Is there a recording available of this meeting?
Yes. Recordings of our workshops are available at dcarts.dc.gov/page/grant-writing-assistance
What category does fashion design fall under?
Fashion design typically falls under our Design category for the Fellowship program. If you have questions about how your art practice fits into a cohort, please reach out to a grant manager. We suggest looking at your work samples, and your artist statement as a starting point.
Can someone win a fellowship or PEF more than once?
Yes- we have no restrictions on returning applicants at this time. You can only submit one Fellowship application and one PEF application within a fiscal year, and can even apply to both grants.
How many image files?
Each discipline has its own recommended sample amounts and types.
Typically we recommend no more than 10 images. If you are using a variety of work samples, i.e. a video of a performance as well as still images, please check in with a grant manager.
For humanities practitioners in the literary arts (writing), do you recommend using published pieces, or are pieces that are polished but not yet published acceptable as a work sample? . Becase work samples carry the most weight, we strongly recommend that you share your best quality work regardless of whether it is published or not.
pertaining to the question of why you practice your art in DC ... if you were born and raised in DC and are still a resident ... what exactly are you trying to find out?
The Community Statement is to help give our panel reviewers a fuller picture of you as an artist- how are you a member of, and representative of the DC artist landscape. This can include working outside of DC, but being a representative of DC art in other markets.
How does being in DC, or born, raised and still living in DC influence your art? How does your art reflect your DC roots? How does your art reflect your place in DC, your vision for the community?
For fellows Is community question about how you engage the community?
Yes it is about how you and/or your work engages the community.
do the grant officers want to see a budget of potential project that funds would be used towards?
No. The AHFP is a general support grant for individuals. The PEF grant for individuals is a more appropriate grant for project support
I fit into two artist categories. Can I apply as a hybrid or do I need to choose one lane?
Reach out to a grant manager. We suggest looking at your work samples, and your artist statement. If your practice is intertwined and hybridized, the interdisciplinary cohort might be right for you. Sometimes one set of work samples is stronger, or leans into a cohort.
Are orgs that received a grant w/in the past 5 yrs - not likely to get another award?
We have no benefits or restrictions on returning awardees.
What date does the grant application open this year and what will be the due date for applications?
The Arts and Humanities Fellowship and Projects Events Or Festivals applications are open from May 8 until June 13th at 10:00pm. Additional grant offerings are on our website
Has it been answered already what "go-go musician means"?
Go-go is the official folk music of the District of Columbia, as designated with the National Endowment for the Arts
What do you mean when you say homelessness? What degree of homelessness are you referring to?
If you are unhoused, or currently do not have a permanent address you are able to apply. Please reach out to a grant manager to discuss.
What category would podcasting be under?
Podcasting could fit under Media Arts or Humanities. This will depend partly on the subject matter, and how you present your work. Please reach out to a grant manager to discuss your application materials.
Is the amount going to be single, and not a range. will everyone get the same amount?
We will be making the Fellowship award as a flat amount, and all awardees will receive the same award amount. At this time we are still determining what that amount will be.
what is the basis of artistic excellence?
Grant panels are comprised of experienced professionals from the field which each cohort represents. Scoring for Artistic excellence relies on their knowledge and experience in the art/humanities discipline as well as their understanding of the DC community of practice.
Do you recommend a specific number of recommendations?
No. It should be reasonable to read and support your application. Remember that the support materials do not replace work samples, and should enhance the application.
Do you prefer images that are cropped or show dimension or in setting photography
Whichever aspect displays your work to its best advantage
I can't have supporting docs - reviews or interviews, for instance - that are for any of my books prior to 2020?
Work samples are the only requirement that has a time limit. Supporting documents do not have a timeline prohibition of three years.
But if we focused on a particular writing project and we were funded last year, do we need to focus on a different writing project this year?
It’s up to you. There is no prohibition in the program’s guidelines of including projects that were included in a previous application.
what if your art intersects with your day job? how is that delineated?
Reach out to a grant manager to talk through your particular situation
Is the Media Library permanent for future use/years?
Yes! The Document and Media libraries are yours to use, and do not delete materials. You can access them any time during the year if you want to add materials.
Are these grant funds Federal or DC?
CAH does receive some of its dollars from Federal funding, but the Artist Fellowship is entirely support by DC funds.
The statement of certification and W9 seem to be interactive, except for signature. So then, print it out, sign and scan back into the application???
If you are signing in ink, yes, you will fill it out on your computer, print, sign, scan and upload. If you choose to sign with a verified electronic signature using a service like DocuSign or other you will follow the directions for the e-signature service to save the signed document as a PDF.
Note on VERIFIED e-signatures:
A verified e-signature is a type of electronic signature that is validated by checking the authenticity of the signer’s digital ID certificate and the integrity of the document1. It is a legal way to get consent or approval on electronic documents or forms.
To get a verified e-signature for free, you need to use a software solution that offers a digital ID certificate* and a document integrity check. Some examples are Adobe Acrobat Sign, PandaDoc1, Signaturely, and SignEasy. These tools allow you to create, send, and sign documents online with a verified e-signature. You can also verify the e-signatures of others using some PDF readers, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader.
How should uploaded images be titled and described in the “description” box in the media library?
If a particular order is wanted start the title/description with a number (0-9). Otherwise, you can title or describe them as you feel is best
What other grants can you apply for along with AHEP?
Eligible individuals can apply for the AHFP and the PEF grant for individuals.
Is there a formal final report document or we use our own
CAH grant managers send instructions for completing the grant report. It essentially involves answering several questions in the portal and uploading a signed letter attesting that you used the funds to support your work as an artist. You do not need to specifically account for how you spent the funds for the Fellowship Award.
When will the number and amount of the awards be decided/shared?
The number of awards depends on the number of eligible applications received and the results of the grant panel scoring. The dollar amount of the award depends on the available funds. Awards are usually announced in early October
If I served on a CAH panel last year, am I eligible to apply for a grant this year?
You are! We do not restrict panelists from applying
I am a resident of Virginia - Am I able to apply for a Grant or able to join a Panel?
Some of our Public Art Grants- Art Bank - are open to applicants from MD and VA. Please confirm in the guidelines
The Artist Fellowship and PEF for individuals are restricted to DC residents for application.
We welcome panelists from MD and VA!
Will there be a Visual Arts Fellowship Application Exhibition at I Street Gallery as in previous years?
We don't have a plan for the Fellowship Application Exhibition at the moment, but keep an eye out for future opportunities!
The Fellowship Grant is for DC residents only. But what if someone who lives in MD but works for a DC theater, does that make the individual eligible?
The Fellowship is only available to DC residents, but we would welcome you as a panel reviewer
Has there been any discussion about bringing the Sister Cities Grant back for FY25?
No plans as of yet, but your enthusiasm is appreciated!
Can I have an in-person meeting with a grant manager? Do you have an office?
Staff at CAH are on a partial telework schedule. We are most easily reached by email and phone, and can also set up virtual meetings. In-person meetings are at the discretion of the grant manager.
Are funds available for Fellowship or Events or Festival, which do not involve the Grant Process?
All of our funding for Fellowship and PEF goes through a panel review process. We do not have funds at this time outside of the grants process.
Can the application be submitted in Spanish?
We ask that all application materials be submitted in English. Please reach out to us about translation access support
What is the video file extension for uploads? What should I do if I run into problems?
Video samples may be uploaded as Mp4, or a YouTube or Vimeo link is supported by our application portal.
If you run into a problem, please contact a grant manager and we can help.
Can new applicants see sample applications?
We do not have sample applications available for review, but we do offer application review and feedback. (up until one week prior to the deadline)
What department handles screenplay and play writers?
You can apply to Fellowship as a writer (humanities) or a theater artist (Theater). Please reach out a grant manager to discuss your application materials.
To write a proposal for a graphic novel, does the artist who is going to illustrate the book need to live in DC too?
The fellowship grant is NOT a project grant. In your fellowship grant application, you will be showcasing your own work & your personal artist statements. If the graphic novel is a part of your body of work, you would include the work you have done.
from Kamanzi Kalisa to everyone: 4:22 PM
I believe it was 12k last year. (maximum award last year was $11K – minimum award was $5,000)
You would have to apply to PEF for a proposal based grant.
Can a project financed by a DC-CAH grant program use resources from other organizations for its development?
Yes. Please reach out to the program grant manager for additional guidance
Assuming criteria has been met, what are some things that would cause an applicant to not receive grants? What makes an applicant a strong candidate?
Reference page 9 of the fellowship application
Work samples are a critical component of the fellowship application
Make sure you pay close attention to the directions for work samples as that area carries the most weight of any criteria
how would I reach out directly so you can organize me into a cohort?
You can find the grant manager contact information in our request for applications
Is it okay to submit 2 samples from the same gig or should I go for more diverse samples (even if that means using some from last year)?
Submit the work samples that best demonstrate your art/humanities practice in its fullest.
I have a 40 minute performance sample. Is that too long?
Videos should not be longer than 5 minutes; if you submit a 10 minute video, the panelists wont go further than 5 minutes.
If you have a 40 minute sample, in the Description section of the video, include time codes to direct the panelists to the segment of that video sample that best demonstrates your work. Eg - “Panelists should view video section at 10:23 – 13:45 for the Lady Macbeth monologue”
If an artist has just moved to DC and works for a DC theater, is it too early to apply for a fellowship
Applicants need to be DC residents for one year before applying.
We encourage interested applicants to serve as panel reviewers.
does online reviews count as support documents?
Yes. However, you need to save a copy of the online review as a PDF to upload it to the document. A list of links will not be viewed by panelists.
If you have a wonderful support document that you submitted with a previous application, could it be submitted again?
Yes! You can re-use materials from prior applications if they are still useful. We recommend taking a look at all materials for a refresh and if they are relevant.
If we're asking a grants manager to review our application before the final deadline, what's the cutoff for asking for a review?
Please have materials uploaded into the grants portal, and reach out to a grant manager one week before the deadline.
can you re-number images in image library?
Yes! We have a tutorial for renaming here: URL
Can you apply as an organization and an artist separately?
You cannot overlap a project in an application. If you were to apply to PEF as an individual for a project, you could not also submit as an organization for the same project.
The Fellowship is only open to individuals.
Information from last year could possibly be necessary to mention, or used in the work statement (Why I am a DC artist). Is that acceptable?
It is okay to reuse information if it is relevant, supports your application and falls within any time limits.
Does the fellowship count as income?
It does. Please check with an accountant for guidance, but you should receive a 1099 from DC government for the tax year you receive payment.
Just curious any details regarding the size of Jpegs? Applications often have size, dpi etc of JPEGS. Does your application automatically size what gets uploaded?
Application Guidance can be found on Page 24 of the Guide to Grants:
Applicants should be able to view and/or play all work samples in the application before submitting;
- Select recent, high quality samples that relate as directly to the application as possible;
- Photograph uploads should be in JPEG (or JPG) format with a 72 dpi minimum resolution and should not exceed 8MB in size (each);
- Adding more than the recommended number of work samples to an application will often weaken it;
- Carefully chosen work samples (pictures, videos, excerpts, etc.) tend to make the biggest impact and create the strongest artistic impression;
- Advisory review panelists are required to review each applicant’s work samples; however, they are not guaranteed to review multiple work samples within the same application;
- Each work sample and document must give the specific name and title, so that panelists can identify what they are reviewing;
- For project-based grants, include samples of similar projects completed to illustrate an ability to execute the proposed project; and/or
- Panelists must be able to assess the skill level of the artist(s) involved in the project work to be created, exhibited or taught. For video submission:
- Do not include highly edited commercial/promotional videos as a work samples;
- Do not include poor quality video samples or samples with dim lighting, unstable video content, bright backlighting, or blurred images
- If the video work sample is longer than five (5) minutes, indicate the embedded timecode of the video where panelists should begin viewing the work sample (e.g. 5:05:00).
- For audio submissions:
- Panelists are unable to scan, rewind, or skip through a sample. Edit the audio clip to feature exactly the desired content; and
- For audio submissions with visual components, consider submitting as a video clip instead.