Argentina and the U.S.: 200 Years of Friendship | Apply Online

FAQs: Argentina and the U.S.: 200 Years of Friendship (PAS AR200 FY23 03)

What is the "Argentina and the U.S.: 200 Years of Friendship" grant opportunity?

It is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Argentina (Embassy Buenos Aires). The project supports a public-facing cultural diplomacy initiative commemorating 200 years of diplomatic relations between Argentina and the United States in 2023.

What is the main purpose of this grant?

The core purpose is to fund the creation of a traveling photo exhibition that tells the story of the Argentina-U.S. relationship through people, highlighting historic and contemporary milestones and showing cooperation across fields and communities.

What is the required project deliverable?

The deliverable is a complete, end-to-end traveling exhibition package, not only a set of photographs. The grantee is expected to produce a ready-to-install exhibit that includes concept and design, physical build, printing, mounting, and durable materials, plus the logistics for assembly, transport, installation, and removal at each venue.

Is this primarily a photography project or an exhibition production project?

It is both, but the solicitation emphasizes a turnkey exhibit production outcome: curatorial storytelling through photos combined with real-world fabrication and nationwide touring logistics across multiple sites.

Where will the exhibition be displayed?

The exhibition is intended for indoor venues. It begins in Buenos Aires (including display at the Embassy's Independence Day celebration) and then circulates through nine additional provinces.

What role do Binational Centers (BNCs) play in this project?

Installations at 13 binational centers (BNCs) are identified as key host sites for the traveling exhibit during its circulation outside Buenos Aires.

How long does the exhibition tour run?

The exhibition schedule runs from May 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.

How long is the exhibit expected to remain at each venue?

Each venue is expected to host the exhibit for roughly two weeks before it moves on to the next stop.

What kind of design and build approach was expected from applicants?

Applicants were expected to propose a concept and design that is convincing, practical, and ready to execute, including graphic design, mounting and printing specifications, and the use of durable materials suitable for repeated handling and reinstallation throughout the tour.

Why does durability matter for this exhibition?

Because the exhibition is traveling and will be repeatedly handled, transported, installed, and removed. Proposals needed to show the applicant could produce an exhibit that holds up over time and can be efficiently deployed across multiple locations.

What is the requested content structure for the exhibit?

The Embassy asked for an exhibit structured around photographs of individuals representing key moments and themes across two centuries of bilateral ties, with a defining feature being paired images of Argentine and U.S. citizens.

What themes or sectors should the photo pairings come from?

Pairings were expected to be drawn from areas such as science, education, sports, performing arts, government, trade, and related sectors that reflect bilateral cooperation.

How should the exhibit reflect diversity and inclusion?

The exhibit is expected to intentionally reflect the diversity of both countries, including people from varied ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds, members of the LGBTQ community, and individuals with disabilities.

Are U.S. government exchange program alumni encouraged to be included?

Yes. The solicitation specifically encourages including alumni of U.S. government exchange programs (both Argentines and U.S. citizens) to highlight long-term people-to-people ties.

What language requirements apply to captions and text?

All captions and any accompanying text must be bilingual, presented in both English and Spanish, to ensure accessibility and consistent messaging across audiences.

Who is responsible for selecting the individuals featured in the photographs?

The award recipient is responsible for identifying and selecting subjects to be photographed and for producing or sourcing images included in the exhibit.

Who is responsible for photo permissions and copyright clearances?

The grantee must secure any necessary permissions and copyright authorizations for every photo used, and structure releases/permissions to allow the Embassy's planned reuse.

What logistics responsibilities does the grantee have?

The grantee must deliver the exhibit in a form that can travel and must coordinate directly with each host venue for installation and removal. The grantee must also cover shipping and/or transportation from Buenos Aires to the nine provinces and between venues.

What is the Embassy's role during the project?

The Embassy's role is primarily advisory and oversight-oriented: providing guidance during the design process, maintaining regular communication, conducting monitoring and evaluation (including site visits), and assessing the exhibit's impact and physical condition throughout the tour.

Does the Embassy retain any rights to use the exhibit after the tour?

Yes. A key condition is that the Embassy retains rights to use the photo exhibit for an additional year after the initial display period.

Will the Embassy use the photographs digitally?

Yes. The Embassy will use digital files of the photographs for Embassy social media, so applicants needed to be prepared to deliver high-quality digital assets suitable for that purpose.

How should applicants plan for the Embassy's extended use and digital reuse?

Applicants needed to structure photo releases and permissions so the Embassy can reuse the exhibit for an additional year and use the digital image files on social media without legal or licensing complications.

What was the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling was up to USD 50,000.

Could the proposed budget be adjusted by the Embassy?

Yes. The Embassy indicated it could reduce, revise, or increase budgets depending on program needs and available funds.

What kinds of costs were suggested as allowable within the budget?

Suggested allowable categories included staff time, materials, domestic transportation, graphic design and mounting, printing, lodging, food/per diem, evaluation, and other reasonable expenses directly tied to delivering the exhibition.

What budget documents were required in the application?

Applicants were required to submit a detailed line-item budget and a budget narrative explaining assumptions and costs.

What federal forms were required with the application?

Submissions required standard federal assistance forms, including SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) and SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs), plus other attachments as applicable.

What other attachments might be required "as applicable"?

Examples listed include indirect cost rate agreements, IRS Form 990, or SF-LLL if relevant.

Is SAM.gov registration required to apply?

Organizations had to be actively registered in SAM.gov to be eligible to apply. Individual applicants were exempt from the SAM registration requirement.

What were the limits for the executive summary and narrative?

The executive summary was limited to one double-spaced page. The main narrative was limited to 20 double-spaced pages.

What needed to be included in the executive summary?

The executive summary needed to identify the applicant and participating organizations, indicate the chosen project approach, and present total exhibit cost details.

What needed to be covered in the 20-page project narrative?

The narrative needed to explain the design concept and implementation plan, including objectives and intended outcomes, partner organizations and division of responsibilities, travel and logistics planning, an evaluation plan (with suggested tools such as a draft survey instrument), institutional capacity and staffing, and a work plan/schedule covering design, production, touring, and wrap-up.

Were letters of commitment required?

Supporting documents could include letters of commitment from significant partners, especially any receiving sub-awards.

What were the resume requirements for project staff?

Resumes for project staff could be required, with a limit of no more than two pages per resume.

What appendices were allowed?

Only essential appendices were encouraged, such as draft schedules or evaluation questionnaires.

Were additional governance and financial documents required for some applicants?

Yes. For first-time applicants or organizations without a State Department assistance award in the prior three years, the application also needed governance and financial documentation such as a charter or articles of incorporation, a list of board members, and current financial statements, along with director/senior executive information (often satisfied through relevant portions of IRS Form 990 or an equivalent disclosure format).

How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated making a single award.

What was the submission deadline?

The submission deadline was February 10, 2023, with no exceptions.

Where were questions and proposal communications directed?

Questions and proposal-related communications were directed to the Embassy contact email: US-ArgentinaGrants@state.gov.

What is the simplest way to describe what the Embassy was seeking?

This grant can be understood as a turnkey, multi-site exhibit production effort in grant form: inclusive curatorial storytelling plus fabrication and touring logistics, tied to a major diplomatic anniversary, with planned reuse by the Embassy beyond the initial exhibition window.