FY 2021 Notice of Funding Opportunity: Cultural Grants Program - Open Competition | DOS PAS SLO 2021 004

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS PAS SLO 2021 004

The FY 2021 Cultural Grants Program - Open Competition (Funding Opportunity Number: DOS PAS SLO 2021 004) is a discretionary funding opportunity run by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Slovenia. It is designed to support well-planned, well-managed cultural projects that strengthen cooperation, collaboration, and exchange between the United States and Slovenia. The core idea is to use culture as a practical bridge between the two countries by funding public-facing initiatives that bring American culture, history, society, and values to Slovenian audiences through credible artistic and cultural programming.

Projects supported under this opportunity are expected to center on the presentation and promotion of American values, culture, and/or history using cultural mediums such as art, music, literature, dance, and related forms of cultural expression. While a wide range of formats may be acceptable, the strongest proposals are those that clearly show how their activities will meaningfully engage Slovenian audiences and present an authentic, thoughtful portrayal of the United States. The Embassy also signals a strong preference for proposals that highlight the transatlantic relationship between the two nations and their people, especially projects that illustrate productive, mutually beneficial cultural cooperation either historically or in forward-looking ways.

Funding is offered through grants and cooperative agreements, indicating that awards may involve either a more traditional grant relationship or a structure where the U.S. government may have more involvement in project coordination depending on the specific award type. The activity category is Arts (with reference to Cultural Affairs under CFDA), and the CFDA number listed is 19.040. The program anticipates making about 10 awards, with an award ceiling of $10,000 per project, which suggests that proposals should be appropriately scoped and realistic for a modest budget. In other words, this opportunity is well-suited to focused cultural programs such as exhibitions, performances, workshops, readings, speaker events, cultural festivals, collaborative productions, touring or exchange components, or other targeted public programs that can clearly demonstrate impact without requiring large-scale funding.

Eligible applicants include individuals as well as nonprofit organizations, including U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). The opportunity was created on June 15, 2021, and the original closing date was August 16, 2021. Applicants are directed to consult the full Notice of Funding Opportunity and the U.S. Embassy website for detailed proposal preparation requirements and compliance expectations, implying that submission format, budget rules, programmatic priorities, and any required attachments or certifications must be followed closely for an application to be considered competitive.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a small-grants cultural diplomacy program meant to deepen U.S.-Slovenia ties through the arts and cultural engagement. Competitive proposals are those that go beyond simply hosting an event and instead clearly communicate a compelling cultural narrative about the United States, demonstrate concrete collaboration or exchange elements linking Slovenian and American partners, and show how the project contributes to a broader story of transatlantic connection and shared cultural cooperation.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Slovenia in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2021 Notice of Funding Opportunity: Cultural Grants Program - Open Competition" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 15, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 16, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Individuals.

Apply for DOS PAS SLO 2021 004

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