DC Arts Commission Awards Over $26.1 Million in Grants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2025

CONTACT
JR Russ, Public Affairs Specialist, CAH: (202) 671-2786; [email protected]

DC ARTS COMMISSION AWARDS OVER $26.1 MILLION IN GRANTS

(WASHINGTON, DC) - The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) announces the awarding of 1,086 grants totaling just over 26.1 million dollars to individuals and nonprofit organizations primarily in the District of Columbia. The funding, through nine grant programs, will support a variety of arts and humanities activities and projects across all eight wards of the District in Fiscal Year 2026.

Funding recommendations were presented by staff at last month's Full Commission Regular Meeting on Monday, September 29, 2025. Those recommendations were discussed and approved by CAH Commissioners. A recording of the meeting is viewable on the Commission's YouTube channel. Grant award and declination notifications went out earlier this month to all applicants.

"We are excited and honored that the artist community trusted the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities with their visions in many cases their dreams. It was our mission to ensure we responded in a fair and equitable way, increasing our presence within the community, and increasing our commitment to transparency and accessibility. The DC arts community is second to none, and both the grant proposals and awards are a testament to that fact." - Aaron Meyers, Executive Director

CAH grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Grant applications are reviewed and scored by independent advisory panels with final award determinations made by the CAH Commissioners. Additional grant awards and grant opportunities may be announced later in FY 2026. Listings of current FY 2026 grantees and funding amounts are available on our website here: dcarts.dc.gov/page/fy-2026-grantees

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About the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) provides grants, professional opportunities, education enrichment, and other programs and services to individuals and nonprofit organizations in all communities within the District of Columbia. The Commission is supported primarily by District government funds and in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.