The District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities reported during its Aug. 18 meeting that it faces reduced funding in fiscal year 2026, which will affect grant-making capacity and program work. Executive Director Gary Myers told commissioners the commission “stands to lose 5.1% of our budget from our FY25 appropriation” and to lose its fund balance, meaning the agency will no longer retain non‑lapsing funds at year‑end.

Myers also reported that the Council of the District of Columbia’s Committee of the Whole amended the budget to repurpose the commission’s large‑cap grant allocations. "The Committee of the Whole voted to amend the FY 25 budget and repurpose and reallocate the large cap grant to the National Theater, the Howard Theater, and the Lincoln Theater," Myers said, and that the council also redirected $1,000,000 of the commission’s FY26 large‑cap funding to the Woolly Mammoth Theatre and the GALA Hispanic Theater (reported in the meeting as Garland Spannath Theater). Myers emphasized these changes were made at the council level without prior consultation with commission staff or commissioners.

Brandon Saunders, resource allocation officer, provided context and shared that the commission is closing FY25 while preparing FY26 and FY27 plans. Saunders noted personnel costs rose because the agency added six full‑time positions over recent years to handle increased workloads; he also reiterated staff are now tasked with managing three fiscal years’ workstreams simultaneously. The commission’s grant staff reported higher applicant volume: Carrie Calibra said FY26 applications rose to 1,038 from about 984 in FY25, and the panel count increased from 45 to 61.

Myers said the commission may need to reduce grant awards or the number of grants and will have “0 room for additional programs initiatives that aren't already set in our budgets.” He reiterated that all grants would be “awarded fairly and equitably,” but cautioned that the combination of a reduced appropriation and loss of fund balance will constrain operations.

Commissioners and staff asked the public to note that the council controls appropriations and that staff stand ready to engage with the mayor’s office and council to seek solutions, but no formal board motion or vote to challenge the council’s reallocations occurred at the meeting.