FY26 ABP Navigating the Grant Application Process

All applications must be submitted online by 9 PM ET on Monday, May 19, 2025

A. Creating an Application

1. Read the Guide to Grants.
2. Read the RFA guidelines (this document) and determine eligibility.
3. Visit dcarts.dc.gov and navigate to the “Grants” menu and select the “Grant Application Portal” to register using the “Sign Up today” link.
4. Once registered, select “My Open Applications” and click on “New Application” on the right side of the screen then select “Art Bank Program” from the program list.
5. Complete the application questions.
6. Upload all required documents, supplementary material, and artwork.

B. Submission Dates and Times

All applications must be submitted online by 9:00 PM ET on Monday, May 19, 2025. A confirmation email generates automatically upon submission of the application. Technical issues or failure to receive a confirmation e-mail should be brought to the immediate attention of CAH staff. Incomplete or late applications or applications that do not follow the instructions and guidelines are deemed ineligible for review and funding. CAH does not accept mailed, emailed or hand-delivered copies of grant applications and/or the required attachments. CAH will accept reasonable accommodation requests from applicants with disabilities in advance of the application due date to assist them in submitting grant applications via mail, email, or hand-delivery. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Jenna Kriegel at [email protected] and await request approval.

CAH’s grant application process is competitive and subject to the availability of funds. Applicants may not request or receive funding for the same activities through more than one CAH grant category. Multiple applicants may not apply for funding for the same project, whether through the same or different grant programs. Applicants can participate in only one application per year for this grant program.

C. Virtual Workshops

To improve the strength of applications, CAH strongly recommends participating in one of the following virtual workshops listed below. All workshops are virtual, free, and open to the public. More information about workshops may be found at dcarts.dc.gov under Grant Writing Assistance, or by calling the CAH Point of Contact listed in Section VII. Workshops and Live Chats may be accessed by visiting the CAH website. Interested artists and humanities practitioners may register for workshops via Eventbrite.

D. Technical Assistance

CAH staff are available to assist grant applicants during group or individual technical assistance sessions. Applicants may also request review of draft applications during a thirty (30) minute appointment during business hours scheduled no later than seven (7) calendar days in advance of the grant application deadline. CAH staff will not write applications for applicants. Applicants must prepare their full draft application in the CAH Grants Application Portal along with any questions in advance of scheduling a meeting for technical assistance.

To schedule an individual technical assistance meeting, please contact Michelle May-Curry, Curator, at 202-215-9486 or [email protected]; or Ron Humbertson, Art Collections Registrar, via email at [email protected].

E. Funding Restrictions

As a District of Columbia agency, CAH must ensure that all award funds are expended in a fiscally responsible manner; all awarded funds are subject to audit and Performance Monitoring. Allowable costs are those that the District government and CAH have determined as valid expenditures.

F. Other Submission Requirements

The Agency shall not be liable for any costs incurred in the preparation of applications in response to the RFA. Applicant agrees that all costs incurred in developing the application are the applicant’s sole responsibility.

View Application and Submission Information <— | —> View Application Review and Jury Evaluation Process

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