The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) requests applications from qualified artists and District nonprofit art galleries or organizations for its Fiscal Year 2026 Art Bank Program.
Donor Name: DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH)
State: District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, Washington
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/19/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
CAH seeks grant applications from qualified artists and District nonprofit art galleries or organizations representing metropolitan artists for the acquisition of original two- and three- dimensional artwork including, but not limited to:
Program Goals
- Grow the District’s collection of art to reflect the rich, diverse artistic history and communities of the District of Columbia and metropolitan region.
- Provide support, exposure, and professional benefit for visual artists residing in the District of Columbia and metropolitan region.
- Enhance the aesthetic experience for District employees and visitors that access District of Columbia government buildings, services, and public spaces.
Funding Information
$15,000 and nonprofit art galleries or organizational applicants may be awarded up to $25,000.
Grant Period
October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
- Prior to submission, applicants must meet all the following eligibility requirements:
- Be an artist or artist representative (e.g., artist estate representative), aged 18 or older;
- Be a legal resident of Washington, DC, or a legal resident of within a 50-mile radius of the Washington, DC boundaries, for at least one (1) year prior to the application deadline;
- Maintain primary residency during the entire funding period (October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026);
- Have a permanent DC, MD, or VA address, as listed on government-issued identification or 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 are not allowable as a primary address; and,
- Be in good standing with CAH. Applicants with incomplete or delinquent reports from any prior funding program are ineligible to receive additional funds from CAH in FY 2026.
- District Nonprofit Galleries and Arts Organizations must (at the time of application):
- Be incorporated as a nonprofit with a federally designated tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code, as evidenced by an IRS determination letter that is dated at least one year prior to the application deadline date;
- Be a nonprofit arts organization or gallery, representing artists living in the metropolitan area within a 50-mile radius;
- Have a principal business office address located in the District of Columbia, subject to on-site visit. (Note: CAH will not allow post office boxes or the addresses of board members or volunteers as evidence of the principal business address);
- Be registered with, and authorized to do business in, the District;
- Ensure that at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the organization’s activities occur within the District of Columbia; a. Have an active Board of Directors;
- Obtain certification of “Citywide Clean Hands” (CCH) from the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue;
- Not be colleges, universities, service organizations, foreign governments or other DC Government or Federal Government agencies, including DC Public Schools; and,
- Be in good standing with CAH. Applicants with incomplete or delinquent reports from any prior funding program are ineligible to receive additional funds from CAH in FY 2026.
For more information, visit CAH.
