Tajik-American Battle of the Bands | STI400 21 PAS CA 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for STI400 21 PAS CA 001

The Tajik-American Battle of the Bands is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity run through the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, specifically the Public Affairs Section (PAS). It is designed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of U.S.-Tajik relations by using music as a cultural bridge. The core idea is to create a nationwide competition where professional and amateur Tajik musicians learn and perform American songs, helping Tajik audiences discover well-known U.S. artists who may be popular in the United States but not widely recognized in Tajikistan. The program is also meant to spotlight three decades of cooperative projects and partnerships between the two countries and to strengthen positive people-to-people ties.

The Embassy frames the need for the project around music's ability to connect communities, especially when direct cultural exchanges have been limited. Historically, American musicians have played a role in cultural diplomacy, including performances in the Soviet Union that helped build informal connections even during tense political periods. In Tajikistan today, some American pop music is familiar, but many major U.S. bands and artists remain largely unknown. The pandemic made that gap worse by preventing in-person tours by American performers, so this program aims to compensate by empowering local Tajik musicians to interpret and share American music themselves. In that sense, it builds on earlier Embassy-supported tours and pandemic-era virtual performances, but shifts toward a more sustainable, locally driven model that can continue beyond a single visit from abroad.

The opportunity seeks one project (ExpectedAwards: 1) funded up to an award ceiling of $40,000, issued as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant. That matters because Embassy staff are expected to be actively involved during implementation. In particular, the U.S. Embassy will collaborate with the grantee on selecting the American artist(s) and the specific songs, and will review and approve the proposed music in advance. Funding is provided under Smith-Mundt authority, meaning the programming must follow applicable public diplomacy and statutory limitations tied to that authorization.

Eligible applicants are drawn from Tajikistan-based civil society organizations and independent media organizations, with the solicitation emphasizing the importance of aligning proposals to PAS goals, priority areas, and the intended audience. The primary target audience is Tajik men and women ages 15-35 who are interested in music and culture. Proposals are capped at 12 pages and must follow the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) instructions to be considered eligible.

In practical terms, the project is expected to combine competition, professional production, and distribution. The grantee would organize an open contest where musicians learn a set of roughly 8 to 10 American songs from a U.S. group or artist that is popular in the United States but relatively unfamiliar in Tajikistan. The lyrics must avoid profanity and should carry a positive message. Beyond performance, the program emphasizes high-quality outputs and broad access: professional studio recording in Tajikistan, production of at least one music video per contestant, and wide dissemination through online platforms and traditional media such as radio and television. The content is also expected to educate audiences about the American artists and their historical context in the United States during the period when they were active, linking entertainment to cultural learning.

The objectives go beyond awareness and are framed around measurable exposure and engagement. The program aims to increase knowledge of American music, raise the profile of participating Tajik musicians through media campaigns and performances, and increase live performance of American music in Tajikistan by organizing a tour for the winners in major cities. Audience participation is also encouraged through fan voting components and live concerts featuring all or some contestants. A notable requirement is that the recorded songs should be made available online free of charge for public use, without copyright restrictions or royalty fees, which signals an emphasis on open public access and wide reusability of the cultural products created under the project. The winning band is expected to receive a prize in the form of new musical equipment, reinforcing both the competitive incentive and the longer-term capacity of local musicians.

Key administrative details included in the listing are: FundingOpportunityNumber STI400 21 PAS CA 001, CFDA 19.040 (Public Diplomacy programs), OpportunityCategory Discretionary, FundingInstrumentType Cooperative Agreement, AgencyName Department of State, U.S. Mission to Tajikistan. The opportunity was posted on Nov 06, 2021, with an original closing date of Dec 08, 2021. Questions about meeting solicitation requirements are directed to GrantProposalsDushanbe@state.gov, and applicants are instructed to consult the complete NOFO in the "Related Documents" section because proposals that miss requirements or instructions can be ruled ineligible. The Embassy also notes it may award more or less than the stated funding amount if it determines doing so is in the U.S. government interest, subject to funds availability and grants officer approval.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Tajikistan in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tajik-American Battle of the Bands" 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 Nov 06, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 08, 2021. (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.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for STI400 21 PAS CA 001

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