Advocacy
Lending Our Voice
World Monuments Fund (WMF) doesn’t just physically intervene to safeguard irreplaceable heritage. We lend our voice to drive public awareness of heritage issues and to encourage cooperation of stakeholders, ranging from developers and diplomats to local officials and heads of state.
World Monuments Watch
When it launched in 1996 , the World Monuments Watch provided an unprecedented global advocacy platform for the protection of cultural heritage sites. Announced biennially, the Watch has become a proven tool for raising public concern for the survival of heritage sites and galvanizing support for their preservation. Nominated by outside organizations and agencies, the Watch spotlights 25 cultural heritage sites that combine great historical significance with the opportunity for social impact
The 2022 World Monuments Watch includes an emphasis on sites that intersect with the global challenges of climate change, imbalanced tourism, and underrepresented heritage, setting the stage for further advocacy on these globally resonant topics. The Watch is also an important springboard for defining new WMF projects. Since the program’s inception, WMF has contributed more than $110 million toward projects at more than 300 Watch sites.
Learn more about the World Monuments Watch.
Crisis Response Program
In addition to the Watch, WMF uses its platform to stand up for heritage places affected by tragedy. This includes human conflict and natural disasters that have significantly damaged the physical fabric of heritage sites. By responding in the immediate aftermath, we are able to galvanize support for heritage recovery initiatives that restore hope and strengthen resilience within communities affected by disaster.
Learn more about our Crisis Response Program.
