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Cultural Grants
U.S. Embassy Slovenia Cultural Grants Program
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23 MINUTE READ

I.  General Description 

The Public Affairs Section of the United States Embassy in Ljubljana represents the Embassy vis-a-vis the Government of Slovenia in official business related to culture; promotes the values and culture of American society; conducts information and cultural programs on behalf of the U.S. Government, presenting U.S. history, society, art and culture in all of its diversity to overseas audiences; and administers United States government involvement in cultural activities between Slovenia and the United States.

Each year, the Public Affairs Section devotes a certain amount of funding towards encouraging and promoting cultural and artistic cooperation, collaboration and exchange between the United States and Slovenia.  This allows us to conduct, a competition for cultural grants funding.

PLEASE NOTE: This year we only have ONE round of competition for cultural grants funding.

Funding for cultural grants is decided through a competitive application process, and each proposal is voted on by an Embassy committee. Please understand that we receive many more good proposals than our resources allow us to fund, which means that simply submitting a good proposal does not guarantee that the Embassy can fund your project.  For this cycle,  special consideration will be given to projects that include a component on human rights (to include tolerance, respect for diversity, and support for historically marginalized communities) and/or youth engagement, volunteerism, and active citizenship.

PLEASE NOTE: We recognize that the requirement for all program proposals to include a significant American component may be challenging in some cases. We encourage prospective grant partners to be creative about leveraging of virtual resources and capitalizing on local expertise during this Grants cycle. Proposals which outline potential virtual components may be more competitive for the limited funding available.

EXAMPLE: A cultural program proposes a lecture series on American history for young schoolchildren. The primary program proposal envisions an American history teacher visiting Slovenia to conduct in-person lectures and teacher training for two weeks. Ideally, under the circumstances, the proposal should also include a backup plan to use video conferencing in lieu of international travel to conduct the lecture tour, in case travel restrictions make international travel difficult.

What are we looking for in a proposal?

  • Programs that build and enhance relationships between Slovenia and the United States through bilateral cooperation, promote shared heritage and values, and promote mutual understanding.
  • Programs that engage audiences by using a broad set of means to showcase America as a diverse society that values inclusion. For example, cultural programs where an American artist participates or is celebrated, programs that reach young people, and programs that raise awareness on important topics, like promoting human rights (to include tolerance, respect for diversity, and support for historically marginalized communities) and/or youth engagement, volunteerism, and active citizenship.
  • Sustainable projects with strong merit and clearly defined goals and outcomes.
  • Projects that include acknowledgement of U.S. Embassy support and a plan to amplify our cooperation via traditional or digital media.

Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below. The criteria listed are closely related and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application.

  • Organizational capacity and record on previous grants: The organization has expertise in its stated field and the ability to undertake the program.
  • Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.
  • Goals and objectives: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and the program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.
  • Mission priorities: Applicant has clearly described how stated goals are related to and support U.S. Mission’s priority areas and have a clearly defined target audience. This includes a description of how the program will incorporate and promote diversity, equality, and inclusion.
  • Budget: The budget justification is detailed.  Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.
  • Monitoring and evaluation plan: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provide milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators, and shows how and when those will be measured.
  • Sustainability: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program, with the potential multiplier effect and possible follow-on activities.

II. How to Apply for a Grant

You will need to submit the following items by the relevant application deadline:

Sam.gov and UEI:

Any applicant with an exclusion in the System for Award Management (SAM)  is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR, 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.”

The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards.  SAM.gov is the Federal government’s primary database for complying with FFATA reporting requirements.  OMB designated SAM.gov as the central repository to facilitate applicant and recipient use of a single public website that consolidates data on all federal financial assistance.  Under the law, it is mandatory to register in SAM.gov.

As of April 2022, the UEI is assigned when an organization registers or renews it’s registration in SAM.gov at www.SAM.gov .  To access SAM.gov an organization is required to have a Login.gov account. Organization can create an account at https://login.gov/ .   As a reminder, organizations need to renew their sam.gov registration annually.

Important Note: There are no fees associated with registration, or other steps in the application or grant management process. Organizations offering to facilitate applications for a fee are not endorsed by, or affiliated with, the U.S. Government.

Frequently Asked Questions for UEI and SAM.gov

More: FY 2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity: Cultural Grants Program – Open Competition (DOS-PAS-SLO-2023-002)

Please send your entire proposal package (completed application form with an original signature on the last page, as well as Proposal Narrative) to the following address:

Public Affairs Section
U.S. Embassy Ljubljana
Attn: Cultural Division
Prešernova 31
1000 Ljubljana
Tel.: (01) 200 55-00

You should also send one (1) copy to the following e-mail address:
CulturalGrantsLju@state.gov.

Deadline for submitting proposals is APRIL 14, 2023

 

PLEASE NOTE: This year we only have ONE round of competition for cultural grants funding.

Grant proposals must include all of the information requested in the Application Guidelines. Proposals will not be considered unless all information is received. Proposals should be completed in English, or accompanied by an English translation. Budgets must be calculated in USD. Supporting documents may be in Slovenian. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Please follow the instructions carefully, fill out all forms required, and submit your proposal only when it is complete.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to fill in all sections of the application form, provide the written narrative, and submit the complete package by the posted deadline, in order for the application to be considered. For an application to be deemed complete, full support material (including press kit, photos, videos, CDs and/or DVDs) must be submitted by mail to the address listed above by the appropriate deadline. Applicants should also attach a CV, resume or personal history of the participants from the United States who will be engaged in the project.

The Public Affairs Section welcomes proposals from alumni of U.S.-sponsored exchange programs.  Priority consideration will be given to alumni who:

  • Cooperate with other alumni to implement the grant.
  • Share with a wider community the knowledge or skills gained in the exchange program or training
  • Explain how the project will enhance alumni professional development

III. General Eligibility and Criteria for all Applications

The Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Embassy provides grants to American or Slovene groups and individuals to implement programs that engage audiences by using a broad set of means to showcase America as a diverse society that values inclusion. These are governed by general eligibility guidelines and criteria outlined below, which supersede all previous ones.

Applications will be accepted from professional artists and professionals in the cultural field who are American or Slovene citizens and from not-for-profit arts or cultural organizations or institutions registered in the United States of America or in Slovenia.

The evaluation of applications will be based on artistic quality, fiscal responsibility, cost-effectiveness, American content, length and variety of the proposed project and the relevance of the locations to U.S. current foreign and trade policy and, finally, the ability of the applicant to undertake an international project.

Projects must also meet the following basic conditions:

• demonstrated high standards of professional artistic quality;

• interest abroad from reputable and credible presenters or organizations. All applications must include basic information on these presenters and their relevance to future projects;

• demonstrated cost-effectiveness in terms of the number of performances, planning, itinerary and over-all budget;

• realistic revenues generated from fees paid to the artist by the local presenters on top of any box office split or contribution to local expenses; and

• all applications must include a brief history of the artist or company and information on the proposed project including repertoire. This information must be supplied no matter how many other applications have been filed previously. Applications not containing this information will be considered incomplete.

Conformity with General Guidelines and Criteria and basic conditions does not guarantee funding.

ALUMNI APPLICATIONS

The Public Affairs Section welcomes proposals from alumni of U.S.-sponsored exchange programs. Priority consideration will be given to alumni who:

· Cooperate with other alumni to implement the grant

· Share with a wider community the knowledge or skills gained in the exchange program or training

· Explain how the project will enhance alumni professional development.

REVIEW PROCEDURE

Funding for cultural grants is decided through a competitive application process, and each proposal is voted on by an Embassy committee.   Please understand that we receive many more good proposals than our resources allow us to fund, which means that simply submitting a good proposal does not guarantee that the Embassy can fund your project.  Additionally, since this is a competition, in the interest of a fair and impartial process, the Embassy is unable to give personalized assistance or advice to individual applicants and/or applying organizations.  However, we have put together some of our most frequently asked questions in Section IV below, to assist applicants in putting together their proposals.  Any award is subject to the availability of funds.

Typically, grant awards range from $3,000 to $10,000.

Organizations whose applications are not selected for funding will be notified via email.

Reporting Requirements: Recipients will be required to submit program reports and/or financial and program reports.  The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted.

IV. Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 84 KB)

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