- Poetry Out Loud & Words on Fire
- Grants
- Strategic Planning Community Survey
- CAHmmunity Happenings
- Commission Meetings
- DC Public Library Happenings
- Grantee Happenings
- Opportunities
- Resources
- Update Your Profile
| | Poetry Out Loud & Words on Fire | | |
Come for the competition, stay for the performance.
Poetry Out Loud (11:00am - 1:00pm)
The day starts with our regional Poetry Out Loud competition.
Words on Fire (2:00pm - 4:00pm)
The day ends with Words on Fire
| | Requests for Applications | |
As shared in our February Commission meeting, we have multiple Requests for Applications (RFAs) for FY 2027 funding coming up. They are:
- Public Art Building Communities (PABC) | Monday, March 2 at 4 pm
- General Operating Support (GOS) | Tuesday, March 31
- East Arts (EA) | Monday, April 13
- Projects, Events, and Festivals (PEF), for Individuals and Orgs | Monday, April 13
We encourage you to bookmark the grant program pages below and update your email profiles as needed to ensure you receive our announcement and reminder emails.
| | Community Review Panelists | | Help shape the future of arts and humanities in D.C. by serving on a CAH grant review panel. We're seeking passionate individuals with expertise in the arts and humanities to evaluate grant applications. And each year we need hundreds of you as panelists. | | |
As the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) develops its next long-range Strategic Action Plan (FY26–FY29), we are committed to strengthening how we serve the District’s creative community, including design and delivery of grant programs.
Please take approximately 10 minutes to share your thoughts in the anonymous survey by March 15th (updated deadline from March 8th). We want to hear from you about:
- The most important barriers and opportunities facing the creative community
- How to improve the clarity, accessibility, and transparency of CAH grants
- Opportunities for partnership and capacity building
- Other needs and priorities that should inform our planning
As CAH continues its work serving the District’s arts and humanities community, your perspective is essential to ensuring our work reflects the needs and realities of our communities.
Thank you for helping us build a stronger, more responsive CAH.
| | Have you taken the survey yet? | | | | |
CAH invites grantees and our creative community to a breakfast Meet & Greet at Woolly Mammoth Theater on Wednesday March 18th at 9:30 am EST.
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities invites grantees and DC based creatives to a breakfast Meet and Greet on Wednesday March 18th at Woolly Mammoth Theater from 9:30am to 11:30am.
This is an opportunity for grantees and creatives to connect and meet with CAH staff and grant managers as the Commission gets ready to launch it's FY27 grants awards and programs coming up in 2026.
| | Tax Considerations for Artists Recording | | |
A recording of Tax Considerations for Artists, a recent Business of the Arts program, is available for viewing on our YouTube channel.
PLEASE NOTE: We understand there are concerns regarding the tax timeline and potential changes. While there is still uncertainty regarding the potential changes and if/when they will go into action, it is suggested to move forward with tax preparation as if changes will not take effect. It is better to be prepared for the earlier deadline.
*The staff of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities are not tax professionals, and the suggestions made during this presentation do not constitute "tax advice" and should stand as considerations to take as you prepare your taxes or work with a tax professional.
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Our next Full Commission regular meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 ET on Monday, March 23. 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, March 19. Written comments may also be submitted by no later than Noon ET on Thursday, March 19, 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.
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DC Public Library Happenings | | NAWI - Dear Future Me U.S. Premiere | |
A special screening of the Africa Academy Award-winning film NAWI: Dear Future Me, based on true events written by Kenyan teen counsellor Milcah Cherotich.
In 2025, the film became Kenya's official submission "Best International Feature Film" category of the 97th Academy Awards. It was directed by Kevin Schmutzler, a filmmaker known for producing documentaries that fund schools and shelters across Africa and South America (Biking Borders, Robin: Watch for Wishes).
The international award-winning film makes its US debut from 7 to 9 pm, on Thursday, March 5.
| Authors, Activists, Artists Speak! | |
Celebrate Women's History Month at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library for a cultural gathering that honors and celebrates Black women through the lens of Herstory, past and present.
1:30 to 4:30 pm, Sunday, March 8.
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In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month, the DC Public Library presents Freedom and Resistance: An Exhibition Inspired by The 1619 Project.
The exhibition features three sections, created in collaboration with the editors of The New York Times Magazine and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and educators from The Pulitzer Center. Throughout, visitors can explore connections between the experiences of Black Americans and the ideals of American freedom.
The exhibition is open until March 15, 2026.
| | Inside Out: Dignity and the Art of Seeing Closing and Catalogue Launch | | |
Celebrate the closing of Inside Out: Dignity and the Art of Seeing with the launch of the exhibition catalogue
Join us in person for the final event of Inside Out, with musical guests Loc’d N Band and the Fearless Praise Gospel Singers.
Thursday, March 5, from 6 to 8 pm EST.
| | Michèle Colburn & Auguster Williams Opening Reception | | Join the Arts Club of Washington on Friday, March 6, for the opening of their March Exhibition featuring Michele Colburn and Auguster D. Williams in the downstairs galleries, both curated by Daniel Shay. | | Pride Poetry Workshop - Queer Homage | | |
In this workshop, participants will create poems in conversation with, or in the style of, or in response to another poem, or piece of art, or song. “After poems” are a powerful form of connection across mediums and artists—they can generate dialogue, honor, subvert, or reclaim. Open to writers of all levels of experience and backgrounds.
Marlena Chertock is a disabled, lesbian, Jewish poet with two books of poems, who uses her skeletal dysplasia as a bridge to scientific poetry.
6:30 to 8 pm, Tuesday, March 24.
| | Finders Keepers Opening Reception | | |
Save the date!! Thursday, April 2. We invite you to join us for the opening reception of Finders Keepers.
Using items usually thrown away, fifteen local artists turn found objects — both manufactured and natural — into art. Using items usually thrown away, artists take discarded materials from the waste stream and re-make them, creating work that centers humanity, interconnection, and responsibility.
The exhibition is funded by a DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities FY26 Art Exhibition Grant and is co-curated by Ira Tattelman and Kanchan Balsé.
| | Georgetown Heritage Call for Artists & Creative Proposals | | |
Georgetown Heritage Arts is a recently created program to develop more arts and culture programming in one of D.C.’s most historic neighborhoods. Our goal is to amplify the neighborhood’s history, enlivens its public spaces and develop it as a nationally recognized destination for arts and cultural experiences—fostering connection, belonging, and civic pride.
The first round of concept proposals is due on March 6, 2026.
| | Takoma Park Arts Call for Film Screenings | | |
The Takoma Park Arts series is seeking full-length films and shorts for future screenings at the Takoma Park Community Center. Films may be in any genre, including documentary, drama, comedy, experimental, etc.
The deadline is March 8.
| | National Dance Project Production Grant | | |
NDP Production Grants annually support the creation/development and U.S.* touring/sharing of new dance projects.
In recognition of NDP’s 30 years of dedicated service to the field of dance, this year’s Production Grant cycle will award 30 NDP Production Grantees and 30 NDP Finalists.
Apply by March 16, 2026 at 11:59PM ET.
| | View Strong Garden Mural Artist Call | | |
#DCBridgePark invites artists to submit qualifications for an art installation at Ward 8's View Strong Garden at Washington View Apartments. This artwork is supported by a generous grant from the Darryl Chappell Foundation.
This paid commission will celebrate local stories, culture, and the power of connection through art.
Applications Due: March 20, 2026.
| | Congressional Art Competition | | |
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's office is now accepting art submissions for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition.
DC High School students are invited to submit ONE piece of our for a chance to have your art exhibited in the halls of the U.S. Capitol.
The submission deadline is March 27th at 5 pm EST. Please visit her website for further information, including competition guidelines. You can also contact them with questions at (202) 408-9041 and cierra.jay@mail.house.gov.
| | Set in DC Film Festival Call for Entries | | |
Sitar Arts Center is excited to present its 2026 Set in DC Film Festival, “The Unknown: Inspiring Transformation During Times of Uncertainty.”
They invite films that explore individual or collective transformation in times of uncertainty.
Submission Deadline: Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
| | Creative MoCo Programming & Capacity Building Project Grants | | |
Programming & Capacity Building Project Grants (PCBPG) are available to arts and/or humanities organizations and groups located in Montgomery County, MD that may or may not be incorporated as non–profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status.
Grant awards support projects for organizations and groups that work in a wide array of arts and humanities disciplines including performing arts, media arts, visual arts, literary arts, folk & traditional arts, history, and philosophy.
Grants for FY27 will be awarded for activities occurring between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027. The application deadline is Friday, April 3, 2026 at 11:59 pm.
| | ArtsFairfax Operating Support Grants | | |
ArtsFairfax’s largest grant program, Operating Support Grants promote organizational stability by providing arts organizations with the resources to become more resilient, adaptable, and nimble for sustainability, change, and growth.
Application Deadline: April 7, 2026.
| | Mid Atlantic Presenter Initiatives | | |
The Mid Atlantic Presenter Initiatives program supports performing arts engagements including public performance and community engagement at small and mid-size arts and community organizations, with budgets under $3 million*.
Presenters can receive up to 50% subsidy for the presentation of an artist/company (including artistic compensation, housing, per diem, and travel.)
Deadline: Thursday, April 30, 2026.
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The Transformative Power of Community: How Working with Adult Dancers Changes Everything
By NEDO Staff | 29 Jan, 2026
NDEO’s Guest Blog Series features posts written by our members about their experiences in the fields of dance and dance education. We continue this series with a post by Jen O'Neill, Faculty/Artistic Director.
Read More
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Year of the Fire Horse, and what it means for our sector
By Vu Le | 17 Feb 2026
So, what does the Year of the Fire Horse mean? The horse is a symbol of speed, movement, and action. It is strong and decisive. The horse is also associated with victory in battle, like the cavalry, and like horses pulling chariots in those movies about ancient Rome.
Read More
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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 March which are generally from 2 to 3:30 pm ET on weekdays:
- Introduction to Finding Grants
- Introduction to Individual Giving
- Introduction to Project Budgets
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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”.
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