Department of State Grant for U.S. Representation at 12th Cairo International Biennale

The Department of State’s Cultural Division (ECA/PE/C/CU) is pleased to announce an open competition for assistance awards through this Request for Proposals (RFP). ECA/PE/C/CU requests proposals from U.S. non profit museums, galleries, and visual arts organizations to organize official U.S. representation at the 12th Cairo International Biennale, in Cairo Egypt, from December 2010 – February, 2011.

Precise opening/closing dates for the 2010 Biennale have yet to be announced, but will be posted on Grants.gov and the ECA website as soon as they are made known (in the past, exhibitions have generally been held from mid-December through late February). Applicants are requested to propose exhibitions that represent the most interesting work being made in the United States now.

The Biennale has significant participation from Europe, Asia and Latin America, although art from Arab and Muslim countries predominates. In 2008, approximately 75,000 visitors viewed the exhibition during the two month period in which it was presented. Generally, the organizers of the Biennale plan seminars, discussions, and film screenings in conjunction with the exhibition, which receives significant media coverage.

Pending availability of funds, the State Department will make up to $150,000 available for all aspects of exhibition development, preparation, production, installation, and the return or onward shipping of the exhibition at the Biennale’s end, and the travel of curators and key participants.

Additional funds may be available for a publication and public programs organized by the curators in consultation with the US Embassy in Cairo and the Cultural Programs Office of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Any funds for public programs will be provided directly to the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

BACKGROUND

The Cairo International Biennale, originally established in 1989 as an international exhibition devoted to painting and sculpture, has expanded in recent years to include work in all media. In 2008, Jennifer Steinkamp represented the U.S. with Kimberli Meyer, Director of the MAK Center, as Commissioner. Ms. Steinkamp’s exhibit was entitled Dervish Cairo and included both prints and video installations. In 2006, Daniel Joseph Martinez represented the U.S., with Gilbert Vicario of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, as Commissioner. Mr. Martinez received the Hathor Prize for his project, titled The Fully Enlightened Earth Radiates Disaster Triumphant.

The sponsoring organization for the Biennale is the National Center of Fine Arts of the Ministry of Culture of Egypt, which is responsible for programs at all state owned museums and galleries (with the exception of the Museums of Antiquities). The biennale is presented at the Center of Fine Arts in Zamalek; in the gardens surrounding the Center and in the galleries and gardens of the Palace of Art, the largest and principal venue. Each of the sites is within easy reach of the others.

SCALE OF VENUE

The largest venue is the Museum of Modern Egyptian Art and additional gallery spaces located on the “cultural campus” surrounding the Cairo Opera House in the Gezira quarter. On average, artists are allocated up to 49 running feet of wall space. Recent installations have made use of approximately 12 x 12 to 20 x 20 foot gallery spaces in the Museum.

Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of the Act is “to enable the Government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries…; to strengthen the ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United States and other nations…and thus to assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States and the other countries of the world.” The funding authority for the program above is provided through legislation.