[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 115 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14692]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 16, 1994]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
International Creative Arts Exchanges for Public and Private Non-
Profit Organizations
ACTION: Request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Creative Arts Exchanges Division of the U.S. Information
Agency's [USIA] Office of Arts America announces a program of awards to
private, non-profit organizations to support projects for artists and
arts administrators. These will consist of residencies and/or study
tours in which artists from the United States and other countries work
and learn together. Interested applicants are invited to request and
read the complete Federal Register announcement before submitting their
proposals.
DATES: This action is effective from the publication date of this
notice through September 21, 1994, for projects whose activities will
begin between February 1, 1995, and June 30, 1995. All applications
must be received at the U.S. Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington DC
time on Wednesday, September 21, 1994. Faxed documents will not be
accepted, nor will documents postmarked on September 21, 1994, but
received at a later date.
For projects that begin after June 30, 1995, competition details
will be announced in the Federal Register on or about December 1, 1994.
Inquiries concerning technical requirements are welcome prior to
submission of applications.
ADDRESSES: The original and 14 copies of the completed application,
including required forms, should be submitted by the deadline to: U.S.
Information Agency, REF: E/DE Discretionary Grant Competition, Grants
Management Division (E/XE), E/DE-95-01, room 336, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547. Awards are contingent upon the availability of
funds.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND APPLICATION PACKAGES, CONTACT: The Creative
Arts Exchanges Division of the U.S. Information Agency's Office of Arts
America, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547; telephone (202)
619-5338.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Creative Arts Exchanges Division works
with U.S. non-profit organizations on cooperative international group
projects that introduce American and foreign participants to each
other's cultural and artistic life and traditions. It supports
international projects in the United States or overseas involving
composers, choreographers, filmmakers [see guidance below],
playwrights, theater designers, writers and poets, visual artists,
museum professionals [see guidance below], managers and administrators
of arts institutions and organizations [see guidance below].
We particularly seek projects with organizations with expertise in
the arts as well as broad outreach and networking capabilities into
American arts activities nationwide. On its side USIA offers
prospective applicants its network of U.S. Information Service [USIS]
posts located in American embassies, consulates and cultural centers
around the world. Proposals making imaginative and substantive use of
this USIS network will have a decided advantage in the competition.
Proposed projects should support the USIA mission to increase mutual
understanding between the United States and other countries and to
promote international cooperation in educational and cultural fields.
USIS' role in such projects should be integral and not purely
facilitative.
Common Provisions
Projects supported by these awards share some or all of the
following features:
1. An international exchange of professionals in the fields listed
above.
2. The development of institutional linkages between American
organizations and their counterparts in other countries.
3. Travel to or from the United States, preferably in both
directions.
4. Competition in which USIS posts nominate foreign candidates for
awards, while the American arts organizations select the award-winners.
5. Assurances of quality, fairness, balance and openness in the
selection of American project participants.
6. A non-political character reflective of the diversity of
American political, social and cultural life.
Special Conditions
1. Proposals should involve more than one country. However, single-
country projects that have strong USIS-post support and clearly
demonstrate the potential for creating and strengthening linkages
between foreign and U.S. institutions are also welcome.
2. Proposals are subject to review and comment by the USIS posts in
the relevant countries.
3. Proposals involving foreign organizations should identify them
and clearly define their role in the project. Prospective applicants
would do well to consult with USIS posts regarding such organizations
prior to submitting their proposals.
4. Proposals centering on films or videos must deal with the
creative aspects of film or video making. Projects should be written
for professional partners, not for amateur or student groups. Projects
may include story development, other aspects of the creative processes,
or management issues like funding and distribution. They should not
include film or video festivals, installations, seminars, competitions,
full scale film production or distribution, or any other type of
project prohibited in this announcement.
5. Proposals centering on arts presenters, administrators, and
managers should feature exchanges involving these professionals
exclusively.
6. Arts America is the major supporter of the American Association
of Museums [AAM] International Partnerships Among Museums [IPAM]
program. Museums interested in international projects should address
queries to the Office of International Programs, American Association
of Museums, 1225 Eye Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005; telephone:
[202] 289-1818; FAX: [202] 289-6578. We will not accept direct
applications from museums for international projects [see Program
Exclusions, below].
7. Proposals for projects in Eastern Europe and/or the Newly
Independent States of the ex-Soviet Union should focus on the exchange
of arts administrators or professionals dealing in theatrical arts.
Proposals should clearly demonstrate knowledge of host country
environment and its institutional partner in that country and provide
evidence of long-term commitment to project goals.
Program Exclusions
1. Projects should be artistic, intellectual, and cultural, not
technical. Vocational and technical training projects are ineligible
for support.
2. Scholarship programs or proposals for long-term academic study
or training are ineligible for support.
3. Speaking tours, conferences or seminars, research projects,
research for project development purposes, youth or youth-related
activities (participants' age under 25), publications, student and/or
faculty exchanges, or projects for the exchange of amateurs or semi-
professionals are all ineligible.
4. Arts America does not accept proposals to support performing
arts productions or tours, film or video festivals, film/video
installations, full-scale film production or distribution,
international arts competitions, community-level arts presentations or
festivals for general audiences, visual arts exhibits, museum projects
except for those under the AAM/IPAM program [see above], or projects in
the fields of historical and cultural conservation and preservation.
5. USIA is a major supporter of Sister Cities International and
Partners of the Americas. It has agreed to fund administrative expenses
of these organizations' national offices, but will not fund projects
arising from sister city and partner state relationships once they are
established.
Budgetary Requirements
1. There must be minimum of 33% cost sharing of the project cost.
Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs.
The recipient must maintain written records to support all allowable
costs which are claimed to be its contribution to cost participation,
as well as costs to be paid by the Federal Government. Such records are
subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and in-
kind contributions must be in accordance with OMB Circular A-110,
Attachment E--Cost Sharing and Matching--and should be described in the
proposal. In the event the recipient does not provide a minimum of 33%
cost sharing following the award, the Agency's contribution will be
reduced in proportion to the recipient's contribution.
2. Administrative costs must be no more than 20% of the total
amount requested from USIA.
3. Awards are limited to $200,000. We will consider requests for
$100,000 or more only for projects that are internationally regional,
multi-regional or worldwide in scope. Awards are limited to $60,000 for
organizations with less than four years' experience in conducting
international exchange programs.
4. Allowable costs are those defined in the application package,
which is available upon request.
5. To calculate the costs per participant, divide the project total
by the number of participants who will be funded under the terms of the
award.
Definition of Administrative Costs
Administrative costs are defined as salaries, benefits and other
direct and indirect costs incurred. Important note for universities:
The U.S. Information Agency defines American faculty salaries as an
administrative expense, regardless of how the faculty time is to be
used.
Review Process
USIA will acknowledge receipt of all proposals and will review them
for technical eligibility. Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they
do not fully adhere to the guidelines in the application package.
Eligible proposals will be forwarded to panels of USIA officers for
advisory review. All eligible proposals will also be reviewed by the
appropriate USIA geographic area officers, and budget and contract
offices. Proposals may also be reviewed by the Agency's General
Counsel. Review criteria are listed in the application package, which
is available upon request. Funding decisions are at the discretion of
USIA's Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final
technical authority for awards resides with USIA's contracting officer.
Review Criteria
Proposals are reviewed for adherence to legal and budgetary
requirements by USIA offices responsible for these functions and for
artistic/organizational rigor, program content and cost-effectiveness.
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the following criteria:
a. Quality of Program Plan
Which includes how your project would meet the Creative Arts
Exchanges Program goals, artistic/organizational planning of the
highest caliber, why the participants would be appropriate for this
project, how the project would contribute to a higher awareness of
other countries, a proposed followup, and the qualifications of program
staff and participants.
b. Feasibility of the Program Plan
And the capacity of the organization to conduct the exchange.
Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the
program objectives and plan.
c. Track Record
Included are the past successes of the organization in previous
USIA programs and assessments of the organization's experience with
international exchanges. For organizations that have not worked with
USIA, they will be evaluated by their demonstrated potential to achieve
their program goals.
d. Multiplier Effect/Impact
The ability of the organization to affect the wider community as
well as developing continuing ties in the country. The proposal must
also promote mutual understanding between the two groups.
e. Value to U.S.--Partner Country Relations
The Agency assesses the need, the potential impact, and the
significance of the project with the partner country.
f. Cost-Effectiveness
The organization should exhibit a wise budgetary policy including
cost-sharing. A key measure of cost-effectiveness is the cost per
participant.
g. Diversity and Pluralism
Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate efforts to
provide for the participation of artists from diverse regions, socio-
economic and ethnic backgrounds; but only to the extent feasible for
the applicant institutions.
h. Institutional Commitment
As demonstrated through use of personnel, resources and funding.
i. Follow-up Activities
Proposals should provide a plan for later continuation of contact
(without USIA support), which ensures that USIA-supported programs are
not isolated events.
j. Evaluation Plan
Proposals should provide a plan for your own evaluation of the
project.
Technical Requirements
Proposals can only be accepted for review when they are fully in
accord with the terms of this request for proposals, as well as with
requirements stipulated in the application package.
Notice
The terms and conditions published in the request for proposals are
binding and may not be modified by any USIA representative. Explanatory
information provided by the Agency that contradicts published language
will not be binding. Issuance of request for proposals does not
constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government. Final
awards cannot be made until funds have been fully appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures.
Notification
All applicants will be notified of the results of the review
process on or about January 4, 1995. Awards will be subject to periodic
reporting and evaluation requirements.
Dated: June 10, 1994.
John P. Loiello,
Associate Director, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc 94-14692 Filed 6-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M