• FY25 Grant Notifications Timeline Reminder
• Introducing Karyn Miller
• A Toast to the Boogie Closing Reception
• Commission Meetings
• CAH In the Community
• DC Dance & Theatre Census Kickoff
• Countdown to DC Art Now 2025
• We Want to Hear From You
• Grantee Happenings
• Opportunities
• DC Arts News
• Resources
• Visit our eMuseum
• Update Your Profile

A friendly reminder for those who applied to any number of our FY25 Requests for Applications, that we will notify applicants as to the results of your applications on or around October 1, 2024 via (1) letter of intention to award, (2) letter of ineligibility, or (3) letter of denial. 

This, and further information about notifications and award disbursements, can be found on page 16 of our FY25 Guide to Grants.

Prior to working for Rockville, I served as the Director of Planning, Art, and Activation for the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) in downtown Washington, DC. I led large-scale temporary and permanent public art projects, creative placemaking, and planning efforts in close collaboration with DC’s planning and transportation agencies and federal partners. During my time at the BID, I worked with dozens of artists and community nonprofits, led landmark partnerships with the Smithsonian Institution, presented public art with the European Union Delegation and various Embassies, while leading efforts to invite creatives to activate vacant space.

Join CAH for the exciting closing reception and artist talkback for "A Toast to the Boogie: Art in the Name of Funk(adelic)" exhibition.

This vibrant event will feature two delicious food trucks, a live DJ spinning tunes, and pop-up art vendors showcasing their unique creations. You'll also have the chance to meet and support our talented friends from Shanklin Hall. 

Don't miss this perfect blend of art, music, and community celebration!

The District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities will hold a special Executive Committee Meeting Wednesday, August 14th, 2024, at 4 pm. The Executive Committee Meeting was called by the Chairperson of the Commission for the following purpose: 

1. Per the Commission’s bylaws, the Executive Committee must meet on a quarterly basis and after new Committee Chairs are elected. 

No other business will be considered at the meeting. 

Our next Full Commission regular meeting will begin at 5:30 ET on Monday, August 19. Members of the public are invited to observe the meeting live online on CAH’s YouTube channel.

Members of the public may request three minutes to speak during the public comment period held at this meeting. Requests must be submitted by no later than Noon ET on Thursday, August 15. Written comments may also be submitted by no later than Noon ET on August 15, as an alternative or in addition to spoken comments. Public comments, both spoken and written, will be included in the public record of the meeting.

This meeting is governed by the Open Meetings Act. Please address any questions or complaints arising under this meeting to the Office of Open Government at opengovoffice@dc.gov.

We've collaborated with DC-based super producer Cheecho to assemble a showcase of DC-area hip-hop artists to put on for the district and usher in the next generation of superstars!

Arrive early for a panel on music industry best practices and community safety – Stay for the concert and vibes!

6 to 10 pm on Wednesday, August 7 at Songbyrd Music House. Panel from 6 to 7 pm. Showcase Performances from 8 to 10 pm.

Showcase artists:

• Morally Rich Jake
• Tank Bagz
• $oiljaa Auto
• Trap Bae

With Featured Performance for Glock Jones! Sounds Provided By DJ Bri Mafia! Hosted by DJ Trilla Kay!

Join us and the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative for an evening of games, refreshments, and community-building! Meet leaders in the DC arts scene, learn about upcoming opportunities, and discover how you can get involved.

Free to attend | Registration Required

5:30 to 7:30 pm on Tuesday, August 20 at Boardwalk Bar & Aracade at the Wharf.

The DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities welcomes theatre and dance artists and industry professionals to Whitlow's on U Street as we kick off the DC Area Theatre Census and the DC Area Dance Census!

The DC Area Theatre Census and the DC Area Dance Census are community-led initiatives to better understand the current needs of the Greater Washington, DC-area theatre and dance communities.

Join us from 6 to 8 pm on Wednesday, August 21, at Whitlow's on U Street.

57 days and counting until our DC Art Now 2025 exhibition opens! This exhibition features selected work by finalists for the annual Art Bank Program grant. 

And to help countdown the days and the weeks, we've been posting on Facebook and Instagram, sharing artwork acquired from our FY 2024 application cycle, including this week's highlights:

Image 4- Dancing Orchids

Elizabeth Ashe, 2020

The Ninth Room

Franz Jantzen, 2022

Flow of Ripples

Erwin Timmers, 2023

Glow

Gail Shaw-Clemons, 2023

If you've been a subscriber for a year or more, you may remember we reached out last August with a Communications survey. We invited you to provide us feedback on the communications you receive from the agency. And input from this survey helps us improve how we share information about our grants and other programs with you. For example, two years ago responses led to us starting a monthly newsletter.

And so whether you're a new or seasoned subscribe, we are seeking your feedback, especially anyone who's joined our list since last October. This survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete. Thank you, in advance, for your thoughts and candor.

Did you and/or your organization apply for an FY 2025 CAH grant? We invite you to provide feedback on the process. This may take up to 10 minutes to complete, and should not take more than 15.

Through a valueable partnership with the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, over eighty talented youth from Washington, DC, have collaborated with Children's Legacy Theatre to bring this riveting and enlightening theater production to life.

'Mystic Library' is a dramatic exploration of community and friendship, where the answers to life challenges lie within the mystical pages of the library itself. The story follows five teens who find solace in thweir neighborhood library, only to discover it's in danger of closing due to city budget cuts. The Mystic Library becomes the battleground for a courageous fight to save it, showcasing themes of unity, resilience, and the pwer of community.

Join Children''s Legacy Theatre, August 1st and 2nd, 2024 at Matthew's Memorial Baptist Church for their 10th Annual Ten Minute Play Festival.

Next up in DC Jazz Jam's Pianist Envy series this Sunday (8/4/24) is Alfred Yun, who just wrapped up his stint as one of the Strathmore Artists-in-Residence this year. Alfred will be joined by an all-star house band of Elijah Balbed (sax), Juff Cuny (bass), and Paul Jung (drums).

So come sit in with the band and throw your support to a great local joint! 6:30-9:00pm @ Haydee’s (3102 Mount Pleasant Street NW). No cover!

Through interviews with prominent thought leaders in the arts and dynamic footage of creative pursuits in artistic expression, teaching, and community-based arts programming across the Washington DC metropolitan region, common threads of a larger and vital arts story are revealed and celebrated in this 30-minute documentary from EMMY-Awarded director, videographer and editor, Todd Clark, in partnership with the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop.

7 pm on Thursday, August 8, at the Atlas Performing Arts Center

Join The STAND Foundation for an unforgettable festival celebrating Blackness, creativity, wellness, and the profound connection between humans and horses.

2 to 6 pm, on Sunday, August 25, 2024, at the Rock Creek Park Horse Center.

Thomas Circle Singers is excited to announce that auditions for all voice types are happening this month!

• Thomas Circle Singers is a warm, welcoming choral ensemble with a dual mission of artistic excellence and community service.
• The audition involves vocalizing and rehearsing a new piece. Singers do not need to prepare a piece of music for their audition.
• Rehearsals are mostly on Tuesday evenings, with occasional Mondays or Saturdays.

McLean Project for the Arts and the Washington Sculptors Group have released their call for entries for Sculpture NOW 2024, a non-thematic exhibition of a variety of new works, including three-dimensional freestanding sculpture, wall-hung and ceiling-hung sculpture, installations, and multimedia and performance-based works.

Juried by MPA Curator and Artistic Director Nancy Sausser, the exhibition will run September 12 - October 26, 2024 and will be on display at McLean Project for the Arts. The deadline for application is Sunday, August 4 at 11:59pm. 

The Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture requests entries from artists in the DMV region for the 53rd Annual Labor Day Art Show, a Glen Echo Park tradition that features a wide range of local artists and brings thousands of art enthusiasts and collectors/buyers to the Park every year.

Deadline to Apply is August 5, 2024.

This program provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies to artists in financial need* who are creating in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, and choreography. Only generative artists are eligible—artists creating their own, independent work, with recent and ongoing opportunities for the public to experience that work.

Applications Close: Tuesday, August 13 at 5:00 PM ET

Boise City Department of Arts & History invites emerging and mid-career artists in any creative field to apply for a residency at the James Castle House in Boise, Idaho. The historic home site, where American artist James Castle lived and worked for over four decades, stands today as a testament to the artist's unique talent, lifelong practice, and artistic legacy.

This residency invites artists to immerse themselves in the site, explore the house, its history, and the surrounding landscape, and respond to their experience through the creation of new works.

Open to applicants legally able to work in the United States. Apply by August 9, 2024.

The DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative is looking for a diverse group of new board members with a wide range of lived experiences that collectively represent the richness of the city. Their board is a group of local community members that help ensure DC Collaborative is a strong, healthy organization that centers its mission and uses its resources as best as possible. 

Applications are due August 23rd.

Dance Place is seeking a dynamic, motivated, and talented individual to join their team as the Studio Education Manager for their nationally recognized, cultural arts center in Washington, DC. This full-time, exempt position will bring support to their passion for building a sustainable community of artists, audiences, and students through high-quality performances, commissions, training, and educational programs. 

Black Tattoo Anthology is celebrating the rich tapestry of Black artistry and culture through tattoos, music, and vibrant community experiences, October 24 to 26 at the University of the District of Columbia. This unique festival will bring together artists, enthusiasts, and supporters for an unforgettable three-day event filled with creativity, inspiration, and fun.

And there are opportunities to vend and volunteer.

If you or someone you know resides in Howard County:

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has launched a new Public Art program in partnership with the Howard County Arts Council. This program, called Arts For All, will enhance the county’s cultural landscape by commissioning permanent public art installations at county facilities and community spaces, reflecting the creative talent and vision of the Howard County community. In his FY25 Operating Budget, Ball made an investment $1.5 million to fund up public art installations at various county locations over the next several years.

Public Art Survey

As Howard County Government and the Arts Council launch the ‘Arts for All’ program, they want your feedback on the themes, types, and locations of public art displays in the county!

Each year, creatives from across the globe head to Austin, TX to premiere their feature film, short, TV or XR project in front of press, industry, and enthusiastic audiences. From risk-taking documentaries to innovative narratives and prestige TV series to provocative after-dark features, there's a screening category for every project!

Is your project ready for its big-screen debut? Submissions are now open for the SXSW Film & TV Festival through October 2! They're looking for the next class of Official Selections for SXSW 2025 from March 7–15.

The past year has been tumultuous, to say the least, for academic institutions. Join this intimate conversation between Lisa Funderburke, ACA President + CEO, and Alana Hernandez, Senior Curator at Arizona State University Museum, as we discuss artistic expression, labor, care, and well-being.

Artist Communities Alliance's Field Conversations are free and open to the public. 1 pm EDT on Thursday, September 26.

Candid’s live and on-demand trainings, webinars, and other resources are designed to improve your fundraising, overall sustainability, grantmaking, and transparency.

Check out just some of these free trainings they're providing the month of August:

• Introduction to project budgets
• Introduction to corporate giving
• Get your board fundraising

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities online database showcases our Art Bank Collection, a collection of moveable artworks loaned to other District government agencies for display in public offices, as well as our Public Art Collection of installations of large-scale artworks in public sites/places throughout the District of Columbia.

We understand that the frequency with which we send emails can be a lot at times for some of our subscribers So we invite you to consider opting into a monthly e-newsletter. You may also select email lists specifically for Grants and Public Art opportunities.

You can update your profile at the bottom of this and every email we send by clicking on “Update Profile”.

Please note: If you leave GENERAL LIST selected, this will override any other selections and you will still receive every email. Please be sure to deselect this if you choose one or more of the other options.