Cultural Property Agreement Implementation Grants

Deadline: 31-Jan-24

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for Cultural Property Agreement Implementation Grants (CPAIG) to support projects that contribute to the implementation of provisions in the emergency determinations or the cultural property agreements between the United States and the foreign government.

This competition is organized through U.S. embassies in the 30 countries with which the United States has a signed bilateral cultural property agreement or where emergency import restrictions on archaeological and ethnological material are in effect under the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act.

Organizations may submit applications to participating U.S. embassies for funding through the Cultural Antiquities Task Force (CATF) to carry out an individual project to protect cultural property from looting, theft, and trafficking. Issuance of this funding opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government.

Funding Areas

• The CPAIG Grants Program supports the following types of activities:
  • Training: Build capacity of foreign law enforcement and cultural property managers to protect sites and objects. Examples include country-specific or regional workshops on investigation and interdiction techniques, effective record keeping, the role of the judiciary, increased communication between ministries of culture and law enforcement authorities, and training for cultural property stewards.
  • Inventories: Support the creation and maintenance of centralized, digital, and secure inventories of cultural objects or sites to better support resource allocation, aid in recovery in cases of theft, and promote public appreciation for cultural property protection.
  • Site Security and Protection: Support practical and sustainable measures to more effectively secure archaeological sites (on land or underwater), museums, libraries, archives, and other collecting institutions against looting, thefts, and vandalism. Examples include development of site security plans, installation of security systems, and training for guards or site stewards.
  • Public Education and Outreach for Crime Prevention: Support strategies to prevent looting and trafficking through heightened public awareness and outreach. Examples include educational materials, community engagement and media programs, storytelling, distance learning courses, 3D models, and virtual experiences like games and augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR).

Funding Information

• Length of Performance Period: 12 to 36 months
• Number of Awards Anticipated: 8-10 awards
• Award Amounts: $10,000 – $150,000
• Total Available Funding: $500,000 (estimated)
• Type of Funding: Educational and Cultural Exchanges Funds
• Anticipated Project Start Date: 1 October 2024

Eligible Countries

• Those countries are: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Belize, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Libya, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Syria, Turkiye, and Yemen.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible Applicants: The following entities are eligible to apply:
  • Foreign Institution of Higher Education
  • Foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO)
  • Foreign Public Entity, where permitted
  • U.S. Non-Profit Organization (IRC section 501(c)(3))
  • U.S. Institution of Higher Education
• Other Eligibility Requirements: The CATF further defines eligible applicants as reputable and accountable entities that can demonstrate that they have the requisite capacity and permission to manage projects to preserve cultural heritage in the specified country.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.