The Annual Program Statement for U.S. Presentation at International Architecture Biennales, issued by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State, supports a U.S.-based non-profit organization to manage and implement the United States exhibition at the International Architecture Biennale in Venice, Italy. This prestigious biannual festival, organized by La Biennale di Venezia, features contemporary architectural exhibitions from around the world. The U.S. exhibit will be installed at the U.S. Pavilion, which is owned by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and operated by the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice. The program seeks to deepen international appreciation of American creative excellence by presenting foreign audiences with groundbreaking and innovative architectural designs that embody American ideals and cultivate meaningful international engagement.

Overview

The Cultural Programs Division (ECA/PE/C/CU) aims to showcase innovative and compelling architectural designs that exemplify America’s exceptionalism, promote the achievements of American architectural communities, and enhance America’s global competitiveness in the creative and built environment sectors. The U.S. Pavilion at the Biennale serves as a high-profile platform for illustrating the innovation, ingenuity, high artistic merit, and breadth of the American architectural community. Typically, at least 85 countries, including the United States, participate in the Venice Biennales.

Goals and Objectives

• Objective 1: Conduct a three-day Preview/Inauguration (the Vernissage) of the Biennale prior to the official opening of the exhibition, which will include public outreach events and activities in and around Venice to showcase the exhibition at the U.S. Pavilion.
• Objective 2: During the Biennale, develop robust exhibition-related educational and outreach activities, including innovative virtual programming, to engage foreign audiences and broaden the exposure of the exhibition.
• Objective 3: Develop a robust media campaign to broaden the exposure of the exhibition with U.S. audiences.

Expected Outcomes

• Advance and complement U.S. foreign policy and public diplomacy objectives by promoting American creative excellence and enabling U.S. cultural experts to increase visibility of U.S. artistry with key foreign audiences worldwide.
• Build the capacity of creative leaders and institutions to develop new skills, partnerships, and opportunities to promote American creative industries and entrepreneurship.
• Convey the variety and excellence of the United States architecture community and increase awareness and understanding of U.S. culture, principles, and society among international participants and audiences.
• Offer constructive artistic and cultural channels to counter negative perceptions and advance safety and security in the United States and worldwide.
• Establish sustained relationships and linkages between the U.S. and foreign audiences, peers, and institutions to cultivate the exchange of knowledge and skills that benefits participating communities.

Funding and Benefits

• Award Amount: Up to $375,000 per award per biennale cycle, pending availability of funds.
• Performance Period: 18 months per award.
• Number of Awards Anticipated: 1 per cycle.
• Type of Funding: Grant under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchanges Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-Hays Act).
• Assistance Listing Number: 19.415.
• Cost Sharing or Matching: Required. The non-Federal share of costs (cash or third-party in-kind contributions) is an eligibility factor. Past experience indicates that the overall cost of mounting an exhibition of this scale is considerably higher than the federal share provided, so applicants must contribute cost-sharing from their own organizational resources or other donors.

Eligibility

• Eligible Applicants: U.S.-based non-profit and non-governmental architectural, design, educational, and cultural organizations with 501(c)(3) status under the U.S. tax code. Certified 501(c)(3) status must be held at the time of proposal submission.
• Architects: Architects whose work is proposed for representation must be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status in the United States.
• Ineligible: Individuals are not eligible to apply. Non-U.S. entities or architects applying as individuals are not eligible under this announcement.
• Registration: All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov and a valid registration in SAM.gov. Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System in SAM.gov or with a current debt to the U.S. government is not eligible to apply.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted electronically via MyGrants (https://MyGrants.servicenowservices.com) or Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) by the designated due date and time. Applicants can submit one application per funding cycle. Proposal packages must adhere to the attached Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI). Submissions that do not meet all requirements outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and the PSI will be deemed technically ineligible.

Required application components include:

• Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B forms (and SF-LLL if applicable)
• Cover Page / Executive Summary
• Proposal Narrative
• Budget Documents (two-component submission)
• Program Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative and Plan
• Key Personnel and a letter of agreement between the applicant organization, the featured artist, and the curator/commissioner
• Timeline
• Attachments (letters of support, if applicable)

Applicants are encouraged to submit during normal business hours (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time). The SAM.gov registration process can take 2–4 weeks; early registration is strongly advised.

Deadline and Timeline

• Deadline for Applications: Throughout the year. See Section D.4 of the NOFO for specific dates.
• Performance Period: 18 months per award.

Contact Information

• Agency: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State
• Phone: 202-890-9795
• Email: StaggsJJ@state.gov and BianRC@state.gov
• MyGrants Help Desk: +1 (888) 313-4567 (toll charges apply for international callers); available 24/7 via ILMS Self Service Portal.