Annual Program Statement for U.S. Presentation at International Art Biennales

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Cultural Programs Division (ECA/PE/C/CU) administers the Annual Program Statement (APS) for the U.S. Presentation at International Art Biennales. This prestigious program aims to promote American values and foster international dialogue by supporting U.S. participation in the International Art Biennale held in Venice, Italy. The Biennale, one of the world’s most esteemed contemporary art events, features a wide array of international participants and provides a highly visible platform for exhibiting American innovation, creativity, and cultural engagement. The goal of the program is to expose foreign audiences to compelling works of American art, encouraging deeper international understanding and advancing U.S. foreign policy goals through cultural diplomacy. Selected exhibitions will be showcased in the U.S. Pavilion, which is managed by the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Participating organizations must develop comprehensive outreach and education strategies, including a three-day vernissage, virtual programming, and media engagement, to expand the exhibition's reach among both international and domestic audiences. Each grant award provides up to $375,000, of which $125,000 must be allocated to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection for pavilion operations. The remaining funds support exhibition development, travel, installation, and educational activities. Due to the complexity and cost of mounting such exhibitions, applicants are required to provide cost-sharing or matching funds. This requirement ensures that organizations demonstrate both capacity and commitment to successfully delivering a comprehensive cultural program. Eligible applicants are U.S.-based nonprofit or non-governmental art, design, educational, and cultural organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Individual curators and artists must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Non-U.S. entities and individuals are ineligible. All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration in SAM.gov. Proposals must include a comprehensive application package with mandatory forms, budget documents, monitoring plans, key personnel, and supporting letters. Applications are accepted year-round through Grants.gov. Specific funding cycles correspond to upcoming Biennale events, such as the 61st Biennale (May–November 2026), with submissions due between May 1 and July 30, 2025. Selected applicants will be notified by September 1, 2025. Evaluation criteria include artistic merit, relevance to U.S. foreign policy, cost-effectiveness, and public programming scope. Final decisions rest with a senior official of the Department of State, advised by expert panels and subject matter experts. For technical or application-related inquiries, applicants can contact Jenny Orrico at OrricoJL@state.gov or Jill Staggs at StaggsJJ@state.gov. Grants.gov support is also available 24/7 (excluding federal holidays) at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.