Opportunity Information: Apply for EAPBJ 23 CA 001 20230320
The U.S. Department of State, through the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, announced a discretionary public diplomacy grant competition titled "U.S. Mission China Public Diplomacy Program: Art for the People: Using Our Voices" (Funding Opportunity Number EAPBJ 23 CA 001 20230320). The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the Embassy expects to have an active partnership role during implementation rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The program sits within the arts/cultural affairs funding category (CFDA 19.040) and is intended to use art as a practical tool for public engagement and dialogue.
The core purpose of the opportunity is to reach public audiences in the People's Republic of China with content that highlights U.S. civic participation and widely discussed American values, specifically democracy, human rights, individual freedoms, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. A central thread is freedom of speech and freedom of expression, using street art and related programming to illustrate how artistic expression can surface difficult issues and encourage constructive discussion. The stated outcome is that, by the end of the project, target audiences have a stronger understanding of U.S. culture and values and a clearer sense of how art can help catalyze conversations among individuals, civic organizations, and government about real societal challenges.
This program continues a multi-year Embassy initiative. It explicitly builds on two earlier "Art for the People" efforts in Beijing in 2021 and 2022 that displayed large-scale images of U.S. street art on the exterior walls of the U.S. Embassy. The 2021 exhibit focused on freedom of expression, while the 2022 installment ("Art for the People: The Earth") centered on environmental protection and climate change. The Embassy points applicants to existing visuals and digital materials from those prior exhibits, along with a feature story describing the foreign policy goals and impact of the 2021 project, to show the kind of public diplomacy approach and visibility they are aiming to replicate and expand.
"Art for the People: Using Our Voices" is organized around three required components. First is a street art exhibit under the "Using Our Voices" theme, designed to be a prominent public-facing showcase. Second are associated digital products intended to extend the exhibit's reach and support broader public diplomacy programming, which could include online content and other digital engagement materials tied to the exhibit and its themes. Third are public engagement programs for PRC citizens that involve selected "Using Our Voices" artists, emphasizing direct interaction such as talks, discussions, workshops, or similar formats that allow audiences to engage with artists and the ideas behind the work.
The Embassy identifies three priority program themes that should be clearly reflected in the proposed content and activities: democracy and human rights; diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; and civil society. Proposals are therefore expected to connect artistic work and public programming to these themes in a way that is understandable and meaningful to the intended audiences, while reinforcing the broader public diplomacy goal of increasing understanding of American values and the role of artistic expression in civic life.
In terms of basic eligibility and scale, the competition is limited to nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The opportunity anticipated a single award, with an award ceiling of $150,000. The opportunity was posted January 18, 2023, with an original closing date of March 20, 2023.Apply for EAPBJ 23 CA 001 20230320
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to China in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Mission China Public Diplomacy Program: “Art for the People: Using Our Voices”" 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 Jan 18, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 20, 2023. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the official name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "U.S. Mission China Public Diplomacy Program: Art for the People: Using Our Voices".
2) Which U.S. government office is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of State, through the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.
3) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is EAPBJ 23 CA 001 20230320.
4) What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This award is structured as a cooperative agreement. That means the Embassy expects to play an active partnership role during implementation, rather than providing funds with minimal involvement.
5) What funding category and CFDA number does this program fall under?
This opportunity is in the arts/cultural affairs category and is identified as CFDA 19.040.
6) What is the main goal of "Art for the People: Using Our Voices"?
The core purpose is to reach public audiences in the People's Republic of China (PRC) with content that highlights U.S. civic participation and widely discussed American values, including democracy, human rights, individual freedoms, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
7) What role does freedom of speech or expression play in this program?
Freedom of speech and freedom of expression are central threads of the program. The opportunity emphasizes using street art and related programming to show how artistic expression can bring difficult issues to the surface and encourage constructive discussion.
8) Who is the intended audience for the activities?
The program aims to reach public audiences in the PRC, and the public engagement portion is specifically described as being for PRC citizens.
9) What outcomes is the program trying to achieve by the end of the project?
By the end of the project, the intended outcome is that target audiences have a stronger understanding of U.S. culture and values and a clearer sense of how art can catalyze conversations among individuals, civic organizations, and government about real societal challenges.
10) Is this a new program or part of an ongoing initiative?
This program continues a multi-year Embassy initiative and explicitly builds on two earlier "Art for the People" efforts in Beijing (2021 and 2022).
11) What were the themes of the earlier "Art for the People" efforts?
The opportunity references two prior efforts displayed on the exterior walls of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing:
- 2021: focused on freedom of expression
- 2022 ("Art for the People: The Earth"): centered on environmental protection and climate change
12) What is the "Using Our Voices" project expected to include?
The opportunity requires three components:
- A street art exhibit under the "Using Our Voices" theme, designed to be a prominent public-facing showcase.
- Digital products that extend the exhibit's reach and support broader public diplomacy programming (for example, online content and other digital engagement materials tied to the exhibit and its themes).
- Public engagement programs for PRC citizens involving selected "Using Our Voices" artists, emphasizing direct interaction (such as talks, discussions, workshops, or similar formats).
13) Are the three components optional, or are they required?
They are described as required components, meaning proposals are expected to include all three.
14) What priority themes should proposals reflect?
The Embassy identifies three priority program themes that should be clearly reflected in proposed content and activities:
- Democracy and human rights
- Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
- Civil society
15) How should applicants connect art and programming to the priority themes?
Proposals are expected to connect artistic work and public programming to the priority themes in a way that is understandable and meaningful to the intended audiences, while reinforcing the public diplomacy goal of increasing understanding of American values and the role of artistic expression in civic life.
16) Does the opportunity specify a preferred art form?
The opportunity emphasizes street art as the anchor for the exhibit and uses street art and related programming to illustrate freedom of expression.
17) What does the Embassy mean by "digital products"?
The opportunity describes digital products as materials intended to extend the exhibit's reach and support broader public diplomacy programming. It notes they could include online content and other digital engagement materials tied to the exhibit and its themes.
18) What types of public engagement activities are envisioned?
The opportunity highlights formats that emphasize direct interaction with artists, such as talks, discussions, workshops, or similar engagement activities.
19) How many awards does the Embassy anticipate making?
The opportunity anticipated a single award.
20) What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $150,000.
21) Who is eligible to apply?
The competition is limited to nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status.
22) Are colleges and universities eligible?
No. The eligibility description excludes institutions of higher education, even if they may otherwise be nonprofit entities.
23) What does it mean that this is a "discretionary" public diplomacy grant competition?
It is described as a discretionary competition, meaning it is offered as a competitive public diplomacy funding opportunity under Embassy programming priorities (as stated in the opportunity description).
24) When was this opportunity posted and when was it originally due?
The opportunity was posted on January 18, 2023, with an original closing date of March 20, 2023.
25) What evidence does the Embassy provide about the style or visibility they want?
The Embassy points applicants to existing visuals and digital materials from the 2021 and 2022 exhibits, plus a feature story describing foreign policy goals and the impact of the 2021 project. These references are provided to illustrate the kind of public diplomacy approach and public visibility they aim to replicate and expand.
26) Where is the exhibit expected to be shown?
The opportunity references earlier exhibits that displayed large-scale images of U.S. street art on the exterior walls of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and it frames the new exhibit as a prominent public-facing showcase. No additional exhibit location details are provided beyond this context.
27) What is the overall public diplomacy rationale behind using art in this program?
The opportunity describes art as a practical tool for public engagement and dialogue, aiming to use artistic expression to surface challenging issues and encourage constructive discussion while increasing understanding of U.S. culture, values, and civic participation.
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