Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0005561
The FY 2019 Creative Arts Exchange (CAE) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0005561) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) program designed to use the arts as a tool of cultural diplomacy. The core idea is that arts-based, people-to-people exchanges can build cross-cultural understanding, open channels for dialogue, and create professional and personal connections that last beyond a single visit or project. CAE projects are meant to be international in scope and implemented in close coordination with U.S. embassies and consulates overseas, aligning the programming directly with U.S. foreign policy priorities and on-the-ground diplomatic goals.
At its center, the opportunity supports initiatives that bring U.S. and international artists together through collaboration and professional development. Rather than focusing only on performances or exhibitions, CAE emphasizes exchange: artists and cultural professionals learn from each other, work jointly, and engage with communities in ways that highlight shared interests while also addressing misconceptions and negative stereotypes. The program frames these exchanges as a way to deepen mutual understanding and trust between people in the United States and people abroad, with the broader aim of advancing safety and security by strengthening constructive relationships and reducing harmful narratives.
The program’s goals spell out what strong proposals are expected to accomplish. CAE projects should advance and complement U.S. foreign policy objectives while also providing concrete opportunities for artistic collaboration between U.S. and foreign artists and audiences. A major focus is showcasing the diversity and high artistic merit of the arts in the United States and increasing international awareness of U.S. art, culture, values, and society. The opportunity also places strong weight on educational outreach and community engagement, especially with diverse and under-served communities. Priority audiences explicitly include youth ages 12 to 25, women, and persons with disabilities, signaling that projects should be designed with access, inclusion, and broad public benefit in mind.
In addition to cultural exchange and outreach, CAE is meant to be instructive and skills-oriented within a particular art form. Programs are expected to include informative experiences that help participants build practical capabilities, which may include elements that support creative industries and entrepreneurship. This points toward workshops, mentorship, training, and other professional development formats that strengthen careers and institutions, not just one-time artistic showcases. Another stated objective is sustainability: proposals should intentionally create pathways for relationships and collaborations between U.S. and international artists and institutions to continue after the official program period ends, such as through ongoing partnerships, future co-productions, alumni networks, or institutional linkages.
The specific themes and artistic genres supported under CAE are not fixed in the notice and are described as variable, determined by ECA strategic priorities. In practice, that means applicants are expected to design arts exchange concepts that can be shaped to priority countries, regions, or diplomatic themes identified through ECA and embassy coordination. The grant is offered as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the funding agency during project implementation, such as collaboration on program design refinements, participant selection approaches, overseas coordination, and alignment with embassy public diplomacy goals.
Key administrative details include an opportunity title of FY 2019 Creative Arts Exchange, CFDA number 19.415, and an award ceiling listed at $1,300,000. The opportunity was posted January 30, 2019, with an original closing date of April 1, 2019. The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement, which generally signals that eligibility may extend beyond a single standard category and requires applicants to review the official guidance for specific requirements. Overall, the grant opportunity supports carefully planned international arts exchange programs that combine artistic excellence, meaningful collaboration, inclusive community engagement, professional development, and durable cross-border partnerships, all carried out in coordination with U.S. diplomatic missions and tied to ECA priorities.Apply for SFOP0005561
- The Department of State, Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2019 Creative Arts Exchange" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.415.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 30, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 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 $1,300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FY 2019 Creative Arts Exchange (CAE) Grant (SFOP0005561) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FY 2019 Creative Arts Exchange (CAE) grant opportunity?
The FY 2019 Creative Arts Exchange (CAE) is a U.S. Department of State program run by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). It supports arts-based, people-to-people exchanges as a tool of cultural diplomacy, with projects designed to build cross-cultural understanding, open channels for dialogue, and create relationships that last beyond a single project or visit.
Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?
The funding agency is the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0005561.
What is the CFDA number listed for CAE?
The CFDA number is 19.415.
What is the main purpose of CAE?
The program is designed to use the arts to support cultural diplomacy by bringing U.S. and international artists and cultural professionals together to collaborate, learn from each other, and engage communities in ways that strengthen mutual understanding and trust.
What types of activities does CAE emphasize?
CAE emphasizes exchange and collaboration rather than stand-alone performances or exhibitions. Strong projects are expected to include collaboration and professional development, educational outreach, community engagement, and skills-building experiences within a particular art form.
Do CAE projects need to be international?
Yes. CAE projects are meant to be international in scope and are expected to be implemented in close coordination with U.S. embassies and consulates overseas.
How important is coordination with U.S. embassies and consulates?
Coordination is central to the program. The opportunity is intended to align programming directly with U.S. foreign policy priorities and on-the-ground diplomatic goals, which the notice describes as being carried out in close coordination with U.S. embassies and consulates overseas.
What outcomes is ECA looking for in CAE projects?
Based on the listed goals, projects are expected to: advance and complement U.S. foreign policy objectives; provide opportunities for artistic collaboration between U.S. and foreign artists and audiences; showcase the diversity and artistic merit of U.S. arts; increase international awareness of U.S. art, culture, values, and society; and deliver educational outreach and community engagement, including with diverse and under-served communities.
Which audiences are prioritized under CAE?
Priority audiences explicitly include youth ages 12 to 25, women, and persons with disabilities. The notice also emphasizes outreach to diverse and under-served communities.
Does CAE require an educational or training component?
The program description places strong weight on informative and skills-oriented experiences within a particular art form. That implies proposals should include practical capability-building elements such as workshops, mentorship, training, or other professional development.
Are creative industries and entrepreneurship activities allowed or encouraged?
The opportunity notes that skills-building may include elements that support creative industries and entrepreneurship. This points toward programs that strengthen careers and institutions, not only one-time artistic showcases.
What does CAE mean by sustainability?
Sustainability is described as intentionally creating pathways for relationships and collaborations to continue after the official program period ends. Examples mentioned include ongoing partnerships, future co-productions, alumni networks, or institutional linkages.
Are the artistic themes and genres fixed for CAE?
No. The notice describes themes and artistic genres as variable and determined by ECA strategic priorities. Applicants are expected to design concepts that can be shaped to priority countries, regions, or diplomatic themes identified through ECA and embassy coordination.
What kind of award instrument is used for this grant?
The opportunity is offered as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that CAE is a cooperative agreement?
As described, a cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial involvement by the funding agency during implementation. The notice gives examples such as collaboration on program design refinements, participant selection approaches, overseas coordination, and alignment with embassy public diplomacy goals.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed for CAE?
The award ceiling listed is $1,300,000.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on January 30, 2019.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date listed is April 1, 2019.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement. This indicates eligibility may extend beyond a single standard category, and applicants are expected to review the official guidance for specific eligibility requirements.
What should a strong CAE proposal focus on?
Based on the notice description, strong proposals focus on high-quality artistic exchange that is collaborative (not just presentational), includes professional development and skills-building, prioritizes educational outreach and inclusive community engagement (especially for priority audiences), and is designed to support durable partnerships that continue beyond the grant period, all while aligning with ECA priorities and embassy/consulate coordination.
How does CAE connect to U.S. foreign policy priorities?
The program is described as aligning arts programming with U.S. foreign policy objectives and diplomatic goals in-country. It frames arts exchange as a way to address misconceptions and negative stereotypes, deepen mutual understanding, and strengthen constructive relationships.
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