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Grants / Department of State / Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

DFOP0018285: FY 2026 U.S. Creative Tech Exchange

Closed Closed July 6, 2026 Opportunity DFOP0018285

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Annual Program Statement for U.S. Presentation at International Architecture Biennales (DFOP0017180). Status: Closes January 1, 2099 (26353 days left). It is in our archive of Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs notices from 2026.

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs offered grants of up to $1.3 million (at least $1.3 million) to nonprofits and colleges and universities. It expected to make one award. Applications closed on July 6, 2026.

From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed May 7, 2026. Checked November 7, 2026.

Key dates

PostedMay 7, 2026
DeadlineJuly 6, 2026
Archived by Grants.govAugust 5, 2026

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to nonprofits and colleges and universities.

Please see full announcement.

More grants for nonprofits, colleges and universities.

Is this a realistic fit?

What the grant funds

The U.S. Creative Tech Exchange (U.S.CTX) is a new international arts exchange program that drives economic growth by connecting U.S. creative professionals and technologists with international peers working at the intersection of the arts and emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI). The goal is to position American technology as a key driver of American innovation, economic, and cultural influence in art and technology, For the purposes of this program, “arts” refers specifically to architecture, creative coding and gaming, fashion, graphic design, music and immersive art such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR); but excludes film and television. U.S.CTX will support up to 30 participants through short-term, hands-on activities such as collaborative labs, fellowships, workshops, and public showcases. ECA will award one U.S.-based nonprofit or educational organization $1.32 million to design and implement the program in close coordination with ECA and U.S. embassies. Applicants should propose a concept that leverages their strengths and includes clear plans for recruitment, program delivery, and measurable outcomes in creative arts, economic impact, and public diplomacy. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.

Category: Other.

Who has won Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges grants before

From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges (19.415) awarded $569 million across 289 grant awards, an average of $2.0 million per award.

Largest recipients, fiscal 2021 to 2025
RecipientStateAwardsAmount
American Councils for International Education: Actr/Accels, Inc.District of Columbia34$220 million
International Research and Exchanges Board Inc.District of Columbia11$59.2 million
World Learning Inc.Vermont20$32.2 million
Aspen Institute, Inc. (the)District of Columbia2$22.3 million
Afs-USA, IncNew York8$17.0 million

Top states: District of Columbia ($336 million), New York ($50.2 million), California ($43.7 million), Vermont ($40.0 million), Virginia ($14.1 million).

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, DFOP0017180, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.

Questions people ask

Is DFOP0018285 still open?

No. It closed on July 6, 2026. A newer notice is open: DFOP0017180, closes January 1, 2099 (26353 days left).

Who can apply for FY 2026 U.S. Creative Tech Exchange?

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs accepted applications from nonprofits and colleges and universities. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

What is the deadline for FY 2026 U.S. Creative Tech Exchange?

Closed July 6, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $1.3 million each.

Who has won Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were American Councils for International Education: Actr/Accels, Inc., International Research and Exchanges Board Inc., World Learning Inc. The program made 289 awards worth $569 million in that time.

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