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Commission updates public-art programs: exhibitions, school mural RFA and a new mural pilot
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Summary
Public Arts Manager Corinne Miller reported that 'DC Art Now' (an Art Bank exhibition) is on view, the RFA for the FY26 Color the Curve school-safety mural program was released Nov. 17, and a pilot mural program 'Fresh Paint DC' and Submittable pilot for grantmaking are underway; staff also is coordinating repair for a sculpture damaged outside Nationals Park.
Corinne Miller, public arts manager, told the Commission on Nov. 17 that the public art team is wrapping up FY25 projects while onboarding FY26 grantees and finalizing the FY26 public-art work plan.
Miller highlighted that DC Art Now, featuring 57 works by Art Bank finalists, opened Sept. 11 and will include artist talks and a closing reception; she said the team released the Color the Curve school-safety mural RFA on Nov. 17 and is piloting a new mural program called Fresh Paint DC to fund exterior murals in partnership with business-improvement districts.
“We’re launching it using the new grants-management system,” Miller said, describing a Submittable pilot for smaller grant lines and the goal of testing functionality with Color the Curve and Fresh Paint.
Miller also recounted that staff is coordinating an insurance claim and repair for a sculpture damaged outside Nationals Park and working with multiple city agencies to expand loans of artworks to neighborhood libraries and courthouses.
Why it matters: the updates signal new opportunities for local muralists and artists to receive grants and for residents to see more public art in neighborhoods and schools; the Submittable pilot aims to reduce administrative friction for small grantees.
What comes next: the team will continue outreach to identify mural wall sites for the Fresh Paint pilot and will finalize selection and processing through the new grant system.
