Introducing American Culture and Values to Ukrainian Audiences at Festivals | PAS UKRAINE 2021 014

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2021 014

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, through its Public Diplomacy Section (PDS), announced a discretionary grant opportunity (PAS UKRAINE 2021 014) designed to help Ukrainian nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations incorporate strong American elements into festivals held in Ukraine. In this program, a "festival" is broadly defined as an organized series of activities such as performances, exhibitions, screenings, or culinary presentations, and the embassy is open to a wide range of festival themes. Eligible festival categories include performing arts, visual arts, film, sports, education, literature, fashion, creative industries, entrepreneurship, environment, urban design, science and technology, and inclusivity. The basic idea is to use well-attended cultural or public events as a platform for meaningful exposure to American culture and values in a way that makes sense for Ukrainian audiences and fits naturally within the larger festival program.

Projects are expected to do more than simply "showcase" the United States; they should intentionally advance specific U.S.-Ukraine public diplomacy goals and include substantive American components. PDS Kyiv says it will prioritize proposals that connect clearly to one or more strategic objectives: strengthening U.S.-Ukraine educational, scientific, business, or cultural ties; supporting democratic reforms (especially anti-corruption efforts, rule of law, and civil society development); deepening Ukrainians' understanding of American culture and values; and advancing economic reforms tied to corporate governance, business development, and energy security. Applicants are expected to explain why they chose particular American themes, speakers, artists, experts, or content, and how those choices directly support the priority objectives rather than functioning as generic cultural programming.

A central preference in this competition is for programs that create real, sustained engagement between Americans and Ukrainians, ideally over multiple days. The embassy highlights interactive formats as especially valuable, such as workshops, masterclasses, and question-and-answer sessions, where participants can learn, collaborate, and exchange perspectives rather than passively attend. Proposals are also stronger when they include a plan for follow-on activities that keep the relationships and momentum going after the festival ends. Examples of follow-on components include small grants that seed joint Ukrainian-American projects, continued collaboration on initiatives launched during the festival, or structured virtual engagements that extend the interaction beyond the in-person event.

Operationally, funded projects must be tailored to Ukrainian audiences and integrated into the broader festival theme, not treated as an unrelated add-on. Applicants should be prepared to justify why the Americans involved, or the selected aspects of American culture and values, are uniquely suited to achieve the stated goals. For any in-person festival activity, proposals must include a detailed plan for COVID-19 risk mitigation that complies with Ukrainian laws and regulations, along with contingency plans to adjust programming if the public health situation worsens.

Administrative details included in the notice specify that the funding instrument is a grant under CFDA 19.040, administered by the U.S. Mission to Ukraine. The opportunity was created on May 20, 2021, with an original closing date of September 30, 2021. The award ceiling listed is $30,000. Eligible applicants are Ukrainian not-for-profit, nongovernmental organizations, reflecting the embassy's focus on supporting local implementers that can deliver credible, audience-specific programming inside Ukraine.

• The U.S. Mission to Ukraine in the arts, education, humanities, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Introducing American Culture and Values to Ukrainian Audiences at Festivals" 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 2021-05-20.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-09-30. (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 $30,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2021 014

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