No Current Funding Opportunities
Civic Commissioned Projects (CCP) are special non-recurring public art projects and initiatives in collaboration with other District agencies and/or with community partners.
CCP's are large scale works in prominent public locations. Calls to artists are open to professional artists with site-specific and/or public art experience. As these one-time special projects become available, requests for applications or proposals are posted on CAH’s Grant Opportunities page.
For more information contact Lauren Dugas Glover at [email protected]
Civic Commission Project Examples
Marion Barry, Jr. Commemorative Sculpture (March 2018) by Steven Weitzman
CAH in partnership with the Executive Office of the Mayor, Council of the District of Columbia. The eight-foot bronze statue and engraved granite plinth, which recognizes the Honorable Marion Barry, Jr., is installed within the flowerbed of the John Wilson Building at the corner of 13-1/2 Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
Howard Theatre Walk of Fame (December 2018) by Hacreative LLC
[Team members – Curry Hackett (lead), Harry G. Robinson, III, FAIA (architect), Jay Coleman (sculptor]
CAH in partnership with the Executive Office of the Mayor, Council of the District of Columbia. A multi-piece installation that pays tribute to the iconic Howard Theatre and the District of Columbia’s rich musical history. Includes 15 3’x3’ permanent commemorative bronze bas relief sculptural medallions installed into the sidewalk along 7th Street, NW and S Street, NW (north and east) to the front of the Howard Theatre at 620 T. Street, NW. The project also includes two wayfinding informational kiosks, each featuring a map of the area to orient pedestrians.
The Howard Theatre Walk of Fame represents the District of Columbia’s rich musical history and will become homages to the iconic artists of the Howard Theatre. The selected artistic honorees represent a wide variety of musical genres, have made important contributions to the cultural life of the DC and have achieved a national reputation for excellence within their respective fields. Many have notable musical recordings, had a lengthy career, and are recognized by experts as leaders in the entertainment industry. Each honoree has contributed a profound influence on the entertainment industry, and all performed at the Howard Theatre. Together these honorees represent a diverse and dynamic selection of performing artists since the Theatre’s founding in 1910.
The Howard Theatre Walk of Fame Honorees include (alphabetically): Pearl Bailey, Chuck Brown, James Brown, Ruth Brown, Cab Calloway, The Clovers, Billy Eckstine, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, Lionel Hampton, Moms Mabley, Abbie Mitchell, Mamie Smith, Billy Taylor, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
This project was developed by the Shaw and LeDroit Park communities in their passion to preserve and honor the rich history of the historic Howard Theatre. In 2008, the Office of the Deputy Mayor Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) teamed with Cultural Tourism DC, a local heritage tourism organization, to research, collect and prepare relevant historic information related to the Howard Theatre. From this convening, 15 honorees were nominated and selected to be honored based on specific evaluation criteria and extensive research. In 2011, DMPED partnered with CAH to solicit artists to develop proposals to implement a “Walk of Fame” project to honor these Howard Theatre legends. The project was completed in December 2018 and features 15 3’x3’ permanent commemorative bronze bas relief sculptural medallions installed into the sidewalk along 7th Street NW and S Street NW (north and east) to the front of the Howard Theatre at 620 T Street NW. There also are two wayfinding informational kiosks, featuring a map of the area to orient passersby.
Pepco Sub-station
Flash Point by David and Eli Hess and Pond Lily Water Lettuce by Kathern Mann
Two public artworks at the Pepco electrical substation across the street from the DC United stadium in the Buzzard Point area of Southwest Washington, DC. CAH in partnership with Pepco through DMPED.
Flash Point
A monumental sculpture (49 feet high) installed at the corner of the Pepco Station, by David and Eli Hess, pays homage to Nikola Tesla and his experiments with high voltage electricity. Two wands of steel extend up into the sky connected together by twisted copper with programmable light that recreated the electrical sparks.
Pond Lily Water Lettuce
The second project is a mural installed in the niches of the substation by Kathern Mann. The vibrant mural called Pond Lily Water Lettuce, was inspired by the Potomac River plant life that flows nearby. The abstract acrylic work on panels bend and swell across the 10 niches at the building at times 8 feet high and covers over 150 feet.
Designed to Recycle
Mobile canvasses highlighting the importance of recycling by Multiple Artists
CAH in partnership with DC Department of Public Works. Features graphic designs by local artists to spread the word on the importance of recycling on the District’s recycling trucks. During the spring and summer of 2015, ten (10) recycling trucks werewrapped in the work of local artists. In the Spring and Summer of 2018, five (5) of the original trucks were rewrapped due to damage and 15 new recycling trucks were added to the collection. There are 25 Designed to Recycle trucks in the fleet. All are wrapped with new original artwork designs selected through a competitive design competition.