FY26 CTC:SSP Program Overview

School	Address	Ward
Garrison Elementary School	1200 S St NW, Washington, DC 20009	2
Dorothy I. Height Elementary School	1300 Allison St NW, Washington, DC 20011	4
Theodore Roosevelt High School	4301 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20011	4
Kimball Elementary School	3375 Minnesota Ave SE, Washington, DC 20019	7

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.

“Express Yourself!” by Shani Shih & Ann Gill at Whittier Elementary School. FY 24 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. In 2022, Color the Curb expanded to Color the Curb: School Safety Program by collaborating with DCPS and selecting elementary schools. 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. 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:

• Supports slower and safer roadways on the blocks adjacent to selected school entrances;
• Engages students in the creative and design process 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, November 17, 2025	Color the Curb: School Safety RFA launched
Monday, January 12, 2026, at 9pm	Application submission deadline
January 2026	Selection Panel convenes
March 2026	Applicants notified. Selected artists/artist teams paired with selected school
March 2026	Meet with students to plan designs. Develop design and get approval from CAH, DDOT, and DCPS
Summer 2026	Install ground murals
September 2026	Murals complete
October 2026	Final Report submitted

GRANT ELIGIBILITY AND RESTRICTIONS

An individual may submit one application for a funding opportunity on their own behalf; a Lead Artist may apply for an Artist Team in which they are included. All applicants must meet all eligibility requirements at the time the application is submitted. Failure to meet any individual requirement may make the application ineligible for further review and award. An Artist Team is defined to include two artists and/or designers working together. 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.

Artist/Lead Artist 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 FY25.
• Artist/Lead Artist is a resident of the District of Columbia aged eighteen (18) or older for at least one (1) year prior to the submission deadline and must maintain residency in the District of Columbia during the entire grant period.
• 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 2026. 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 can obtain a “Certificate of Clean Hands” from the District’s Office of Tax and Revenue (MyTax.DC.gov).
• 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.
• Artist/Lead Artist warrants exclusive and perpetual ownership of and/or control over all copyrights in the mural by completing Warranty Regarding Relationship to Grant-related Copyrights (“Addendum C”).

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.

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. •Color the Curb artists are considered Supervised Volunteers. More information on DCPS website.

—> View Application Process

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