U.S. Embassy Kyiv Public Diplomacy Section Grant for Promoting American Culture and Values at Ukrainian Festivals

The U.S. Embassy Kyiv Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) invites Ukrainian not-for-profit, nongovernmental organizations to apply for funding to highlight and promote American culture and values at festivals in Ukraine.

For the purposes of this solicitation, a festival is an organized series of acts, performances, exhibitions, film screenings, or culinary displays. Festivals in the following categories qualify:

• performing arts
• visual arts
• film
• sports
• education
• literature
• fashion
• creative industries
• entrepreneurship
• environment
• urban design
• science and technology
• inclusivity

PDS Kyiv will prioritize projects that address the following strategic objectives in unique ways and with substantive American components:

·     Promoting U.S.-Ukraine educational, scientific, business, or cultural ties

·     Advancing democratic reforms, including as related to anti-corruption, rule of law, and civil society

·     Deepening Ukrainians’ understanding of American culture and values

·     Advancing economic reforms, including as related to corporate governance, business development, and energy security

In addition, PDS Kyiv will prioritize projects that facilitate substantive interaction between Americans and Ukrainians – preferably over multiple days – and that demonstrate plans to sustain this interaction through follow-on activities. Examples of substantive interaction include workshops, masterclasses, and question-and-answer sessions. Examples of follow-on activities include small grants for joint projects between Americans and Ukrainians, continuations of projects started during the festival, and virtual engagements.

Projects funded through this solicitation must be tailored toward Ukrainian audiences and fit within the theme of the broader event.

Applying organizations must demonstrate a clear rationale for how they chose to highlight American culture and values, relating their strategy to the priority areas outlined above. In addition, applying organizations should be prepared to explain how the Americans or aspects of American culture and values involved in their program are uniquely qualified to advance these objectives.

For all in-person festivals, applying organizations must explain in detail how they plan to enforce COVID-19 mitigation measures in accordance with Ukrainian laws and regulations. Applying organizations must also have plans in place to adjust as needed should the COVID-19 situation worsen.