Rip! Tear! Collage as Critique
Overview
The Juried Exhibition Grant (JEG) provides support for District-based artists to exhibit their work in a juried, themed visual art exhibition. In addition to the award, it also provides the use of the 200 I (Eye) Street SE lobby exhibition space.
JEG Request for Applications
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) requests applications from qualified artists for its Fiscal Year 2026 Juried Exhibition Grant (JEG). JEG provides support for District-based artists to exhibit their work in a juried, themed visual art exhibition through grant awards and the use of CAH’s exhibition space located in the lobby of 200 I Street, SE.
This Request for Applications (RFA) seeks works for an exhibition titled Rip! Tear! Collage as Critique which centers collage as an accessible and hyper-contemporary tool for engaging in social commentary. In a time when our nation—and the social fabric of the District—is experiencing deep division, fragmentation, and transformation, collage emerges as a democratic form through which artists can explore stories of rupture, repair, and reassembly.
This RFA calls on DC area artists who use collage not only as a visual technique, but also as a metaphor for cultural, political, ecological, and personal investigation and critique. Artists are invited to interpret collage broadly—as direct practice, conceptual tool, or material metaphor—and are encouraged to explore how fragmentating, remixing, and juxtaposing images, materials, and methods can reflect the complexity of our shared condition.
Artworks will be selected by a jury panel, including:
- Helina Metaferia, Artist
- Teri Henderson, Founder of Black Collagists, Curator, and Arts & Culture Editor for Baltimore Beat
- Zoe Charlton, Artist
- Michelle May-Curry, CAH Curator
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RFA Released |
Monday, October 20, 2025 |
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Submission Deadline |
Monday, December 1, 2025, at 9:00 pm ET |
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Jury Panel to Select Finalists |
Late-January, 2026 |
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Notifications Made to Applicants of Finalist Selections |
Early-March, 2026 |
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Awarded Grantee Delivers Artwork for Exhibition to CAH at 200 I Street SE. |
Mid-late May, 2026 |
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Exhibition Dates |
June 11 – August 14, 2026 |
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. Interested applicants may register for workshops via Eventbrite.
| Workshop | Time |
| JEG Application Workshop #1 | Friday, October 31st, 12:00-1:30 PM |
| JEG Application Workshop #2 | Wednesday, November 5th,1:00-2:30 PM |
| JEG Application Workshop #3 | Monday, November 17th, 3:30-5:00 PM |
RFA
View the JEG documents by downloading the PDFs or visiting the links. You can also navigate the RFA on our website using the Table of Contents below.
Key Links
- Certificate of Clean Hands
- Form W-9
- Grant Application Portal
- Questions for Individuals
- Statement of Certification
- Additional Resources for Grant Applicants
Table of Contents
- Description of Funding Opportunity
- Award Information
- Eligibility Information
- Application and Submission Information
- Navigating the Grant Application Process
- Application and Review Information
- Award Administration Information
- CAH Contacts