FEDERAL AGENCY:

BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF STATE

AUTHORIZATION:

Public Law 87-256, as amended; 22 U.S.C. 2451, et seq.

The Creative Arts Exchanges program works with nonprofit organizations to develop cooperative international group projects that introduce American and foreign participants to each other's cultural and artistic life and traditions. Our projects emphasize the relationship between the arts and broader social and diplomacy issues. We seek organizations that have a disciplinary expertise in the arts as well as broad outreach and networking capabilities with American artists.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

International projects in the United States or overseas may involve an international exchange of composers, choreographers, playwrights, theater designers, writers and poets, filmmakers, arts administrators and visual artists. Projects should involve our posts worldwide to carry out activities supportive of the Department of State's mission to increase mutual understanding between the United States and other countries and to promote international cooperation in educational and cultural fields. Ineligible proposals would include those focusing on: youth or youth related activities, speaking tours, research projects, the exchange of amateurs or semi-professionals, community-level arts presentations or vocational and technical long-term academic study programs.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Applicants must be public or nonprofit organizations that demonstrate disciplinary expertise in the arts and meet the provisions described in IRS regulation 501 (3). Organizations must have 4 years of experience in exchange to qualify for grants of more than $60,000. During 1999, a grant was awarded to the American Association of Museums to administer the International Partnerships Among Museums Program which facilitates exchanges between 17 museums across the United States and their counterpart institutions overseas.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Individual participants must be professional artists and arts administrators over the age of 25. There is no age limit for participants. Some exchanges require participants to have a minimum level of English language ability.

Credentials/Documentation:   Specific criteria for the selection of individual participants is determined by the grantee organization in conjunction with the Department of State program officer.

Pre-application Coordination:   This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   For open competitions, the request for proposals is published in the Federal Register.

Award Procedure:   Funding decisions are at the discretion of the The Department of State's Bureau of Educational And Cultural Affairs and are based on the advice of a panel of Agency reviewers and various Agency officers. Final technical authority resides with the Department of State's Office of Contracts.

Deadlines:   Deadlines for submission of proposals are established in the request for proposals or letters of solicitation.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Decisions are generally made within 3 months of the submission of proposals, subject to the availability and timing of funding.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   Renewal grants for several of our long-term projects have been awarded in the past, in order to build on existing successful projects.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Usually a 30 percent cost-share is requested from grantee organizations.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Awards range in length from 12 to 36 months.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Quarterly program and financial reports are required.

Audits:   All grants are subject to OMB Circular A-133 audits.

Records:   As prescribed by USIA in grant terms.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   19-0201-0-1-154.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 est $250,000; FY 02 est $250,000; and FY 03 est $400,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
$60,000 to $300,000.

In fiscal year 2001, one grant was awarded to continue existing exchange programs. The number of grants to be awarded in 2002 and 2003 is yet to be determined.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Department of State regulations governing exchange visitor (J-1) programs. Guidelines for grants are distributed in conjunction with the request for proposals/letter of solicitation.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:   Susie Baker, Creative Arts Exchanges Program, Office of Citizen Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State, 301 4th Street SW., Washington DC 20547. Telephone: (202) 205-2209. Fax (202) 619-6315.

Web Site Address:   http://exchanges.state.gov.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Previous grantee organizations and examples of projects are available from the program office.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Programmatic planning, project objectives and quality; organization's capacity and track record; support for diversity; expertise; cost-effectiveness; project evaluation plan; value to US-partner country relations; cost-sharing; and multiplier effect.