The Fund was established in 2001 to assist less developed countries preserve their cultural heritage and to demonstrate U.S. respect for other cultures. Please read this call for proposals in full before sending any inquiries to the U.S. Embassy.
Guidelines
Proposals may include preservation projects directed at:
A cultural site or sites. This might include (but is not limited to): preservation of an archaeological or historical site, sacred place or monument; an archaeological survey or excavation; preservation management planning for a site or sites in a region; public education about site or monument preservation issues.
An object or collection of objects from a site, a museum or similar institution. This might include (but is not limited to): conservation of an object or collection of objects; creating suitable space and conditions for a collection of objects; specialized training in the care and preservation of collections; public education in conservation issues pertaining to objects.
Forms of traditional cultural expression. This might include (but is not limited to): recording traditional music or dance forms; compiling a dictionary of an endangered language; recording oral history or traditional poetry; support for training in the preservation of traditional arts or crafts.
Application Requirements
Proposals must include the following components:
Proposal Title and Summary
- Detailed description of the project and participants, including the timeframe for completion (not to exceed 500 words)
- Indication of the importance of the cultural or sacred site (or sites), object (or collection), or form of expression. All should have a close association with the history and cultural development of Jamaica
- Indication of the urgency of the project
- The impact of the U.S. contribution to the preservation project
- Benefit to the advancement of US-Jamaica bilateral relations
- Detailed project budget
- Grantee information
- Resumes of the project director and professional staff
- Indicate other funding sources, if any
- At least three high quality digital images (JPEGs) or audiovisual files of the site, object, or form of expression to be addressed in the proposed project.
Strong encouragement is given to local non-U.S. Government source cost-sharing (including in-kind) from sources such as, foreign governments, international organizations and the private sector.
Exclusions
Funds cannot be used to support preservation or purchase of privately owned, residential or commercial property or collections; funds cannot pay for international airfare for foreign specialists; funds cannot be used for the digitization of cultural objects or collections, unless it is part of a larger, clearly defined conservation effort; funds cannot be used for the preservation of news media (newspaper, newsreels, etc.); the proposals must be directed at specific projects that exclusively support preservation of sites or forms of traditional expression, conservation of objects or preventive conservation/preservation strategies; funds cannot be applied to new construction. Keep in mind fluctuation of exchange rates when calculating budget and amount of the grant request.
Religious Objects and Sites
Special note regarding items that have a religious connection (including objects, sites and other forms of traditional cultural expression): The establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution permits the government to include religious objects and sites within an aid program under certain conditions. For example, an item with a religious connection (including a place of worship) may be the subject of a cultural preservation grant if the item derives its primary significance and is nominated solely on the basis of architectural, artistic, historical or other cultural (not religious) criteria.
Application Procedures
PAS, in association with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), is pleased to announce a call for proposals for the 2011 U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation program.
All applications must be submitted via email (Microsoft Word attachment) no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 26 with the subject heading to read “U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation 2011” to KingstonAmbFund@state.gov. For additional information or clarification, please communicate with the embassy at this address.
PAS reviews Jamaican proposals for eligibility. The U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica then makes an official recommendation for funding to ECA – the office at the State Department that administers the U.S. Ambassadors Fund and carries out the selection process in consultation with the Offices of Budget and Planning and the Legal Adviser. Funds are authorized for selected proposals that are recommended by the Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
For more information on exchange programs conducted by the United States’ Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, please visit the website for the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. For more information on Fulbright programs please visit their website.