FY25 CTC:SSP Program Overview

• COLOR THE CURB: SCHOOL SAFETY PROGRAM GRANT
• SITE LOCATIONS
• PROJECT BACKGROUND
• PROJECT GOALS
• PROJECT SCHEDULE
• GRANT ELIGIBILITY AND RESTRICTIONS
• BACKGROUND CHECK
  • DCPS and Color the Curb Artist Clearance Information

COLOR THE CURB: SCHOOL SAFETY PROGRAM GRANT
Applicants may submit one (1) grant application to this program per fiscal year cycle

OVERVIEW

Color the Curb: School Safety Program is a collaborative design and placemaking project created through a partnership of CAH, DDOT, and DCPS. This program aims to increase pedestrian safety by painting ground murals in curb extensions outside or near schools in Washington, DC. We are seeking mural artists and professionals with prior large-scale exterior mural painting and youth engagement experience to design and install these ground murals in the intersections of 3 (three) schools in Ward 1 and Ward 6 in Washington, DC. Selected artists will be paired with one of the 3 (three) designated schools and will work closely with faculty and students at the paired school to create a final mural design. DDOT will provide a ground mural technical expert who will work with each selected artist/artist team on planning and implementation of the approved final design.

Applications will be reviewed and evaluated based on prior work demonstrating experience with large-scale exterior murals, youth engagement, and community-based projects. One artist or artist team will be selected for each of the 3 (three) sites. For FY25 two artists will be assigned to Maury Elementary School. Selected artists will work with school personnel at their assigned school to gather student input on the mural design. This input will help form the basis for the development of site-specific designs to be approved by CAH, DDOT, and DCPS for final installation. The intention is to create engaging and vibrant works of art that build a sense of ownership and connection to their community and that will be a source of neighborhood pride for all residents.

SITE LOCATIONS

Three (3) schools in Wards 1 and 6 that recently received transportation safety improvements were identified for this project. Through these projects, DDOT seeks to provide alternatives to driving and spaces for students to safely walk and bike to school. Each selected artist or artist team will work with one of the three schools to create a ground mural that the artist will install in the curb extensions adjacent to the school.

APPLICANTS: DO NOT CONTACT THE SCHOOLS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS APPLICATION; CAH WILL NOTIFY SELECTED ARTISTS OF THEIR PAIRED SCHOOL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TIMELINE.

 

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Across the country, cities are installing curb extensions to increase safety for all roadway users, especially pedestrians. Curb extensions reduce the speed of traffic while turning and minimize the distance pedestrians need to walk to cross the street at crosswalks. DDOT installs quick- build curb extensions, consisting of posts and paint, to address immediate safety concerns at intersections. These quick-built curb extensions provide a canvas for public art in public space.

“The Fantastical Creatures of Brightwood” by Joel Bergner and Assistant Artists: Eliecer Jorge Bermudez and Guilherme da Silva, at Brightwood Elementary School 1300 Nicholson St NW. Completed curb extension mural for FY 23 Color the Curb: School Safety Program

The broader Color the Curb program began as a joint agency project between CAH and DDOT's Arts in the Right-of-Way program. Color the Curb supports artist designs that transform intersections into works-of-art to increase the safety and visibility of pedestrians while adding visual interest to the area. The ground murals are meant to elevate the importance of safe intersections for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists; celebrate the culture, spirit and/or history of the District; and create a public canvas that features the artwork of District artists and/or graphic designers. In 2021, five artists were selected to launch this initiative with designs and installation of ground murals at four intersections in Northwest. In 2022, CAH and DDOT expanded Color the Curb to Color the Curb: School Safety Program by collaborating with DCPS and selected elementary schools in Ward 7 to transform DDOT designated intersections near those schools. Since then, the program has brought murals to schools in NE, SE, and NW.

PROJECT GOALS

Color the Curb: School Safety Program invites mural artists and designers to collaborate with selected elementary school students to design artwork that will contribute to making their commute to school safer and more vibrant. Through this RFA, CAH seeks to install artwork that:

• Support slower and safer roadways on the blocks adjacent to selected school entrances.
• Engages students in the creative and design processes to make an impact on, and foster a sense of stewardship in, their community; and
• Creates a public canvas that features the artwork of local artists and/or graphic designers inspired by youth from each school.

PROJECT SCHEDULE

Date	Activity & Deliverables
Monday, December 2, 2024	Color the Curb: School Safety RFA launched
Monday, February 3, 2025, at 9 pm	Application submission deadline
February 2025	Selection Panel convenes
March 2025	Applicants notified. Selected artists/artist teams paired with selected school
Beginning March 2025	Meet with students to plan designs. Develop design and get approval from CAH, DDOT, and DCPS
April – June 2025	Install ground murals
By September 2025	Murals complete

 

GRANT ELIGIBILITY AND RESTRICTIONS

An Artist Team is defined to include artists and designers. Artist Teams must identify a Lead Artist, who will apply for the grant and if selected actively engage in the design, facilitation, and installation of the project. Artist Leads must be District residents, while Artist Team members may reside outside of the District of Columbia.

Individuals may apply having met the following eligibility requirements at the time of application:

• Artist/Lead Artist was not awarded the Color the Curb: School Safety Program grant in FY24.
• Artist/Lead Artist is a resident of the District of Columbia aged 18 or older.
• Artist/Lead Artist has a permanent District of Columbia address, as listed on legal identification and tax returns. The address provided on all application materials must match exactly the address provided on the submitted IRS W-9 form. Post office boxes cannot be used as a demonstration of the applicant’s primary address.
• Artist/Lead Artist is in good standing with CAH demonstrated by the applicant’s complete or non-delinquent reporting due to CAH from any prior CAH funded program. Applicants that are not in good standing are ineligible to apply and therefore may not receive any additional grant award (in any category of grant funding) from CAH in FY 2025. Applicants may not use a secondary party that acts on its behalf (“fiscal agent”) in the performance and execution of financial duties.
• Artist/Lead Artist is a practicing professional artist with demonstrated large-scale exterior mural and community-based projects experience. An asphalt painting experience is not a requirement, but a plus. If working as a team, elements of the project must be supported by a team of experienced arts professionals.
• Artist/Lead Artist demonstrates ability to engage youth (elementary school-aged youth) of varying skill levels in an art project.

Applicant Restrictions (not eligible):

• Individuals that require “fiscal agents”.
• Non-profit organizations.
• For-profit (commercial) entities.
• Private foundations.
• Civic organizations.
• Political organizations.
• Foreign governments.
• Colleges or universities.
• State and Federal Government agencies, including Public Schools.

No Applicant/Grantee shall retain a person to solicit or secure the Grant upon an agreement or understanding for a commission, percentage, brokerage, or contingent fee. Except, an applicant or grantee may condition its compensation for a bona fide employee on grant-related job performance and may retain an attorney for compensation permitted by the District's Rules of Professional Conduct.

BACKGROUND CHECK

If selected, Artist must submit to and pass a District of Columbia government-administered criminal background check pursuant to the Criminal Background Checks for the Protection of Children Act of 2004, a DCPS review of applicable state and federal child protective and sex offender registries per D.C. Code § 38-951.03(a)(5A) and 42 C.F.R.§ 1302.90, and a tuberculosis screening prior to the start of youth engagement activities. More information on DCPS website

DCPS and Color the Curb Artist Clearance Information

Selected artists will have to obtain clearance from District of Columbia Public Schools: DCPS Clearance Application

• Color the Curb artists are considered Supervised Volunteers.
• Results: Up to 14 business days.
• Fingerprinting through FieldPrint*
  • Detailed information on that process can be found here
  • Results: 3-5 business days
• All DCPS volunteers, employees and contractors working with students must take the Mandated Reporter training:
  • Online Training (YouTube Video)
  • Post Test (Complete after watching the video course)
• Once fingerprint results are received, volunteers can begin providing services under the supervision of a cleared contractor or program staff member or DCPS staff member.
• Email for DCPS Clearance Team, [email protected]

—> View Application Process

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