U.S. Dance Troupe to Arts Festival in Tier-II City | M NOFO 19 105

Opportunity Information: Apply for M NOFO 19 105

The U.S. Mission to India, through the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai (PAS Mumbai), is offering a discretionary grant opportunity to support a short cultural exchange project titled "U.S. Dance Troupe to Arts Festival in Tier-II City" (Funding Opportunity Number: M NOFO 19 105). The core idea is to bring a small, high-quality U.S. dance troupe (up to five members) to India for a tightly scheduled program lasting up to five days and four nights, combining a headline festival appearance with hands-on public engagement activities. The project is meant to use dance as a tool for cultural diplomacy, outreach, and skills-sharing, with a particular emphasis on engaging young people and communities that do not always have easy access to international arts programming.

Under this grant, the selected grantee would take the lead on identifying and securing a prominent U.S. dance troupe and managing the full set of logistics for their visit. That includes coordinating international travel to Mumbai and then onward to a second location described as a Tier-II city, as well as arranging local transportation, scheduling, and day-to-day coordination during the visit. A major required element is organizing at least one significant performance tied to a well-known arts or cultural festival, with examples named in the announcement such as the Goa Arts and Literature Festival or the Kala Ghoda Festival in Mumbai. The intent is that the troupe is showcased in a high-visibility setting that can attract large, diverse audiences and maximize the public diplomacy impact of the visit.

Beyond the festival performance, the grant is designed to prioritize meaningful interaction rather than a single show. The grantee is expected to arrange two to three additional engagements per program day, which can include smaller performances, master classes, workshops, and other interactive sessions. These activities should be geared toward a mix of audiences such as the general public, dance students, and youth groups, with specific encouragement to reach marginalized or at-risk youth. In practice, this means the program should not only demonstrate artistic excellence but also create opportunities for learning, participation, mentorship, and community connection through dance.

The opportunity is open to a defined set of eligible U.S.-based applicant organizations: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofit organizations that hold 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The funding activity categories are listed as Arts and Education, and the corresponding CFDA number is 19.040, which is commonly associated with public diplomacy programs administered by the U.S. Department of State and its overseas missions.

Financially, the award ceiling is $40,000, setting the maximum amount an applicant can request under this opportunity. The notice was created on December 21, 2018, and the original application closing date was February 20, 2019. While the posting does not specify the exact number of awards in the source fields provided, it frames the project as a single, defined initiative to be carried out by a grantee responsible for end-to-end implementation, from artist selection and travel planning to event delivery and coordination with festival and community partners.

Overall, this grant opportunity supports a short, intensive cultural engagement tour that blends public performance with educational and community-based programming in Mumbai and a second Tier-II Indian city. The U.S. government is essentially seeking a capable implementing partner that can deliver a well-organized visit for a small U.S. dance troupe, ensuring both high-profile visibility through a major festival platform and sustained people-to-people engagement through workshops, classes, and outreach activities, especially for youth and underserved groups.

• The U.S. Mission to India in the arts, education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Dance Troupe to Arts Festival in Tier-II City" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-12-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-02-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $40,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for M NOFO 19 105

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: