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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

19.414:  Cultural Exchange (Visual Arts)

Popular Name:  (Fund for U.S. Artists at International Festivals and Exhibitions (Visual Arts))

Objectives:  To help ensure that the excellence, diversity and vitality of the arts in the United States are represented at international visual and performing arts festivals.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

19.414 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Applications are accepted from nonprofit museums, galleries, artists cooperatives, or independent curators. Applications are not accepted from commercial galleries. Applicants should not have kinship or close personal ties to proposed artists.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Proposed artists must be working at a professional level as painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers, or working with electronic media, installations or traditional arts.

Credentials/Documentation:  All applications must include resumes of curators and artists.

19.414 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Curators are invited to contact project coordinator Rex Moser. Phone: (202) 619-4806, Fax: (202) 619-6315, email: RMOSER@USIA.GOV, to discuss planned project and clarify details of venues, on-site coordination, budget, publication, etc. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  Curators wishing to submit a proposal for an international visual arts festivals should contact the project coordinator described in 091 Preapplication Coordination, or request an application from: The Fund for U. S. Artists, Arts International, 251 Park Avenue South, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10010-7302. Phone: (212) 674-9744, ext. 107. Fax: (212) 674-9092. Website: www.iie.org.

Award Procedure:  Letters are sent periodically to curators describing upcoming festivals for which an official U.S. representation is sought. The event is described, giving parameters of media, scale, format, etc. required by event organizers. The letters also describe the application process, required format, theme, budget and deadlines. After receipt, the proposals are reviewed by the Federal Advisory Committee for International Exhibitions (FACIE), a standing committee of the National Endowment for the Arts consisting of seven curators and directors of contemporary art museums and galleries. The committee recommends the proposal it thinks would best represent the U.S. at a particular event.

Deadlines:  Deadlines vary depending on receipt of information from event organizers concerning opening dates and themes. There are normally two deadlines each year, usually in the Spring and Fall.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Six weeks.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  None.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Eligible proposals are reviewed based on the following criteria: (A) artistic excellence; (B) extent to which proposal represents the vitality and diversity of contemporary U.S. visual arts; (C) suitability of the exhibition for the specific venue; (D) ability of applicant to carry out the proposed exhibition; (E) record of professional activity and achievement by individuals/organizations involved.

Examples of Funded Projects:  For 1999: Ann Hamilton created a site-specific installation in the U.S. pavilion at the 1999 Venice Biennale, and a grant was provided the Istanbul Biennial. For 2000: Anticipated events include grants to the Saaremaa Bienaal in Riga, Latvia, the Havana Bienal, the Kwangju (Korea) Biennale, and the Sydney Biennale. Official U.S. representation will take place in Cuenca, Ecuador. For 2001: The Fund will support U.S. artists at the Venice Biennale and Cairo Biennial.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Each project is budgeted by the Fund at a different level, depending on the scale of the event, expected local costs, etc. These range from $60,000 for the Cuenca (Ecuador) Bienal, to $300,000 for the Venice Biennale.

19.414 RELATED PROGRAMS:

None.

19.414 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

The Festivals Fund supports a number of official U.S. artists at from three to five international biennials each year. In addition, another three to five self-curated biennials receive grant support.

19.414 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $450,000; FY 00 est $450,000; and FY 01 est $450,000.

Budget Account Number:  19-0201-0-1-154.

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

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Consult websites of Department of State at www.usinfo.state.gov or Arts International at www.artsinternational.org; or write or phone Arts International, 251 Park Avenue South, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10010-7302. Phone: (212) 674-9744 ext. 107. Fax: (212) 674-9092.

19.414 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  Exhibitions are managed by the Cultural Programs Division, Department of State, Washington, DC 20547. Contact: Rex Moser. Phone: (202) 619-4806.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

19.414 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  The Fund is supported by the Department of State and the National Endowment for the Arts — and two foundations — the Rockefeller Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts. There is no matching requirement. However applications which exceed the amount budgeted for that project by the Fund must describe how additional funds will be raised. The Fund looks for evidence of an institution's commitment in terms of contributed salaries and infrastructure support.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Variable.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  The Fund makes grants to independent curators and nonprofit museums and galleries that have been recommended by a peer committee following a competitive solicitation nationwide from some 400 curators of contemporary art. Curators and artists must be mindful of the diplomatic context under which U.S. exhibitions are presented given their sponsorship by the U.S. Embassy. All exhibitions and accompanying publications should advance mutual understanding and respect between the U.S. and the host country.

19.414 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Reports are required from grantees of the Fund within 90 days after artworks have been returned to lenders and bills have been paid.

Audits:  Subject to audit.

Records:  As prescribed by grant terms.