Ambassadors Fund For Cultural Preservation

Call for Proposals for the 2009 Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP)

Megalithic Observatory Kokino supported with AFCP grant in 2006 (LP)

The U.S. Embassy in Skopje, Macedonia is currently accepting proposals for the 2009 Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, see: http://www.exchanges.state.gov/afcp/index.html.

AFCP supports preservation projects in the following three categories: 

The Cultural objects and collections of objects from a museum, site, archive, or similar institution: may involve, for example, conservation treatment for an object or collection of objects; conservation assessment of a collection, its storage environment, and threats to its safekeeping; inventory of a collection for conservation purposes; the creation of safe environments for storage or display of collections; or specialized training in the care and preservation of collections.

Cultural sites -  includes (but is not limited to) historic buildings and sites, sacred places, monuments, and archaeological sites:  Proposals in this category may involve, for example, restoration of a historic building, an archaeological survey as a component of a preservation plan, preservation management planning for a site, or documentation of sites in a region for preservation purposes.

Forms of traditional cultural expression - documenting and audiovisual recording of traditional music, dance forms, or storytelling as part of a traditional expression: may involve documenting and audiovisual recording of traditional music, dance forms, or storytelling as part of a traditional expression and making the information and recordings available; or support for training in the preservation of traditional arts or crafts that are threatened by extinction.

The average amount of the grant is $32,000.  In 2008 year, grant amounts ranged from $8,000 to $94,000.

Grantees must be:  a non-governmental organization, museum, Ministry of Culture, or similar institution.

AFCP does NOT support the following:

(A) Conservation of natural heritage (physical, biological, and geological formations, habitats of threatened species of animals and plants, fossils, etc.);

(B) Conservation or purchase of privately owned residential or commercial property or collections;

(C) Reconstruction or re-creation of historic objects, buildings, or sites;

(D) Construction of new buildings;

(E) Administrative costs in excess of 5% of project costs;

(F) International travel, except in cases where travel for outside specialists is justifiable and integral to the success of the proposed project (international travel will be considered on a case-by-case basis).

Project proposals must include or address the following:

(A) Project title;

(B) Purpose and summary;

(C) Location;

(D) Description of the project;

(E) Timeframe (sequence and duration of activities);

(F) Significance of the resource;

(G) Urgency;

(H) Rationale for U.S. support;

(I) Detailed project budget;

(J) Grantee information;

(K) Resumes of the project director and professional staff;

(L) Official permission, such as from a national or local authority, to undertake the project;

(M) Other funding sources, cost-sharing, or in-kind support, if any.

(N) Include photographs (JPEGs), plans, etc. of the current condition of the site or collection to be preserved.

Proposal Format, to be completed in a Word document, in English.
All attached photographs must be in JPG format.

Deadline for submitting proposals:  November 25, 2008. 

Please send all proposals electronically to: TaneskaB@state.gov     
Short-listed applicants will be contacted individually.