• DC Art Now 2026 Events
• More CAHppenings
• Student Loan Forgiveness for DC Residents
• Commission Meetings
• Local Arts Agencies Happenings
• Metro Art in Transit Opportunities
• Compass Pro Bono Support for Nonprofits
• Opportunities
• Resources
• Update Your Profile

Moments in Time: District history through photography

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Art Bank Collection, Moments in Time: District history through photography brings together a dynamic group of Art Bank grantee artists for a conversation about the work of documenting the evolving landscape and communities of DC. The panel will explore the historical acquisitions that were acquired this year, the stories they document, and the future of photography in DC.

Thursday, November 12, from 6 to 8 pm.

Mini Mosaic Workshop and closing reception

Join the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities on Thursday, December 10 from 6–8 p.m. for a closing reception and community mini mosaic workshop for DC Art Now 2026. Art Bank grantee artist Dany Green will lead a hands‑on workshop inspired by their distinctive mosaic practice. Attendees are invited to create a mini mosaic fridge magnet in the community room, or enjoy the exhibition one final time. Art materials provided on a first come first serve basis. All are welcome to create, celebrate, and close the exhibition in community.

Thursday, December 10, from 6 to 8 pm.

Requests for Applications are currently open for the following grant programs:

• FY27 Color the Curb: School Safety Program RFA | Submission Deadline: Monday, November 16, 2026 at 5 pm EST 
• FY27 Juried Exhibition Grant RFA | Submission Deadline: Monday, November 30, 2026 at 4:59 pm EST
• FY27 Fresh Paint DC RFA | Submission Deadline: Monday, December 7, 2026 at 4:59 pm EST

Student Loan Forgiveness for DC Residents

Managing student loans can be overwhelming, but the District’s Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman (OSLO) is here to help. DC residents can receive free, one‑on‑one counseling to understand repayment options, lower monthly payments, explore forgiveness programs, and troubleshoot servicer issues. Many arts organizations, particularly 501(c)(3) nonprofits, may also qualify their employees for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Staff can quickly check whether their employer is eligible by using the PSLF Employer Search Tool and entering the organization’s EIN.

If you have questions or need support, visit their website, watch their webinars, or contact OSLO at DCLoanHelp@dc.gov.

Our next Full Commission regular meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 ET on Monday, November 16. 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, November 12. Written comments may also be submitted by no later than Noon ET on Thursday, November 12, 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.

Local Arts Agencies Happenings

Howard County Arts Council Opportunities

Arts Scholarship for HoCo High School Seniors

🎓 Howard County Arts Scholarships – Apply Now! 🎓

Are you a HOCO HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR planning to pursue a degree in the arts?

Whether you’re interested in visual arts, music, theater, dance, or another creative field - learn more and apply!

📅 Deadline: January 21, 2027

IAM Creativity Applications Open

This year’s IAM Creativity disciplines are Folk & Traditional Performing Arts and Folk & Traditional Visual Arts!

📅 Online Info Session: November 5 at 6:30 PM

⏰ Application Deadline: December 17, 2026

The Individual Artist Merit and Creativity (IAM Creativity) Award is a merit-based program that recognizes, uplifts, and celebrates Howard County artists and the diverse art forms they bring to our community.

👉 Register for the online info session and learn more about how to apply!

Maryland State Arts Council Happenings

Grants for Artists

The purpose of the Grants for Artists program is to contribute to the sustainability of artists’ livelihoods by providing funds that support working or living expenses.

The Grants for Artists program aims to provide artists with holistic support rather than support that focuses solely on a particular product or project-based needs. A primary goal of the program is to strengthen the creative workforce, which is a vital part of Maryland’s economy and culture.

Funding Amount: $2,500

Deadline: 11/20/2026

Listening Session: Independent Artists

Are you an independent artist in Maryland? Our friends at the Maryland State Arts Council want to hear from you!

Join them virtually THIS Thursday, November 5 at 2 p.m. to discuss what support would be most meaningful to you and your creative work.

Register for their last listening session on their Eventbrite now.

Metro Art In Transit Opportunities

Bladensburg Bus Garage Public Art Project

The WMATA Art in Transit Program is inviting professional Artists/Artist-led Teams to submit their qualifications to create a site-specific artwork as part of the Phase 2 of the Bladensburg Bus Garage Reconstruction Project.

The three-dimensional artwork, such as a sculpture or a functional artwork, will be located by the Bus Entrance along Bladensburg Rd NE near 28th Street NE, and will serve as a welcoming landmark. The total public art budget is $330,000.

Submissions are due November 15, 2026.

Additional Opportunities

Are you an artist with a great idea for a public art project?  

Metro is seeking artists, designers, photographers, poets, illustrators and other creatives for temporary public art opportunities across our system. Artists from all backgrounds and experience levels are encouraged to apply, and you can submit your work on a rolling basis. 

Compass Pro Bono Support for Nonprofits

Get free consulting and leadership support for your nonprofit!

For 25 years, Compass Pro Bono has done the heavy lifting — recruiting and vetting skilled volunteers and managing each project — so nonprofits get expert support without adding to their team's workload.

Compass Pro Bono is accepting applications for three nonprofit opportunities:

• On Track: Applications open through November 9. Projects launch in February.
• On Board: Applications accepted year-round. Next deadline November 9 for nonprofits seeking a match in Winter 2026–27.
• On Demand: Applications accepted year-round. Matched as volunteers become available.

What is On Track?

On Track connects your nonprofit with a team of trained business professionals who volunteer to tackle a key strategic challenge — including AI Readiness, Board Development, Funding Strategy, Sustainability Analysis, and Strategic Marketing. We recommend a scoping call before applying to help identify your strongest project fit.

What is On Board?

On Board matches nonprofits with trained, mission-driven board candidates ready to contribute from day one. Candidates complete preparation in governance, finance, and fundraising — so your organization gains not just a board member, but a strategic partner.

What is On Demand?

On Demand pairs your nonprofit one-on-one with a vetted business professional for focused, 8-week support as either a thought partner or a consultant — on a range of challenges, from fundraising and governance to HR and technology.

Upcoming Information Session for Nonprofits

Thursday, November 5, 2026, 1 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. CT — Register here

HumanitiesDC Happenings

Community Journalism Program Applications

Community journalism blends the skills and professionalism of traditional media reporting with local community knowledge and connections, resulting in news that is built for and by the community.

This FREE 17-week training program at HumanitiesDC is designed to equip DC residents, who have minimal to no formal journalism experience, with the knowledge, skills, and mentorship to tell the stories that matter most to them and their communities.

Apply by Friday, November 13 at 11:59pm.

Public Humanities Shareback & Info Session

Get funds to help tell your story! ✨

On November 18, HumanitiesDC will host a discussion with 3 DC residents with exceptional storytelling prowess, all of whom have gotten support from their organization to help them bring their work to public eyes and ears.

Attendees are invited to come learn more about their work and hear about ways they can get grants and other support for your own public projects!

Guest Artist Visa Survey

📣 Are you a Dance Artist who works or engages with Guest Artist Visas under the O and P visa classification? Your input is needed!

A wide range of national arts organizations are working in collaboration to improve opportunities for international cultural activity.

As continued delays, disruptions, and changes in procedures impact the U.S. guest artist visa process, the Performing Artist Visa Working Group is collecting real-time data to assist in ongoing advocacy efforts and technical assistance.

👉 Take the Guest Artist Visa Survey by Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET

(Survey data is being collected by OPERA America on behalf of the Performing Artist Visa Working Group. This survey is generously supported by The Music Man Foundation.)

Access/VSA Emerging Young Artists Program: Thrive

"Thrive" asks disabled artists to consider how their life and their art are flourishing. As an artist how is your work evolving and changing? As a disabled person, how are you vigorously developing and growing? Show us your thrive!

Apply by November 19.

Design the Next DC Public Library Card

D.C., your art could be on the next official DC Public Library card! 🎨 Show DCPL what makes the District special for you. Three winners will be selected: Kids, Teens & Adults. 

📅 Submit your design by Dec. 1, 2026

Paid Spring Internships at Wolf Trap

Wolf Trap is currently accepting applications for spring internships. Applications are being accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Spring applications will not be considered after December 1.

Apply by December 1 to Gain Arts Administration Experience!

Self Help Graphics & Art is home to one of Los Angeles’s oldest collaborative print studios and longest running annual public celebrations of Day of the Dead. It also hosts extensive educational programs for small- and large-groups and exhibitions across LA County. Researcher J.V. Decemvirale, Ph.D., notes that when the staff shifts from small scale, artist-focused work to larger-scale events for the community, internal tensions and staff burnout can arise. 

The study outlines a dynamic prevalent among many community-focused arts organizations: pressure to show value and impact of an organization's work to funders, which often means scale, and the unrealistic demands it places on staff to run larger events without adequate funds. It also points to opportunities for funders to consider other indicators they might use to gauge an organization's impact.

National Trends 2026

Eight years. 11,000+ organizations. One sector, settling.

National Trends 2026 is SMU DataArts' longest view yet, examining revenue, expenses, staffing, audiences, and bottom line before, during, and after the pandemic.

Overall, the sector is moving past pandemic-era volatility, but earned revenue is down and resources are stretched for the organizations that bring music, theatre, art, and shared experiences to our communities. Even so, about two in three organizations did not run a deficit, pointing to a sector that is settling but still feeling the strain of a slower, incomplete recovery.

What the data can’t yet answer: can organizations rebuild capacity and audiences while protecting the cushion they’ve worked to preserve?

Music Educators, Influencers, and the Law

Learn about the ethics of social media, being an influencer, and promoting your program from a former Principal, HR Director, and successful YouTuber. Participants will learn how to successfully navigate the boundaries of ethics, professional use of social media, and personal use of social media, including use for monetary gain.

NAfME presents this live virtual event at no charge to all as a service to the music education profession. To register, you must enter your NAfME member information or create a nonmember account. After registering, check your email for instructions. A recording of this program will be available to all registrants for one week following the live event.

Wednesday, December 2, from 7 to 8 pm ET.

Every Board's Must-Have Documents

All boards need documentation of their activities, internal rules, and processes.

From articles of incorporation to job descriptions, these must-have documents are the backbone of a nonprofit's governance.

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.

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