The Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) requests applications from qualified artists and District nonprofit art galleries or organizations for its Fiscal Year 2025 Art Bank Program. Award amounts vary but eligible individual applicants may be awarded up to $15,000 and nonprofit art galleries or organizational applicants may be awarded up to $20,000.
Each year, CAH acquires fine art from metropolitan artists to grow its Art Bank Collection. Artwork in the collection is managed by the Public Art Department of CAH and loaned to District government agencies for display in public areas and the offices of government buildings. Now in its 36th year, the Art Bank Collection includes nearly 3,000 artworks in various media.
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:
- Ceramics
- Collage
- Drawings
- Fabric Arts
- Mixed media
- Paintings
- Photographs
- Prints
- Sculptures
For the purpose of this grant, a metropolitan artist is defined as a legal resident of Washington, DC, or a legal resident within a 50-mile radius of the Washington, DC boundaries, for at least one (1) year before the application deadline.
CAH will award selected applicants (“grantees”) a grant for the acquisition and to support the delivery of the artwork to CAH offices CAH grant funds must be spent within CAH’s Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 2025) (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025).
This grant is competitive. The total grant award will not exceed $15,000 for individuals and $20,000 for nonprofit art galleries or organizations. Each artwork must be priced at $10,000 or lower. If multiple artworks are acquired the total award cannot exceed the grant limit. Pricing for this grant must match market pricing (i.e., prices offered at galleries, in studios and/or on websites).
Award amounts are subject to CAH’s availability of funds and are based on the organization’s advisory review panel score and ranking.
Program Goals
• Grow the District’s collection of art to reflect the rich, diverse artistic history and communities of the District of Columbia and the metropolitan region.
• Provide support, exposure, and professional benefits for visual artists residing in the District of Columbia and metropolitan region.
• Enhance the aesthetic experience for District employees and visitors who access District of Columbia government buildings and public spaces.
A. Statutory Authority
Under D.C. Code §§ 39-201 – 206, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities evaluates and initiates action on matters relating to the arts and humanities and encourages the development of programs that promote progress in the arts and humanities in the District of Columbia. CAH is supported by District government funds and, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts. As such, all applicable federal and District regulations, such as OMB Circulars A-102, A-133, 2 CFR 180, 2 CFR 225, 2 CFR 220, and 2 CFR 215 govern this grant.