Opportunity Information: Apply for ECA PE C CU 08 29

  • The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Rhythm Road American Music Abroad" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 00.000 Not Elsewhere Classified.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Feb 6, 2008 and posted on Feb 6, 2008.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 20, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
  • Please see full announcement.
Apply for ECA PE C CU 08 29

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Opportunity Summary:

The Rhythm Road American Music Abroad is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity run through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), specifically its Cultural Programs Division within the Office of Citizen Exchanges. The government is seeking one organization to partner with ECA under a cooperative agreement to manage and deliver an international cultural diplomacy program that sends American musicians overseas. In practical terms, the awardee would be responsible for administering a series of music-focused tours that showcase U.S. artistry while also creating person-to-person engagement with foreign audiences.

The program itself is built around up to ten overseas tours featuring a selected number of professional American artists. The musical focus is on jazz, urban music, and American roots traditions, with examples including country western, bluegrass, zydeco, Cajun, and related genres. A key requirement is that the participating musicians be more than just strong performers; they must also be able to speak comfortably about contemporary American society and culture. That emphasis signals the program is not just entertainment-based, but designed to support cultural exchange and mutual understanding through both performance and dialogue.

Each tour is expected to include a mix of public concerts and educational or community-oriented activities. Beyond performances, the tours will incorporate workshops, master classes, and outreach events, meaning artists will likely engage directly with students, emerging musicians, educators, and community groups. This structure indicates the managing organization would need the capacity to coordinate scheduling, venues, partnerships with local institutions, and the educational components that typically require planning, curriculum-style preparation, interpretation/translation considerations, and coordination with host-country counterparts.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which generally means substantial involvement by the federal agency in shaping or overseeing the program as it is implemented. The posting date was February 6, 2008, with an application deadline of March 20, 2008, and the opportunity was archived March 21, 2008. The total estimated funding is $1,000,000, and the award ceiling is also $1,000,000, with an expectation of a single award. Cost sharing or matching is required, so applicants would need to bring non-federal resources to the table, whether cash and/or allowable in-kind contributions, consistent with the full announcement.

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement). The funding opportunity number is ECA PE C CU 08 29, and the CFDA listing is shown as 00.000 (Not Elsewhere Classified), which sometimes appears for programs that do not align neatly with a standard CFDA category at the time of posting. Anyone needing access to the full announcement is directed to contact the program specialist listed: Hans Posey at poseyhe@state.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Rhythm Road American Music Abroad grant opportunity?

Rhythm Road American Music Abroad is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity to operate an international cultural diplomacy program that sends American musicians overseas. The selected organization would manage and deliver music-focused tours designed to showcase U.S. artistry while building person-to-person connections with foreign audiences.

Which U.S. government office is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is run through the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), specifically the Cultural Programs Division within the Office of Citizen Exchanges.

What type of award is being offered?

This is a discretionary opportunity using a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

Based on the description provided, a cooperative agreement generally involves substantial involvement by the federal agency in shaping or overseeing the program as it is implemented.

How many awards are expected to be made?

The opportunity indicates an expectation of a single award, meaning one organization would be selected to partner with ECA to run the program.

What is the total estimated funding amount?

The total estimated funding is $1,000,000.

What is the award ceiling?

The award ceiling is $1,000,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, so applicants would need to provide non-federal resources. The description notes these may be cash and/or allowable in-kind contributions, consistent with the full announcement.

What is the program expected to deliver in practical terms?

The selected organization would administer a series of music-focused overseas tours that combine public performances with educational and community engagement activities as part of a cultural exchange and mutual understanding effort.

How many overseas tours are included in the program?

The program is built around up to ten overseas tours.

What kinds of music are emphasized in this program?

The musical focus is on jazz, urban music, and American roots traditions. Examples provided include country western, bluegrass, zydeco, Cajun, and related genres.

What is expected of the musicians beyond musical performance?

Participating musicians must be able to speak comfortably about contemporary American society and culture. The program is designed to support cultural exchange through both performance and dialogue, not entertainment alone.

What types of activities are expected on each tour?

Each tour is expected to include a mix of public concerts and educational or community-oriented activities. The description specifically mentions workshops, master classes, and outreach events in addition to performances.

Who are artists likely to engage with during tours?

Based on the activity types listed, artists are likely to engage directly with students, emerging musicians, educators, and community groups through workshops, master classes, and outreach programming.

What kinds of capabilities would the managing organization need?

The opportunity description suggests the awardee would need the capacity to coordinate scheduling, venues, partnerships with local institutions, and educational components. It also highlights considerations such as curriculum-style preparation, interpretation/translation needs, and coordination with host-country counterparts.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Additional eligibility details are referenced in the full announcement.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is ECA PE C CU 08 29.

What CFDA listing is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA listing is shown as 00.000 (Not Elsewhere Classified).

When was the opportunity posted and when was the application due?

The posting date was February 6, 2008, and the application deadline was March 20, 2008.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity was archived on March 21, 2008.

Who can be contacted to request the full announcement or more details?

Requests for the full announcement are directed to the program specialist listed: Hans Posey at poseyhe@state.gov.

What is the overall purpose of the program as described?

The program is positioned as an international cultural diplomacy effort that uses American music and direct engagement between artists and foreign audiences to support cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

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