ECA – American Spaces

 

As authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act, American Spaces are cultural and information centers around the world that provide free and open access for members of local communities to learn more about the United States, develop skills, and access a wide range of resources. Funded by the U.S. Department of State and hosted at U.S. embassies, consulates, and various local partner institutions, approximately 600 American Spaces in 145 countries host programs and events that foster learning, discussion, and civic engagement around democratic principles. Most American Spaces are based on partnerships with local organizations (libraries, universities, binational centers, NGOs) that provide facilities and staff, but some are located in U.S. government-owned facilities, to include embassies or consulates. The Office of American Spaces in Washington, D.C., and its training unit in Vienna, Austria, provide centralized oversight, strategic direction, funding, training and programming resources to all American Spaces, while U.S. embassies and consulates implement the programming to engage foreign audiences in support of U.S. national interests. The six core programming areas that take place in American Spaces draw on the breadth of what the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs offers: Promotion of U.S. higher education, including EducationUSA advising; English language learning and teaching; Exchange Alumni engagement; strategic cultural programs that utilize ECAs and other envoys (arts, music, sports, science, and more); professional skills building; and accurate information about the United States, such as through connecting with expert American speakers. The State Departments Public Diplomacy Strategic Framework calls for the revitalization of existing American Spaces and the establishment of new ones. The Director of ECA/A/M leads the American Spaces strategy, under the direction of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for ECA Academic programs. ECA coordinates with other Department bureaus (R/PPR, regional PD offices, GPA, OBO, DS, and IRM, among others) as appropriate to ensure that all interests are met.

Active 19.441 Department of State B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 Third year of budget disbursements to equip, renovate, upgrade, modernize 60 Tier 1 American Spaces and 500 Tier 2 American Spaces. In some cases funds went to pay for salaries, expenses and training of American Spaces staff.
Fiscal Year 2022 American Spaces added a sixth programmatic pillar focused on Professional Skills Building in FY 2022, formalizing how the network holds out programming that was already being implemented in many parts of the world and expanding its scope worldwide. The sixth pillar will allow American Spaces to reach new priority audiences with programming that demonstrates the United States’ commitment to mutual economic success and growth, and our desire to benefit individual program participants’ professional development and success. For programs funded in FY 2020 and going forward, the Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, as amended, Public Law 87-256, 22 US Code 2451. For programs funded in FY 2019 and previously, the US Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, also called the Smith-Mundt Act, Public Law 80-402., Title Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961 Not applicable. Foreign audiences. See www.grants.gov for individual award announcements. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. See www.grants.gov for individual award announcements. See www.grants.gov for individual award announcements. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 90 to 120 days. See www.grants.gov for individual award announcements. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Discretionary grants with individuals and NGOs for programmatic and construction activities. Performance Reports: Quarterly performance reports. Not applicable. Federal assistance records must be retained for three years after the final report is submitted. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. See www.grants.gov for individual award announcements. Assistance is awarded on a rolling basis. None/Not specified. Director Fred Boll
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of American Spaces 2200 C Street, NW, SA-05, Rm. BB09, Washington, DC 20037
Washington, DC, DC 20037 USA
BollAM@state.gov
Phone: 202-632-2846

Deputy Director Katharine Bartels
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of American Spaces, 2200 C Street, NW, SA-05, Rm. 03-03-BB10
washington, DC 20087 USA
BartelsKV2@state.gov
Phone: 202-632-6328 https://eca.state.gov/programs-and-initiatives/initiatives/office-american-spaces 19-0000-1-5-000 (Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements)) FY 22$7,166,696.00; FY 23 est $7,166,696.00; FY 24 est $7,166,696.00; FY 21$6,884,889.00; FY 20$3,703,333.00; FY 18$2,273,463.00; FY 19 est $737,513.00; FY 16 est $15,000,000.00; - $500 to $199,832 Not applicable. Not applicable.