The Cultural Center of the Inter-American Development Bank launches the call for proposals for its 2009 grants for small-scale cultural development projects.
Applications should be submitted before January 31, 2009 to the IDB country offices in the 26 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that are borrowing members of the Bank.
One-time-only grants ranging from US$3,000 to US$ 10,000 will be awarded on the basis of fulfilling a local need, contributing toward cultural values, stimulating economic and social activity in new and successful ways, supporting artistic excellence, and contributing toward youth and community development.
The Cultural Development Grant Program is designed to encourage the development of innovative projects, preserve and recover traditions and conserve cultural heritage, among other goals. The projects are evaluated for their viability, educational scope, effective use of resources, ability to mobilize additional financial resources and the long-term impact on the community.
The IDB may finance up to two-thirds of a single project. Local organizations are responsible for providing the remainder of the resources and supporting the project on a sustainable basis. The Cultural Development Grant Program has demonstrated the effectiveness of micro-investments in community-based cultural enterprises that lead to job creation and capacity building since 1996.