Marketing Afghanistan?s Traditional Arts

The U.S. Embassy Kabul Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available for proposals that will support Afghanistan’s economic development, sustain and improve traditional Afghan craftsmanship, and increase Afghanistan’s capacity to leverage its cultural heritage for economic benefit. This grant will fund programs designed to train men and women in traditional Afghan arts, crafts, and cultural skills; support adaptations that modify products for the modern market; and other activities to capitalize on Afghanistan’s rich traditional arts for economic benefit. For example, projects can fund master teaching of silk weaving and dying, wood carving, pottery, jewelry making, and cooking techniques; develop new high-market value products using traditional skills; and marketing these for domestic and international markets. Projects should either be targeted toward women or benefit men and women equally. Only projects in which women play substantive roles at the higher levels of management, marketing, or decision-making will be competitive for funding.