Deadline: 15-Jul-2026
The U.S. Embassy Tbilisi, through its Public Diplomacy Section, has announced the Cultural Small Grants Program to strengthen bilateral relations between the United States and Georgia through cultural engagement, creative collaboration, sports diplomacy, and people-to-people connections. Awards are expected to range from approximately $2,000 to $20,000, with a total funding pool of $50,000. Projects should include a clear American component and be completed within three to twelve months.
Overview
The Cultural Small Grants Program supports initiatives that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Georgia.
The program is administered by the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy Tbilisi.
It supports projects that promote cultural engagement, artistic exchange, sports diplomacy, heritage preservation, creative industries, and collaboration between American and Georgian professionals.
Key Focus Areas
The program focuses on cultural diplomacy, creative exchange, and people-to-people connections.
Key focus areas include:
- U.S.–Georgia cultural engagement
- Bilateral relations
- People-to-people connections
- American excellence in the arts
- Sports diplomacy
- Creative industries
- Cultural heritage preservation
- Creative economy development
- Festivals and exhibitions
- Cultural events
- Sports-based exchanges
- Community events
- Public lectures and seminars
- Speaker programs
- Public discussions
- Collaboration between American and Georgian professionals
- Inclusive sporting activities
- Regional cultural engagement
- Community engagement through culture
Purpose of the Program
The purpose of the Cultural Small Grants Program is to strengthen cultural relations between the United States and Georgia.
The program supports projects that increase understanding of American culture, expertise, creativity, innovation, and best practices.
It also encourages collaboration between Georgian and American individuals, organizations, and institutions in the arts, sports, creative economy, heritage preservation, and cultural sectors.
Funding Amount
Awards are expected to range from approximately $2,000 to $20,000.
The total funding pool is $50,000, subject to the availability of funds.
Applicants should prepare realistic budgets that clearly connect requested funding to project activities, expected outcomes, and the American component of the proposal.
Project Duration
Projects should be completed within a period of three to twelve months.
The anticipated project start date is September 1, 2026.
Applicants should design activities that can be realistically implemented within the proposed timeframe.
American Component Requirement
All proposed activities must include a clear American component.
This may include:
- Collaboration with American experts
- Partnership with U.S. organizations
- Engagement with American institutions
- Participation of American artists, athletes, speakers, or cultural professionals
- Use of American best practices
- Presentation of U.S. perspectives
- Activities that promote mutual understanding between Americans and Georgians
The American component should be meaningful and directly linked to the project’s goals.
Priority Audiences
The program prioritizes engagement with communities across Georgia.
Priority audiences include:
- Communities outside the capital city
- Ethnic minority communities
- Religious minority communities
- Educators
- Historians
- Researchers
- Non-governmental organizations
- Cultural professionals
- Creative sector professionals
- Sports communities
- Other priority populations
Applicants should clearly explain who the project will reach and how the activities will benefit the selected audience.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants may come from both the United States and Georgia.
Eligible applicants include:
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Civil society organizations
- Think tanks
- Public educational institutions
- Individuals
- Public international organizations
- Governmental institutions
Applicants may submit up to two proposals under this funding opportunity.
What the Program Can Support
The program can support cultural and creative projects that strengthen U.S.–Georgia ties.
Supported activities may include:
- Festivals highlighting American cultural contributions
- Exhibitions featuring American art or creative practice
- Cultural performances
- Sports exchanges
- Inclusive sporting events
- Public discussions with American experts
- Lectures and seminars
- Speaker programs
- Heritage preservation activities using American expertise
- Creative economy initiatives
- Collaboration between American and Georgian cultural professionals
- Community-based cultural engagement activities
Projects should clearly support mutual understanding, collaboration, and cultural exchange.
Arts and Creative Industries
The program supports initiatives that showcase American excellence and leadership in the arts and creative industries.
Suitable activities may include:
- Art exhibitions
- Performances
- Creative workshops
- Film or media-related events
- Cultural festivals
- Public talks with American artists
- Professional exchange between creative sector actors
- Projects that highlight American creativity and innovation
These activities should help Georgian audiences engage with American cultural perspectives and creative practices.
Cultural Heritage and Creative Economy
The program encourages projects that use American expertise to support Georgia’s cultural heritage preservation sector and creative economy.
Activities may include:
- Heritage preservation workshops
- Professional training sessions
- Knowledge exchange with U.S. experts
- Community engagement around cultural heritage
- Creative economy discussions
- Best-practice sharing between American and Georgian professionals
Projects should demonstrate how American knowledge or collaboration will support local sector development.
Sports Diplomacy
The program supports sports-based exchanges and community activities that promote inclusion, participation, and collaboration.
Sports diplomacy initiatives may include:
- Community sporting events
- Inclusive sports activities
- Exchanges involving American athletes or sports professionals
- Training or workshops on sport infrastructure
- Youth sports engagement
- Activities that promote teamwork and shared values
Sports projects should connect athletic engagement with broader goals of cultural exchange and community connection.
Public Engagement and Dialogue
The program supports public-facing activities that showcase American ideas, creativity, expertise, and innovation.
These may include:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Speaker programs
- Public discussions
- Community dialogues
- Educational events
- Cultural presentations
These activities should encourage meaningful exchange and improve understanding of U.S. perspectives.
Why It Matters
Cultural diplomacy helps build trust, understanding, and cooperation between countries.
The Cultural Small Grants Program matters because it creates opportunities for Americans and Georgians to connect through arts, sports, heritage, creativity, and public dialogue.
By supporting projects across Georgia, including outside the capital and among priority communities, the program helps expand cultural access and deepen people-to-people connections.
It also supports shared interests in security, economic growth, and regional stability.
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Application
Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that explains the project idea, target audience, American component, expected outcomes, timeline, and budget.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should first confirm that they fall within one of the eligible applicant categories.
Eligible applicants may include not-for-profit organizations, civil society organizations, think tanks, public educational institutions, individuals, public international organizations, and governmental institutions from the United States or Georgia.
Step 2: Define the Cultural Objective
The proposal should clearly explain how the project will strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Georgia.
Applicants should describe the cultural, artistic, sports, heritage, or creative sector issue the project will address.
Step 3: Include a Clear American Component
Every proposal must include a clear American component.
Applicants should explain:
- Who the American partner, expert, speaker, artist, athlete, or institution is
- What role the American component will play
- How it will enhance understanding of U.S. perspectives
- How it will support mutual cooperation
- Why it is relevant to the project’s goals
Step 4: Identify the Target Audience
Applicants should clearly describe the audience they plan to reach.
The application should explain:
- Who will participate
- Where participants are located
- Why this audience is important
- How the project will engage priority communities
- How the project will benefit communities outside the capital, where relevant
Step 5: Present a Realistic Activity Plan
The activity plan should be clear and practical.
It should include:
- Main project activities
- Timeline
- Location
- Partners
- Participant outreach
- Expected results
- Implementation responsibilities
- Community engagement approach
Step 6: Prepare a Strong Budget
Applicants should prepare a budget within the expected award range of $2,000 to $20,000.
The budget should be realistic, justified, and directly linked to project activities.
Step 7: Review Proposal Limits
Applicants may submit up to two proposals under this funding opportunity.
Each proposal should be complete, distinct, and aligned with the program’s cultural diplomacy objectives.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid submitting proposals that are unclear or weakly connected to U.S.–Georgia cultural engagement.
Common mistakes include:
- Not including a clear American component
- Failing to explain how the project strengthens bilateral relations
- Providing a vague cultural objective
- Not identifying the target audience
- Ignoring priority communities outside the capital city
- Submitting a budget outside the expected award range
- Proposing activities that cannot be completed within three to twelve months
- Not showing collaboration between American and Georgian professionals
- Treating the project as a general cultural event without U.S. relevance
- Submitting more than two proposals
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should be culturally relevant, practical, and clearly connected to U.S.–Georgia cooperation.
Useful tips include:
- Clearly explain the American component.
- Show how the project strengthens people-to-people connections.
- Link activities to arts, sports, creative industries, heritage, or public dialogue.
- Engage priority audiences, especially communities outside the capital city.
- Include partnerships with relevant American and Georgian professionals.
- Demonstrate clear community benefit.
- Prepare a realistic timeline between three and twelve months.
- Keep the budget within the $2,000 to $20,000 range.
- Show how the project supports mutual understanding.
- Explain how the project contributes to shared interests in security, economic growth, or regional stability.
FAQ
1. What is the Cultural Small Grants Program?
The Cultural Small Grants Program supports initiatives that strengthen U.S.–Georgia relations through cultural engagement, creative collaboration, sports diplomacy, heritage preservation, and people-to-people connections.
2. Who administers the program?
The program is administered by the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy Tbilisi.
3. How much funding is available?
Awards are expected to range from approximately $2,000 to $20,000, with a total funding pool of $50,000, subject to the availability of funds.
4. What is the project duration?
Projects should be completed within three to twelve months.
5. What is the anticipated start date?
The anticipated start date is September 1, 2026.
6. Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, civil society organizations, think tanks, public educational institutions, individuals, public international organizations, and governmental institutions from the United States and Georgia.
7. Is an American component required?
Yes. All proposed activities must include a clear American component, such as collaboration with American experts, organizations, institutions, artists, athletes, or cultural professionals.
Conclusion
The U.S. Embassy Tbilisi Cultural Small Grants Program provides funding for projects that strengthen cultural engagement and people-to-people connections between the United States and Georgia.
With awards ranging from approximately $2,000 to $20,000 and a total funding pool of $50,000, the program supports initiatives in arts, sports, creative industries, heritage preservation, cultural events, and public dialogue. Strong proposals should include a clear American component, meaningful community engagement, priority audience outreach, realistic budgeting, and a clear contribution to U.S.–Georgia mutual understanding and cooperation.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
