World Monuments Fund World Heritage
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WORLD MONUMENTS FUND AND WORLD HERITAGE World Monuments Fund and World Heritage ith the launch of UNESCO's campaign for Abu tion projects on every continent, provide technical and Simbel in 1959, cultural heritage preservation was financial assistance, and advocate for the protection of Wspotlighted as an international concern. There cultural heritage around the world. was, however, at that time, no vehicle for private individu Through a number of programs and initiatives, WMF als or organizations to participate in the effort to preserve seeks to address conservation issues that affect a wide heritage sites. WMF was created, in 1965, to fill that void. range of communities. WMF's approach has four main Since then, WMF has worked with governments at all lev components: els as well as private partners to identify and repair endan gered historic sites around the world. I ADVOCACY for endangered sites (through As the leading private international organization dedi the publication of the Watch list of 100 Most cated to historic preservation, WMF has drawn private Endangered Sites, public programs, and outreach) sector support and financial resources to the field of cul SUPPORT for field conservation work through tural heritage, complementing the efforts of UNESCO. planning, directing, and managing field conservation Based in New York City, WMF is a nonprofit organiza projects and by awarding grants tion with offices and affiliates in Europe and representa EDUCATION of the public about cultural heritage tives in Asia and Latin America. WMF's funding comes preservation work through publications, exhibits, and from private sources including individuals, foundations, lecture programs corporations, and special events. Since its founding, TRAINING of emerging professionals, artisans, and WMF has worked with local and international partners students in the traditional building and preservation around the world to carry out hundreds of conserva arts and trades. HAMPI MONUMENT COMPLEX, INDIA A key factor in WMF's success is its collaboration with attention to cultural heritage sites around the world that local and international professional partners and com are threatened by neglect, vandalism, armed conflict, or munities. WMF encourages full engagement of the local natural disaster. Through the Watch program, WMF seeks community in conservation projects and also assists with to attract worldwide attention as well as technical and finan local training, education, and capacity building. Working cial resources to endangered sites, and fosters community with local partners to develop appropriate conservation support for their protection. More than 75% of Watch sites solutions, WMF takes a "holistic" approach to preserva have been saved or are have made progress in addressing tion that takes into account environmental, social, and urgent threats, thanks to timely intervention. economic factors. The Watch list is selected by an independent panel In the last decade, the creation of the biennial World of experts from nominations submitted by governments, Monuments Watch® list of loo Most Endangered Sites preservation professionals, site caretakers, NGOs, and and the launch of the Robert W. Wilson Challenge to others. Sites from all time periods—from ancient to mod Conserve Our Heritage—which provides matching funds ern—are eligible, as are all site types. "Monuments" can for non-U.S. contributions to cultural-heritage projects- be archaeological sites; residential, civic, commercial, have significantly expanded WMF's geographic and pro military, or religious architecture, including vernacular grammatic capacity worldwide. WMF uses its private architecture, engineering or industrial works; cultural funding strategically to attract additional resources and landscapes; historic city centers; and townscapes. Sites to initiate larger efforts to support preservation projects. nominated to the Watch are evaluated according to WMF's current operating budget is approximately $22.4 three criteria: Significance of the site, urgency of threat million, of which 88% is directed to field conservation and viability of the solution. and education programs. Through the Watch Program, WMF helps to alleviate The World Monuments Watch, launched in 1905 in urgent threats and prevent the loss of sites at risk, en response to increasing threats to cultural heritage sites courage the development of long-term solutions for the around the globe, is the flagship advocacy program of protection of cultural heritage sites, stimulate local in World Monuments Fund. The program was launched with terest, and encourage cooperation of local communities founding sponsorship from the American Express Com and governments in preservation efforts. pany, which provided $10 million for conservation of Watch The Watch Program can help World Heritage Site man sites. Announced every two years, the World Monuments agers to address key short-term and urgent conservation Watch list of lOO Most Endangered Sites calls international issues and to garner assistance for those projects. Robert W. Wilson Challenge WMF and the World Heritage Program to Conserve Our Heritage MF has responded to calls for support for World he Robert W. Wilson Challenge to Conserve Our W Heritage Sites with substantial funding for conser T Heritage was launched in 1997 in order to substan vation projects and through participation in UNESCO tially expand WMF's capacity to provide funding for field campaigns, including those in Venice and Kathmandu in projects and to encourage diverse international funding the 1970s, and more recently through cooperation with for historic preservation. WMF develops projects for programs coordinated by UNESCO at Angkor and Iraq. the Wilson Challenge, by invitation only, with local ad WMF's role is to give private organizations, advocates, vocates, site managers, and institutional partners. A total and individual donors the opportunity to support and of $100 million will be directed to heritage conservation participate in preservation efforts. projects through the Wilson Challenge. The World Monuments Watch list allows WMF to Since its inception, the program has provided support respond to urgent dangers facing cultural heritage sites for urgent conservation fieldwork and allowed WMF to and to direct public attention and, in many cases, short- build partnerships with both private and public institu term funding to those sites quickly. The Watch can also tions concerned with preserving cultural heritage. Wil call attention to sites—and issues—that might not have son Challenge funds support conservation fieldwork as yet achieved the international recognition that they de well as planning, on-site training, and related documenta serve. In addition to providing funding for urgent physi tion activities. cal conservation, WMF helps sites undertake the kinds Architectural and artistic quality are the primary cri- of planning and documentation projects that are needed to build World Heritage WMF FUNDING TO WORLD HERITAGE SITES List nominations. WMF's financial resources, espe cially the Robert W. Wilson ASIA 17 sites Challenge, provide oppor $4,420,507 tunities to expand support EUROPE for World Heritage Sites 45 sites $10,681,755 AMERICAS through partnerships with 18 sites local governments and pri $4,796,033 vate donors, and to help MIDDLE EAST UNESCO reach its goals AND AFRICA 16 sites for those sites. $3,283,000 Unlike the World Heri tage List, the Watch does not confer a legal designa Since 1990, WMF has directed more than $23 million tion or guarantee govern to projects at 96 World Heritage Sites in 46 countries ment protection for a site. By drawing the attention teria used to select the projects for support through the of local governments, however, Watch listing can lead Wilson Challenge. The opportunity to form fruitful work to both financial and legal support at a national level. ing partnerships with matching donors and institutions WMF's capacity to work with non-governmental part and to encourage international funding support for con ners, in addition, allows it to direct much-needed finan servation are important goals of the Wilson Challenge. cial resources to sites in danger when the local govern The goal of the Wilson Challenge is to stimulate giv ment is unwilling or unable to do so. ing to heritage conservation internationally, especially The World Monuments Watch list has included more from private donors and encourage additional support than lOO sites that are either World Heritage Sites or from governments and other sources. To do this, the part of a World Heritage district. Since 1990, WMF has Wilson Challenge matches funds from non-U.S. donors directed more than $23 million to projects at 96 World only. Funds from private donors outside of the U.S. are Heritage Sites in 46 countries. In the last year alone, matched one-to-one, and government funds are matched WMF has provided over $4 million for conservation two-to-one. Private donors include individuals, corpora projects at 22 World Heritage sites and districts. tions, and foundations. Because UNESCO is an inter Right now, WMF is calling for nominations from gov governmental organization, its funds are not eligible for ernments and other organizations for the 2008 World matching through the Wilson Challenge, but internation Monuments Watch list. The deadline for submission of al government or other funding for individual projects nominations is January 15, 2007. More information