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CAH reports 535 spring grant applications; introduces two‑year grants and new summer lines
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Summary
At its May 19 meeting the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities reported 535 spring applications across grant lines, the first-year rollout of two‑year operating grants, panel review timelines, and new summer grant openings and applicant support hours.
At its May 19 meeting the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities reported 535 spring applications for fiscal year 2026 grant cycles and said it will begin panel reviews this month.
Terrell Johnson, grants staff, told commissioners that the spring cycle produced 535 total applications across multiple grant categories, and that this year’s competitions include the first-year offering of two‑year general operating support grants. “Total application proceed, so we have GOS generalist at 88 applications, GOS service at 11 applications, GOS capacity building at 25 application, GOS 2 year grant at a 23,” Johnson said. He added the spring total compares with 518 applications at a similar point last year.
The commission said panels will continue reviewing spring applications through Thursday, June 26, and award announcements are scheduled for October, alongside summer grant awards. CAH listed summer grant lines opening Wednesday, May 21 and closing Tuesday, June 24: the Arts and Humanities Education Project (ADEP), Arts and Humanities Fellowship Program (AHFP), Field Trip Experiences (FTE), and Capital Projects (CP). Johnson said full program descriptions and eligibility information are available on the commission’s website.
Staff also announced applicant support measures. Virtual office hours will begin Monday, June 9, running Mondays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and the grants team said in-person assistance is also available. Director Aaron Myers reiterated that staff are available to help applicants complete submissions.
Why this matters: the commission’s grant cycles fund local artists, schools and public programs across DC. The first-year offering of two‑year general operating support grants represents a policy change the commission highlighted as a way to provide multi‑year stability for grantees.
Commissioners asked for clarification about application counts relative to prior years; staff said the comparison will be included in the agency’s trend reporting. No formal action was taken on grant awards at the meeting.
Sources: remarks by Terrell Johnson, grants staff, and Aaron Myers, executive director, at the Commission on the Arts and Humanities meeting on May 19, 2025.
