All applications must be submitted online by 9 PM ET on Monday, May 19, 2025
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) requests applications from qualified artists and District nonprofit art galleries or organizations for its Fiscal Year 2026 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 
$25,000.
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 39th 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:
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· Ceramics · Collage · Drawings |
· Fabric Arts · Mixed media · Paintings |
· Photographs · Prints · Sculptures |
For the purpose of this grant, metropolitan artist is defined as a legal resident of Washington, DC, or a legal resident of within a 50-mile radius of the Washington, DC boundaries, for at least one (1) year prior to 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 2026 (FY 2026) (October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026).
This grant is competitive. The total grant award will not exceed $15,000 for individuals and $25,000 for nonprofit art galleries or organizations. Each artwork must be priced at $15,000 or lower. To promote a broader reach, only one artwork will be acquired per awarded artist. Awards to nonprofit art galleries and organizations are limited to one artwork per submitted artist and cannot exceed $25,000 in total. Artwork prices submitted for this grant must match prices offered at galleries, at auction, in studios, and/or on artists’ websites).
Award amounts are subject to CAH’s availability of funds and are based upon 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 metropolitan region.
- Provide support, exposure, and professional benefit for visual artists residing in the District of Columbia and metropolitan region.
- Enhance the aesthetic experience for District employees and visitors that access District of Columbia government buildings, services, and public spaces.
A. Statutory Authority
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).
B. Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (I.D.E.A.)
CAH embraces a commitment to the philosophy of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (I.D.E.A.) and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq.) in its work. CAH encourages applicants and grantees to be as inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible in their work throughout the District of Columbia, beyond participants with disabilities. Successful applications will consider a broad definition of “accessibility” by addressing financial, geographic, demographic, cultural, and developmental access in their programming/projects. Please review Addressing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (I.D.E.A.) in Grant Applications in the Guide to Grants for full details.