The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities' DC Creates! Public Art Program purchases, commissions, and installs artwork for public sites throughout the District of Columbia. The program was established by 1986 legislation that allocates up to one percent of the District's adjusted Capital Budget for the commission and acquisition of artwork.
The DC Creates! Public Art mission is to maintain a quality public collection of diverse media and to create a dynamic, vibrant, nurturing community through art and design.
Art Bank
In support of visual artists and art galleries in the Washington metropolitan area, artwork is purchased each year to expand the District’s Art Bank Collection, a growing collection of moveable works funded through DC Creates Public Art! Works in this collection are owned by DCCAH under the District’s Art in Public Places Program and loaned to other District Government agencies for display in public areas of government buildings. A segment of the collection is devoted to works that visually document Washington, highlighting the beauty and charm of our residents, neighborhoods, parks, avenues, and local landmarks. Washington's collection helps preserve the city's past and is an important legacy for future generations.
Currently there are over 2,500 artworks in the Art Bank Collection, installed in more than 150 District Government agencies. An open call is initiated each year to invite local artists to submit artwork for consideration of purchase into the collection, providing the selected artists with financial and professional benefits. A selection committee is formed to review prospective works and to make final selections of all new acquisitions. Once purchased, the artwork is documented, framed and installed in public areas of District government agencies, improving the environment in public facilities for District employees and residents alike.
The DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities (DCCAH) is seeking to purchase two and three-dimensional works of art including, but not limited to, prints, drawings, mixed media compositions, paintings, photographs, ceramics, and moveable sculptures to be included in the Art Bank Collection. We also strongly encourage submissions by video artists and other technological innovators as we look to expand the Art Bank Collection to include more diverse and dynamic forms of contemporary art. Representational, conceptual, and abstract works will be equally considered.
This year, the Art Bank application process will be done entirely online. Please follow dcarts.slideroom.com to find the Art Bank 2011 Call to Artists. In order to access the application, all applicants will first be prompted to create a SlideRoom account, at no cost. Once logged into their new account, each applicant artist will be allowed to submit up to ten labeled images to be considered for acquisition into the Art Bank. All artwork submitted must be available for purchase upon submission and must be created with archival materials. Work shall not exceed 96" in any direction or 100lbs in weight.
In addition to ten images of prospective artwork,
a completed online application will include:
• An artist statement
• A current CV or resume
• An image list of all works submitted, in the order of submission
ARTIST ELIGIBILITY:
This call is open to all artists who reside or maintain studio space in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. However, preference will be given to District residents.
Tuesday, October 11: Preliminary selections made from image entries.
Week of October 17-21: Artists required to drop off artwork for viewing per notification.
Monday, October 24: Final selections made.
Monday, October 31: Artists required to pick up works that are not accepted.
For More Information, contact Zoma Wallace, Curator and Art Collections Manager
of DCCAH at Zoma.Wallace@dc.gov or 202.724.5613
Wilson Building Art Collection
The largest display of artwork from the Art Bank is the City Hall Art Collection at the John A. Wilson Building in downtown DC entitled The HeArt of DC. In 2006 the DC Creates Public Art Program acquired 153 works of art representing 100 Metropolitan area artists for the inaugural phase of the City Hall Art Collection. In 2008, the program made another acquisition bringing the number of pieces to over 200. The collection showcases the extent and depth of our local visual arts talent. Over 10 percent of the artists were born in the District, and most have lived here for over 20 years. In addition to supporting the work of living artists through art purchases, we were able to enhance the collection with the work of nationally recognized DC artists including Gene Davis and Alma Thomas. By presenting art outside traditional venues of museums and galleries, the City Hall Art Collection benefits the community and its visitors by increasing access to art, extending our cultural institutions’ reach, and providing artists with opportunities to expand their artistic practice and audience. Installed in the John A. Wilson Building, the collection is open to the public.
The collection is open to the public during the normal business hours: Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm. Free, guided tours of the exhibition are offered bimonthly. For more information, contact Zoma Wallace, Curator & Arts Collections Manager or (202) 724-5613.
Commissioned Projects
Public art projects are identified through the culmination of intensive public realm planning processes in partnership with neighborhood advisory groups, Main Street programs, other District government agencies and private developers. These are large scale works in prominent public locations that supports the revitalization of specific areas of Washington including the downtown area.
Projects are also nominated by community members. With the support of other neighbors and key stakeholders to the site small to large scale public art projects are placed addressing the interests of the community. Commemorating notable citizens and local history creates a stronger identity for the neighborhood as well as an artistic enhancement to the site.
Calls to artists are open to professional artists with site-specific and/or public art experience. Preference is given to artists who reside in the District of Columbia. Artists who apply should have experience working with community representatives, landscape architects, businesses and government entities.
A selection committee, representing diverse interests and expertise, will review slides submitted by the artists and recommend between (3) three to (5) five Semi-Finalists. Each semi-finalist will be awarded an honorarium to create a site-specific design proposal that would include a scale model or rendering, an itemized budget, a project timeline, and a project narrative. Out-of-the-area artists will also receive a moderate allowance for transportation costs to present the proposal to the panel. The selection committees will reconvene to review the designs and will recommend (1) one finalists for the project.
The design proposal and the selection committee’s recommendations will be forwarded to the DC Arts Commission for review and approval. The artist whose design is approved will then enter into an agreement with the DC Arts Commission for fabrication and installation of the artwork.
For more information contact Mary Beth Brown, Keona Pearson or call (202) 724-5613.
Art in the Metro
In partnership with the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority, DCCAH supports the creation and installation of artwork throughout the Metrorail system.
View our works
MuralsDC
MuralsDC was initiated in 2007 by Ward One Councilmember Jim Graham as a way to combat the rising tide of illegal graffiti, to revitalize sites within the community and to teach young people the art of aerosol painting. MuralsDC engages the District's youth by teaching proper art techniques, providing supplies, and a legal means to practice and perform their skill in a way that promotes respect for public and private property and community awareness. MuralsDC taps into their inherent interests and uplifting them by providing opportunity, mentoring, and hands on experiences.
In 2008 and 2009 DCCAH in partnership with the Department of Public Works (DPW) joined forces to further the MuralsDC mission. Artists, Teams and Organizations participating in the program are selected by a committee based on their capacity to instruct and execute work in the graffiti style and engage youth and community members in the creation of the murals. Each mural reflects the character, culture and history of the neighborhoods in the District. Mural site selection is based on areas of the District with high incidence of illegal graffiti as identified by DPW and other agencies.
For site recommendations, sponsorship opportunities, and information please contact Nancee Lyons at the Department of Public Works, or (202) 671-2637.
View past projects
Public Art Building Communities (PABC) Grant
The PABC grant program offers funds to DC artists and nonprofit organizations for the creation and installation of permanent public art projects with a life span of at least five (5) years. This grant is a great way for artists and organizations to initiate their own public art projects throughout the city. DCCAH encourages artists and organizations to think creatively about their project and encourages the installation of contemporary sculptural elements.
Cultural Facilities Projects (CFP) Grant
The CFP grant supports capital improvements to art and cultural facilities in the District of Columbia. Organizations are invited to apply to help defray costs related to the improvement, expansion and rehabilitation of existing buildings owned or leased by nonprofit cultural institutions. This funding is intended to ensure that facilities are safe, comfortable and efficient, so that arts groups may expand audiences and enhance their art form.
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