The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has issued an RFP for a substantial grants program called Arts Exchanges on International Issues. Grants of $200,000 to $600,000 will support programs that "utilize the arts to engage civil society - particularly youth and diverse and underserved populations - and that foster linkages and build partnerships between U.S. and overseas nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and local communities." Project themes are limited to: 1) Mixed Visual Artistic Mediums: Cultural Exchange between American Indigenous and Minority Artists and Indigenous and Afro-Latino Artists from Latin and Central America; and 2) Mixed Visual Artistic Mediums: Cultural Exchange between American Women Artists and Women Artists from Africa and/or the Middle East. Applications (due May 22, 2008) must be made through nonprofit organizations or institutions of higher education. [LINK]