artist is a resident of the District of Columbia aged eighteen (18) or older for at least one (1) year prior to the submission deadline and must maintain residency in the District of Columbia during the entire grant period.
- Artist/Lead Artist has a permanent District of Columbia address, as listed on legal identification and tax returns. The address provided on all application materials must match exactly the address provided on the submitted IRS W-9 form. Post office boxes cannot be used as a demonstration of the applicant’s primary address.
- Artist/Lead Artist is in good standing with CAH demonstrated by the applicant’s complete or non-delinquent reporting due to CAH from any prior CAH funded program. Applicants that are not in good standing are ineligible to apply and therefore may not receive any additional grant award (in any category of grant funding) from CAH in FY 2026. Applicants may not use a secondary party that acts on its behalf (“fiscal agent”) in the performance and execution of financial duties.
- Artist/Lead Artist can obtain a “Certificate of Clean Hands” from the District’s Office of Tax and Revenue.
- Artist/Lead Artist is a practicing professional artist with demonstrated large-scale exterior mural and community-based projects experience. An asphalt painting experience is not a requirement, but a plus. If working as a team, elements of the project must be supported by a team of experienced arts professionals.
- Artist/Lead Artist demonstrates ability to engage youth (elementary school-aged youth) of varying skill levels in an art project.
- Artist/Lead Artist warrants exclusive and perpetual ownership of and/or control over all copyrights in the mural by completing Warranty Regarding Relationship to Grant-related Copyrights.
For more information, visit CAH.
