Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation:Call for Proposals

The United States Embassy in Rabat is now accepting project proposals for the 2012 Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) competition.

Introduction

The Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) program was established by the United States Congress in 2001. To date, the Ambassadors Fund has supported more than 500 projects worldwide, totaling more than $13.4 million.

Examples of the types of projects funded worldwide include technical support for the restoration of historic buildings; assessment and conservation of museum collections; archaeological site preservation; documentation to save threatened traditional crafts; improved storage conditions for archives and manuscripts; and documentation of indigenous languages.

Morocco is one of the countries qualified to participate in this program.  Grants last year ranged from USD $10,000 to over USD $100,000 with an average award amount of USD $41,400.  Larger grants may be awarded for exceptional projects.

The United States Embassy in Rabat is pleased to invite cultural heritage preservation proposals for 2012.  The deadline for submission of proposals is November 30, 2011.  Organizations that would like to submit proposals for the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation should review carefully the following key points before responding.

Types of Projects

AFCP supports projects to preserve cultural heritage in the following three categories:

• Cultural sites including (but is not limited to) historic buildings and sites, sacred places, monuments, and archaeological sites;
• Cultural objects and collections from a museum, site, or similar institution including archaeological and ethnographic objects, paintings, sculpture, manuscripts, photographic and film collections, and general museum conservation activities;
• Forms of traditional cultural expression including traditional music, rituals, knowledge, languages, dance, drama, and crafts.

Proposal Requirements

Project proposals must include the following:

1. Purpose and summary
2. Detailed description
3. Timeline
4. Statement of significance [i.e. why this site, object, or form of expression is particularly important in Morocco’s cultural heritage
5. Statement of urgency [i.e. why this site, object, or form of expression is particularly at risk of disappearing without preservation efforts]
6. Rationale for U.S. support that explains why the U.S. government ought to fund this project
7. Detailed project budget
8. Recipient information
9. Resumes of the project director and professional staff
10. Official permission to undertake the project
11. Other funding sources, if any
12. At least three (3) digital images (.jpeg) or audiovisual files of the site, object, or form of expression to be addressed in the proposed project

Contact

For more information on AFCP please visit: http://exchanges.state.gov/afcp.

This program is an international competition.  Full implementation of the program is pending the availability of FY 2012 funds.

Proposals are due by November 30, 2011 via e-mail to rabatgrants@state.gov with the words “AFCP 2012” in the subject line.

Public Affairs Section

Embassy of the United States of America

2, avenue Mohamed El Fassi

Rabat, Morocco

Tel.: 0537-66-8187

Fax: 0537-66-8299