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

FAQs - FY 2021 Cultural Grants Program (Open Competition) - U.S. Mission to Slovenia

What is this funding opportunity?

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 supports cultural projects designed to strengthen cooperation, collaboration, and exchange between the United States and Slovenia.

What is the main goal of the program?

The program aims to use culture as a practical bridge between the United States and Slovenia by funding public-facing cultural initiatives that bring American culture, history, society, and values to Slovenian audiences through credible artistic and cultural programming.

Who is the awarding agency?

The awarding agency is the U.S. Department of State, administered through the U.S. Mission to Slovenia.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DOS PAS SLO 2021 004.

What types of projects are a good fit for this program?

Projects are expected to present and promote American values, culture, and/or history through cultural mediums such as art, music, literature, dance, and related forms of cultural expression. Well-scoped, public-facing initiatives that can demonstrate clear audience engagement in Slovenia are a strong fit.

What cultural mediums or formats does the program support?

The opportunity references cultural mediums including art, music, literature, dance, and related forms of cultural expression. Examples of suitable formats mentioned include exhibitions, performances, workshops, readings, speaker events, cultural festivals, collaborative productions, and projects with touring or exchange components.

Does the program require projects to be public-facing?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes public-facing initiatives and meaningful engagement with Slovenian audiences as a core expectation.

What content focus is expected in proposed activities?

Supported projects are expected to center on the presentation and promotion of American values, culture, and/or history, presented in a way that is authentic, thoughtful, and credible for Slovenian audiences.

What makes a proposal more competitive under this opportunity?

The strongest proposals clearly explain how activities will meaningfully engage Slovenian audiences and portray the United States in an authentic, thoughtful way. The Embassy also signals a strong preference for proposals that highlight the transatlantic relationship and demonstrate productive, mutually beneficial cultural cooperation between Slovenian and American partners (historically or in forward-looking ways).

Is there a stated preference for U.S.-Slovenia collaboration or exchange?

Yes. The opportunity is designed to strengthen cooperation, collaboration, and exchange between the United States and Slovenia, and it expresses a strong preference for projects that highlight the transatlantic relationship between the two nations and their people.

What award types are available under this program?

Funding is offered through grants and cooperative agreements. This means an award may be structured as a traditional grant or as a cooperative agreement where the U.S. government may have more involvement in project coordination, depending on the specific award type.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is Arts, with reference to Cultural Affairs under CFDA.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 19.040.

How much funding is available per project?

The award ceiling is $10,000 per project, so proposals should be scoped to deliver clear impact with a modest budget.

How many awards does the program expect to make?

The program anticipates making about 10 awards.

What kinds of project scope or scale does the $10,000 ceiling suggest?

Because the ceiling is $10,000, the opportunity is best suited to focused cultural programs (for example, targeted exhibitions, performances, workshops, speaker events, small festivals, or collaborations) that can show impact without requiring large-scale funding.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include individuals and nonprofit organizations. This includes 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.

Are institutions of higher education eligible?

No. Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status may be eligible as long as they are not institutions of higher education, which indicates institutions of higher education are excluded from eligibility as described.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on June 15, 2021.

What was the original application deadline?

The original closing date was August 16, 2021.

Where should applicants look for detailed application instructions and requirements?

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, including submission format, budget rules, programmatic priorities, and required attachments or certifications.

What is the overall purpose of this program in practical terms?

Overall, it is a small-grants cultural diplomacy program intended to deepen U.S.-Slovenia ties through arts and cultural engagement, with an emphasis on credible programming and clear public impact in Slovenia.

Beyond hosting an event, what does the opportunity emphasize for project design?

Competitive proposals are expected to go beyond simply hosting an event by communicating a compelling cultural narrative about the United States, showing concrete collaboration or exchange linking Slovenian and American partners, and explaining how the project contributes to a broader story of transatlantic connection and shared cultural cooperation.