Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS LUS CULTURAL FY19
The U.S. Embassy in Lusaka, through the Department of State's Public Affairs Section (PAS), is offering funding under its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program via an Annual Program Statement. This opportunity supports projects in Zambia that use cultural and exchange programming to strengthen ties between the United States and Zambia, emphasize shared values, and encourage practical bilateral cooperation. A core requirement is that every funded project must include a clear American cultural element. That can take the form of direct collaboration with American experts, U.S.-based organizations, or U.S. institutions in a relevant field, with the goal of increasing understanding of U.S. policies and perspectives alongside cultural engagement.
The Embassy is particularly interested in proposals that align with planned U.S. cultural exchange visits, and it states that proposals involving these visits will be prioritized. Specifically, the Embassy anticipated hosting two jazz performers, one bluegrass band, and a dance choreographer during the July to December 2018 period, and projects that build programming around these artists are highlighted as a priority. In practice, this points applicants toward designing complementary public diplomacy activities around visiting American performers, such as performance tours, community outreach, skills-building sessions, and collaborative events with Zambian counterparts.
The types of projects the PAS Small Grants Program expects to fund are largely centered on cultural event delivery and exchange support. Examples include handling logistical coordination for Embassy-sponsored cultural exchange programs featuring American musicians, dancers, and other artists; organizing artistic and cultural workshops, masterclasses, joint performances, and exhibitions that connect visiting Americans with local artists and audiences; and coordinating public performances that broaden access to U.S. cultural programming. The emphasis is not only on staging events, but also on creating structured interaction and learning opportunities that deepen exchange outcomes, including professional development for local artists and meaningful engagement with communities.
While the grant is rooted in arts and culture, the Embassy also signals that its cultural exchange programming often integrates civic and leadership content, especially for youth-focused audiences. For this annual statement, the programmatic themes include increasing the voice and participation of youth and women across political, economic, and other spheres; promoting political awareness and participation among the general public and/or youth; strengthening civic education and youth involvement in democratic processes, volunteerism, and community service; and supporting conflict resolution, mitigation, and mediation efforts. Applicants are therefore encouraged to design arts and cultural projects that naturally incorporate these themes, for example by pairing performances with dialogue sessions, mentorship activities, civic engagement workshops, or community service components that resonate with young people and women leaders.
The intended participants and primary audiences are clearly defined. The Embassy is aiming to reach youth aged 18 to 35 and young professionals, with a particular focus on programming that benefits women within those categories. Proposals that demonstrate thoughtful recruitment, inclusive participation, and measurable engagement of these target groups would fit the stated direction of the program, especially if they combine cultural exchange with leadership development and civic participation outcomes.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the arts and cultural affairs space (CFDA 19.040). Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The funding opportunity is issued by the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Zambia. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $20,000, with an expectation of up to four awards. The posting indicates a creation date of November 1, 2018, and an original closing date of July 1, 2019, positioning it as a standing annual statement rather than a single one-time call, with proposals expected to follow the procedures and instructions laid out by the Embassy for submission and review.Apply for PAS LUS CULTURAL FY19
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Zambia in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Lusaka PAS Annual Program Statement" 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 Nov 01, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 01, 2019. (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 $20,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka (Department of State, Public Affairs Section) Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program offered through an Annual Program Statement. It provides funding for projects in Zambia that use cultural and exchange programming to strengthen ties between the United States and Zambia, emphasize shared values, and encourage practical bilateral cooperation.
Who is offering the funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Zambia, specifically the Embassy's Public Affairs Section (PAS) in Lusaka.
What is the main goal of the Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program?
The program supports cultural and exchange activities in Zambia that increase mutual understanding between Zambians and Americans. Projects are expected to strengthen U.S.-Zambia relationships and support cooperation through cultural engagement, while also increasing understanding of U.S. policies and perspectives.
Is an American cultural component required?
Yes. A core requirement is that every funded project must include a clear American cultural element. The Embassy describes this as direct collaboration with American experts, U.S.-based organizations, or U.S. institutions in a relevant field, integrated into the project design.
What does "American cultural element" mean in practice?
Based on the opportunity description, it means the project should include direct collaboration with Americans or U.S. organizations/institutions (for example, working with American performers, American experts, or U.S.-based partner organizations), and it should be designed to increase understanding of U.S. perspectives alongside cultural engagement.
Where must projects take place?
The opportunity is described as supporting projects in Zambia.
What kinds of projects are expected to be funded?
The program expects to fund cultural event delivery and exchange support activities. Examples mentioned include logistical coordination for Embassy-sponsored cultural exchange programs featuring American artists; organizing workshops, masterclasses, joint performances, and exhibitions that connect visiting Americans with local artists and audiences; and coordinating public performances that expand access to U.S. cultural programming.
Does the program fund only performances and events?
No. While performances and public events are a major focus, the Embassy emphasizes structured interaction and learning opportunities that deepen exchange outcomes. This includes professional development for local artists and meaningful community engagement, such as skills-building sessions and collaborative activities with Zambian counterparts.
Are proposals connected to U.S. cultural exchange visits prioritized?
Yes. The Embassy states it is particularly interested in proposals that align with planned U.S. cultural exchange visits, and that proposals involving these visits will be prioritized.
Which specific cultural exchange visits are highlighted?
The Embassy anticipated hosting two jazz performers, one bluegrass band, and a dance choreographer during the July to December 2018 period, and it highlights projects that build programming around these artists as a priority.
What types of activities could be built around visiting American performers?
The opportunity points to complementary public diplomacy activities such as performance tours, community outreach, skills-building sessions, and collaborative events with Zambian counterparts, in addition to public performances.
Are there themes applicants are encouraged to incorporate?
Yes. Although the grant is rooted in arts and culture, the Embassy indicates that cultural exchange programming often integrates civic and leadership content, especially for youth-focused audiences. The Annual Program Statement includes themes related to youth and women participation, political awareness and participation, civic education and democratic engagement, volunteerism and community service, and conflict resolution/mitigation/mediation.
What are the programmatic themes listed in the opportunity?
The themes listed include: increasing the voice and participation of youth and women across political, economic, and other spheres; promoting political awareness and participation among the general public and/or youth; strengthening civic education and youth involvement in democratic processes, volunteerism, and community service; and supporting conflict resolution, mitigation, and mediation efforts.
Does a project have to include civic or leadership components?
The opportunity encourages applicants to design arts and cultural projects that naturally incorporate these themes (for example, pairing performances with dialogue sessions, mentorship, civic engagement workshops, or community service components). The description does not state that every project must include these components, but it does clearly signal they are part of the intended program direction.
Who is the intended audience for funded projects?
The Embassy aims to reach youth aged 18 to 35 and young professionals. There is a particular focus on programming that benefits women within those categories.
How should proposals address participation and inclusion?
The opportunity indicates that proposals demonstrating thoughtful recruitment, inclusive participation, and measurable engagement of the target groups (youth ages 18 to 35, young professionals, and women within those groups) would fit the program direction, particularly when paired with leadership development and civic participation outcomes.
What is the maximum award amount?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $20,000.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of up to four awards.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The opportunity is identified under CFDA 19.040.
What type of grant is this?
It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity in the arts and cultural affairs space.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
What is the application timeframe mentioned?
The posting lists a creation date of November 1, 2018, and an original closing date of July 1, 2019. It is described as a standing annual statement rather than a single one-time call.
How should proposals be submitted?
The description indicates that proposals are expected to follow the procedures and instructions laid out by the Embassy for submission and review. Specific submission steps are not included in the provided information.
What makes a proposal more competitive based on the description?
Based on the stated priorities, stronger proposals would (1) clearly include an American cultural element through collaboration with American experts/organizations/institutions, (2) align with planned U.S. cultural exchange visits (especially programming around the highlighted performers), (3) create structured interaction and learning (workshops, masterclasses, mentorship, professional development), and (4) demonstrate inclusive, measurable engagement of youth (18-35), young professionals, and women participants while integrating relevant civic/leadership themes.
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| NEA Research Grants in the Arts, FY2021 Apply for 2020NEA01ORAGRANTS Funding Number: 2020NEA01ORAGRANTS Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Y 2020 Notice of Funding Opportunity: Cultural Grants Program Apply for DOS PAS SLO 2020 002 Funding Number: DOS PAS SLO 2020 002 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Slovenia Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| FY2020 U.S. Embassy Tokyo: Preserving the Olympic and Paralympic Legacy through the Arts Apply for TOKYO PAS FY20 02 05 Funding Number: TOKYO PAS FY20 02 05 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Japan Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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| National Leadership Grants for Libraries (2020) Apply for NLG LIBRARIES FY20 P2 Funding Number: NLG LIBRARIES FY20 P2 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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