(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Mayor Bowser and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) announced $11,598,016 in grant awards that will support arts and humanities projects in all eight wards.

“Last month, I was proud to join residents and businesses in celebrating the many artists and professionals who continue to inspire our city,” said Mayor Bowser. “Today, through these grants, we are ensuring that Washington, DC remains a city that values and uplifts the arts and humanities.”

The grants, part of CAH’s fiscal year 2018 cycle one awards, were awarded through a competitive process. Applications from individuals and organizations were reviewed by independent panels that then made award recommendations to the CAH board of commissioners. Award recipients were notified in early October, and applicants not receiving funding are being offered technical assistance to support future applications.

“These grant awards are an investment in the District’s economic development and overall quality of life,” said Executive Director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Arthur Espinoza, Jr. “The city’s arts and culture sector supports jobs, generates revenue, and attracts new residents and businesses.”

CAH intends to award 535 grants in FY 2018 in the following categories:

• $1,055,000 to support 213 individual artists and humanities professionals throughout all eight wards;
• $6,811,630 to support the general operations of 103 arts, arts education, and humanities organizations providing services to residents throughout the District;
• $590,246 in dedicated funding to 31 organizations residing and/or providing services to residents east of the Anacostia River;
• $297,762 for 19 organizations providing arts education programs;
• $1,049,618 through 25 grants to support arts and humanities facilities improvements throughout the District;
• $338,500 to support four public art project grants proposed by community artists or entities;
• $242,160 to acquire works of art to be included in the District’s Art Bank collection, from 36 individual artists and 3 galleries;
• $763,100 for 65 projects, events, and festivals occurring throughout the District during the fiscal year; and
• $450,000 to support capacity building initiatives for nine organizations.

Today’s announcement comes on the heels of September’s 202Creates, the Bowser Administration’s month-long showcase of the city’s diverse and vibrant creative community. Home to 2,400 arts-related businesses, Washington, DC ranks first in creative businesses per capita, and the District’s creative economy generates more than 120,000 jobs, with 1,800 creative jobs added in just the last year. Throughout the year, 202Creates promotes and amplifies Washington, DC’s creative economy through digital media marketing, original television programming, and paid performance opportunities for DC’s creatives. To date, 202Creates has supported more than 4,000 events.

A complete list of grantees is available at dcarts.dc.gov.