The government is to spend £1.3m on a programme to promote Northern Ireland business, tourism and culture in the USA.
A "Rediscover Northern Ireland" programme will be staged in Washington.
It will culminate in a two-week exhibition on the Mall in Washington as part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in the summer.
The business community is being asked to make up a £325,000 shortfall in funding.
Pianist
The Smithsonian Institute will select 120 people to represent the cultural life of Northern Ireland.
The festival is an annual event that has been running for over 40 years and features different countries and regions every year.
It ends on Independence Day, 4 July
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