DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities

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DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities dcarts.dc.gov We provide financial support and conduct programming in three primary focus areas:

**DC Creates Public Art**
The purpose of the DC Creates!
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The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) provides grants, professional opportunities, education enrichment, other programs and services to individuals and nonprofit organizations in all communities within the District of Columbia. CAH is supported primarily by District government funds and in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

*Vision*
As the Nation’s Capital, the District of Columbia is a world-class cultural destination. CAH will be the leading voice for arts and culture in the city, thereby elevating the impact of the arts and humanities locally, nationally and internationally. Recognizing the changing dynamics within the city, CAH is poised to increase our depth and expand our breadth of creative opportunities for residents and visitors.

*Programs*
CAH is governed by a volunteer board of Commissioners who are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. Public Art Program is to provide high quality art installations and administrative support services to the public so they can benefit from an enhanced visual environment.

**Arts Learning and Outreach**
The purpose of the Arts Learning and Outreach Program is to provide grants, educational activities and outreach services for youth, young adults and the general public so they can gain a deeper appreciation for the arts and enhance the overall quality of their lives.

**Arts Building Communities (Grants and Programs)**
The purpose of the Arts Building Communities program is to provide grants, performances, exhibitions and other services to individual artists, arts organizations and neighborhood/community groups so they can express, experience and have access to the rich cultural diversity of the District. Grants are based on funding availability and advisory panel recommendations. The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) page intends to:

*Provide information and updates regarding activities and opportunities at the CAH and beyond;
*Invite discussion and participation in the arts and arts-related activities; and to
*Encourage partnership and collaboration. In order to ensure that all discussions on the CAH page are productive, respectful, energized and consistent with our mission and goals, we ask you to follow these guidelines:

*Be considerate and respectful of others. Vulgarity, threats or abuse of language will not be tolerated.
*Differing opinions and discussion of diverse ideas are encouraged, but personal attacks on anyone, including CAH staff, will not be permitted.
*Share freely and be generous, but be aware of copyright laws; be accurate and give credit where credit is due.
*Stay on topic.
*Refrain from using the page for solicitation, for commercial purposes or to market products. We reserve the right to make editorial decisions regarding submitted comments, including but not limited to removal of comments that violate these guidelines. CAH is an agency of the District of Columbia. It is not legal or permissible for state agencies to engage in or take official positions related to state or federal laws, political issues/actions or elections. Posts that relate to legal or political issues/actions may be removed. Opinions expressed by other Facebook users do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. In addition to our own policy, we expect those who engage with us and each other through our page to also abide by the site’s Community Standards: https://www.facebook.com/communitystandards

13/10/2026

Last week, CAH was privileged to host this year’s annual National Assembly of State Arts Agencies conference, bringing together all 56 state and jurisdictional arts agencies in the United States. From the opening reception to workshops, seminars, and fun tours and visits across the city, attendees experienced DC through CAH staff! We are truly grateful to our friends at NASAA for helping make it an unforgettable time. To all our fellow sister state and jurisdictional arts agencies, thank you again, and let’s keep the memories fresh by tagging us in your respective posts!

We encourage our community to connect with, learn from, and celebrate the history, art, and enduring cultures of Indigen...
12/10/2026

We encourage our community to connect with, learn from, and celebrate the history, art, and enduring cultures of Indigenous peoples.

If you are looking for meaningful ways to learn more right here in the District, these incredible spots are open today:

📍 National Museum of the American Indian
Explore thousands of years of history, incredible contemporary art, and the National Native American Veterans Memorial.
• Hours: Open daily, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
• Cost: Free (No tickets required)
• Don't miss: The Mitsitam Native Foods Café for Indigenous-inspired flavors!

📱 "Guide to Indigenous D.C." Walking Tour
Take a self-guided journey through the city. This free mobile tour highlights tribal history, Native advocacy, and historic sites across downtown D.C.
• How to access: Download the PocketSights app and search for the guide.

📜 National Archives Museum
See America's founding documents and historic galleries up close.
• Hours: Exhibition galleries are open today (Note: Research rooms are closed for the holiday).
• Cost: Free admission.

Let’s use today to listen, reflect, and amplify Indigenous voices. How are you honoring the day? Let us know in the comments! 👇

Image courtesy of Studio Joseph

09/10/2026

Our very own Executive Director, Aaron Myers, officially welcomed state and jurisdictional arts leaders from all 56 agencies across the country to the nation’s capital today.

We are incredibly proud to host this year’s conference and to showcase the diverse cultural landscape of the District of Columbia.

06/10/2026

Happy National Arts and Humanities month! Check out this post about a little DC art history from District DeCoded

From emergency lifelines to vibrant public art!
Installed in the 1860s, D.C.’s cast-iron call boxes once alerted dispatchers to fires and emergencies via underground telegraph wires long before 911. At their peak, roughly 1,500 stood across the District.

Today, these iconic street fixtures have found new life through initiatives like Art on Call. A standout example rests at Vermont Ave & K St NW, where local public art honors Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley.

Next time you’re walking downtown, keep an eye out for these creative pieces of history!

03/10/2026

It’s October 3rd. Happy Mean Girls Movie day! 💕
Did you know that the 2004 film Mean Girls has deep roots right here in the Washington, D.C. area?
While the movie is set in Illinois, the real-life drama, the strict clique rules, and the characters themselves were inspired by teenagers in the DMV!

Author Rosalind Wiseman gathered the source material for her book, “Queen Bees and Wannabes”, while running workshops for high schoolers in Washington, D.C. and suburban Maryland. The real “Plastics” (and their famous wardrobe rules) were born out of our local community.

Art and storytelling are shaped by the world around us. At CAH, we are proud to support the local writers, creators, and artists who find their inspiration in the vibrant, complex, and diverse culture of the District.

What’s your favorite line from the movie? Let us know below! 👇

Yesterday afternoon, CAH Executive Director Aaron Myers and staff members from our public art and outreach teams met wit...
02/10/2026

Yesterday afternoon, CAH Executive Director Aaron Myers and staff members from our public art and outreach teams met with a special delegation of Swedish government representatives from the city of Kalmar, Sweden (Mr. Lasse Johansson, Mr. Måns Linge, and Mr. Mathias Lafolie).

The special meeting allowed CAH and the delegation to discuss the various public arts programs and community initiatives between the two cities.

CAH is committed to strengthening this newly established relationship with our Swedish friends. Thank you again, Mr. Stefan Hansen, from the Embassy of Sweden in USA here in Washington, for helping to connect and facilitate this important gathering!

01/10/2026

Happy Filipino American History Month! CAH proudly celebrates the contributions of the Filipino American community here in DC. Check out this brief video message from our public affairs specialist, JR Russ, who shares a bit of his heritage and the long-standing history of the Filipino American community’s key contributions in the District!

CAH is proud to welcome our newest staff member, Sarah Weingast, who serves as our agency’s General Counsel!Sarah Weinga...
01/10/2026

CAH is proud to welcome our newest staff member, Sarah Weingast, who serves as our agency’s General Counsel!

Sarah Weingast has served in an in-house counsel capacity for Washington, DC and federal arts institutions for over fifteen years. She served as Deputy General Counsel to the National Endowment for the Arts, advising on grant programs and national initiatives and as well as legal and policy issues related to the Agency’s grant-making.

In her recent role as Associate General Counsel to the Kennedy Center and previously as Assistant General Counsel to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Sarah’s broad portfolio included grant management and compliance, arts administration and accessibility, as well as educational and programmatic activities.

Sarah received her Juris Doctorate from Tulane Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana, and her Bachelor of Arts from McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec. She is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Virginia and New York.

Address

200 I Street SE

20003

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:30
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:30
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:30
Thursday 09:00 - 17:30
Friday 09:00 - 17:30

Telephone

+12027245613

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