DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Announces DC Art Now 2026 Exhibition Celebrating 40 Years of the Art Bank

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 3, 2026

CONTACT:
Indya Wright (CAH) - 202-579-7360; indya.wright1@dc.gov

DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Announces DC Art Now 2026 Exhibition Celebrating 40 Years of the Art Bank

Opening reception September 10 kicks off Art All Night weekend and showcases finalists for the FY27 Art Bank Program

(Washington, DC) - The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) is proud to announce DC Art Now 2026, an exhibition showcasing finalists for the Fiscal Year 2027 Art Bank Program and celebrating the program's 40th anniversary of investing in artists and building a public collection that reflects the creativity of the District.

The exhibition opens with a public reception on Thursday, September 10, 2026, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the CAH Eye Street Gallery, 200 I (Eye) Street SE. The reception will also help kick off Art All Night weekend, inviting residents and visitors to experience the work, meet participating artists, and celebrate four decades of the Art Bank Program.

Established in 1986, the Art Bank Program supports visual artists by purchasing original works of art and placing them in public areas of District government buildings throughout Washington, DC. Over four decades, the program has grown into a collection of more than 3,000 works, connecting artists with new audiences while ensuring that original artwork created by DC artists is accessible throughout District government spaces.

"So much has changed about the District in the last 40 years. In its diligence in preserving and supporting the work of local artists, the Art Bank Collection has ensured that DC's ever-evolving identity is not only documented but is engaged with through continual public display." said CAH Curator Michelle May-Curry, Ph.D., "It also brings so much joy. When we install work in agency offices staff often joke that it feels like "art Christmas." To see color, narrative, and beauty enliven an otherwise nondescript office building is a constant reminder that DC artists animate and inspire us daily."

"The 40th anniversary of the Art Bank Collection celebrates four decades of art serving as a living visual history of our city's changing neighborhoods and diverse communities." said CAH Arts Collection Registrar, Luisa Hammond. "Installing these pieces in government spaces provides employees with moments of joy, respite, and inspiration during their workday. The palpable excitement on installation days proves how vital visual art is to energizing the workplaces of those who serve and receive services in the District."

DC Art Now 2026 Opening Reception

Thursday, September 10, 2026

6:00-8:00 p.m.

CAH Eye Street Gallery

200 I (Eye) Street SE

Washington, DC 20003

RSVP: www.tinyurl.com/DCArtNow26

DC Art Now 2026 will be on view at the CAH Eye Street Gallery through December 2026. The Eye Street Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.