The U.S. Department of State’s Public Diplomacy Section is Offering Cultural Small Grants to Strengthen U.S.-Georgia Ties

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Tbilisi Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Cultural Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Purpose of Small Grants: PDS Tbilisi invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural ties between the U.S. and Georgia through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.

Examples of PDS Cultural Small Grants Program programs include, but are not limited to:

·        Academic and professional lectures, seminars and speaker programs;

·        Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances and exhibitions;

·        Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs;

·        Professional and academic exchanges and programs;

Priority Program Areas:

·        Strengthening democracy, culture, institutions, values, and civil society through arts, particularly with a U.S. connection, in the regions of Georgia

·        Community-based cultural (heritage) preservation projects, or projects to support community engagement around or with Georgia’s cultural heritage

·        International Festivals held in Georgia to foster closer U.S.- Georgian ties and share U.S. culture. 

·        Sporting events and exchanges to foster closer U.S.- Georgian ties through sports, promote inclusive sports, foster healthy living, or advance other shared priorities. 

Participants and Audiences:

The U.S. Embassy seeks geographically and demographically diverse audiences within the country and prioritizes proposals with a significant programming component outside of the capital. The Embassy encourages projects to focus on engaging youth, women and girls, seniors, people with disabilities, regions with ethnic and religious minority communities, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

The following types of programs are not eligible for funding:

·                             Programs relating to partisan political activity;

·                             Charitable or development activities;

·                             Construction programs;

·                             Programs that support specific religious activities;

·                             Fund-raising campaigns;

·                             Lobbying for specific legislation or programs

·                             Scientific research;

·                             Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; or

·                             Programs that duplicate existing programs.

Length of performance period: up to 12 months

Number of awards anticipated: 15 awards (dependent on amounts)

Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $24,000

Total available funding: $250,000

Type of Funding: Fiscal Year 2023 Public Diplomacy Funding

Anticipated program start date: four to six months after submission deadline