Asian Cultural Council Organization Grant Program

The Organization Grant provides support to organizations that:

• Are engaging in projects that will benefit from cultural immersion, research, increased access to artistic communities or cultural resources in a specific country, and/or the exchange of knowledge amongst peers.
• Intend to build organizational or regional capacities of cultural exchange activities through workshops, specialized training, etc.

The Organization Grant does not fund travel to specific conferences, performances, or gallery showings. Instead, ACC expects a deep cultural exchange experience for the organization and all project participants. In other terms, the organization has thought about the impact of their cultural exchange experience, who their community is, and how this experience can potentially affect their larger community.

Strong Applications will include

• A well-defined proposal that expands upon cross-cultural exchange and articulates the impact that the proposed experience will have on their project participants and the larger community.
• A general schedule of activities regarding their research project. While ACC does not expect a day-to-day schedule, they are interested in how project participants will spend their time during the grant period.
• A reasonable budget that captures the plan of activities, travel costs, translation services (if necessary), and the cost of living in the country the applicant is traveling to.
• A list of possible contacts and connections that will help the applicant with their research project.
• An explanation of the feasibility of the proposal, including the consideration of the accessibility of communities or cultural resources of interest, the logistics of transportation (especially to remote areas), accommodations, and language barriers.

Funding Information

• Organization Grant applicants may apply for support up to $50,000 for their project activities.
• When creating the budget, please include the following information:
  • Travel costs, including airfare
  • Accommodation
  • Daily expenses, including food and local transportation
  • Costs and fees relevant to the research project
  • Translation services, if necessary

Support for Organization Grants

• ACC support services are intended to enhance the proposed plan of activity, increase access to artistic communities and cultural resources in the destination country, and deepen the cultural exchange experience.
• Kindly be aware that ACC does not maintain offices in every country where they provide funding and support. As a result, certain assistance, such as making specific connections, may be limited. It is essential to consider ACC’s available resources and operational capacity while developing your research project. Proposals should be designed to be achievable independently, with or without additional guidance from ACC.
• Examples of support organizations may receive:
  • Recommending sites to visit or activities to participate in, especially in Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, and the United States.
  • Connecting grantees to ACC’s broader community of Fellows and alumni.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a registered nonprofit or NGO
• The organization needs to demonstrate five (5) years of programming in cultural exchange.
• ACC funding cannot be used for artist fees or production expenses.
• Production-driven projects are not eligible, including touring, performances, and exhibitions.
• Applicants that do not name individual project participants, and include their biographies and work samples, will not be considered.
• All project participants must meet eligibility under the Organization Grant criteria, including nationality.
• Travel Eligibility
  • Organization Grants support travel from:
    • United States to Asia
    • Asia to the United States
    • Between Asian countries/regions

For more information, visit Asian Cultural Council.