Art Exhibition Grant

Photo of people viewing exhibit Lay of the Land, curated by Jarvis Grant

The Art Exhibition (Curatorial) Grant Program (AEG) provides support for the development and public presentation of visual art exhibitions by District resident curators through grant support and use of CAH’s exhibition space and CAH's virtual platform.

The goals are to:

Provide the opportunity for District of Columbia resident curators and non-profit organizations with curatorial capacity to develop innovative and educational art exhibitions.
Provide the opportunity for District of Columbia resident curators to bring existing art exhibitions previously mounted and organized in other cities to DC.
Provide unique exhibitions and related programs for District residents.

FY27 AEG Request for Applications

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) requests grant applications from qualified individuals and nonprofit organizations for exhibition proposals to take place in CAH’s gallery, located in the lobby of 200 I (Eye) Street, SE building and/or CAH’s virtual gallery. Two (2) exhibition proposals will receive grants for curation and installation during Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) (see schedule below). This grant is competitive.

RFA Release: Monday | May 11, 2026 | 4 pm EST
Submission Deadline: Monday | June 29, 2026 | 5 pm EST
Award Notification: After October 1, 2026

EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

Exhibition Dates

Social Justice Themed Exhibition
In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Dr. King’s philosophy of The Beloved Community, CAH seeks exhibitions that explicitly uplift current or historic social issues of regional, national, or global significance. Topics may include but are not limited to: discrimination based on social identities such as gender, sexuality, race, class, or religion; ongoing conflicts related to citizenship and borderlands; and/or immigration, mass incarceration, the environment, healthcare, issues around housing and unhoused populations, etc.

Jan 14, 2027 – March 5, 2027
Installation: January 5 – 14, 2027
Deinstallation: March 8 – 12, 2027

Open Theme Exhibition
CAH seeks exhibitions that showcase local and national artists and reflects the cultural vibrancy, relevant themes and issues, and current artmaking practices of the District and the larger arts landscape.

April 1 – May 21, 2027
Installation: March 22 – April 1, 2027
Deinstallation: May 24 – 28, 2027

Incomplete or late applications or applications that do not follow the instructions and guidelines may be deemed ineligible for review and funding. Prospective applicants should read through this Request for Applications (RFA) in its entirety before applying.

Staff Contact: Michelle May-Curry, Curator | [email protected] | 202-215-9486

Source of Funds: The source of funds for the grant(s) is the portion of the Agency’s annual grants budget allocated for grant programs established by CAH in accordance with D.C. Official Code § 39-205(c-1)(2)(A)(iii). CAH may make multiple awards under this RFA.

CAH’s Authority to Make Grants: CAH has grantmaking authority under the Commission on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1975, as amended (D.C. Law 1-22; D.C. Official Code § 39-204).

View the FY27 AEG documents by downloading the files linked below. You can also navigate the RFA in its entirety on our website using the Table of Contents below.

Key Links:

Current Exhibition:

Finders Keepers

Previous Exhibitions:

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Top Banner: Exhibition Lay of the Land, curated by Jarvis Grant, 2019.

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