Press Room

May 7, 2024 — World Monuments Fund (WMF) announced the completion of WMF Portugal’s restoration work at the sixteenth-century Jerónimos Monastery and Church in Lisbon during a commemoration yesterday. The massive effort to remedy the natural degradation of the church caused by water infiltration problems and the continuous wear of tourism was led by WMF Portugal in partnership with the Património Cultural Instituto Público (PCIP) (formerly the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage). Read the full press release here. 

May 3, 2024 – Last night, Thursday, May 2, World Monuments Fund (WMF)—the leading independent organization committed to building community through the preservation of the world’s most treasured places—hosted Palace of Palms: A Night Celebrating Heritage at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London, United Kingdom.

The event was the first of its kind for WMF in the UK and underlined WMF’s partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on the ambitious project to reduce the carbon footprint of the historic Palm House at Kew Gardens. Palace of Palms: A Night Celebrating Heritage was made possible with support from Giorgio Armani, Cabana, Bird in Hand Wine, and Portofino Dry Gin. Read the full press release here. 

April 29, 2024 – World Monuments Fund (WMF), in conjunction with the High Commission for Erbil Citadel Revitalization (HCECR), recently unveiled the completed Erbil Citadel Children’s Interpretation Center during an inauguration ceremony held yesterday at the newly restored building. WMF led two projects as part of a master plan drafted by HCECR to repopulate the Citadel with new activities to establish the site as a community center. This plan included the restoration of the Heritage Building Complex and the development of the Children’s Interpretation Center. The Center will serve as an educational hub for children and tourists to learn about Erbil’s heritage and history. WMF and the HCECR are also working together at the Erbil Citadel’s historic hammam, considered the oldest in Iraq. Its restoration is expected to be complete later this year. Read the full press release here. 

March 7, 2024 – World Monuments Fund (WMF) has joined forces with the U.S. Mission in Türkiye and the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism to undertake emergency stabilization work at St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church and the Antioch Synagogue following the devastating earthquakes that struck southeastern Türkiye in February 2023. Read the full press release here. 

February 28, 2024 – Two years after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, World Monuments Fund (WMF) has received $1 million in funding from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation to support its Ukraine Heritage Response Fund, under which WMF has organized its preservation efforts in Ukraine. Read the full press release here. 

February 27, 2024 – World Monuments Fund (WMF) and Villa Albertine today announced the collaborative launch of Heritage Speaks, a public discussion series exploring the diverse threats facing cultural heritage across the globe. From the impacts of climate change to armed conflict and over-tourism, this set of talks will unpack the challenges facing historic places and the best preservation solutions emerging among experts and local communities. Scheduled throughout the year, the talks will be open to the public and provide attendees with an expansive forum to learn how we approach global heritage in changing times. Read the full press release here. 

February 7, 2024 – World Monuments Fund (WMF) today announces the Ministerios de Cultura y de Obras Públicas de Argentina y Municipalidad de Mar del Plata (Ministries of Culture and Public Works of Argentina and the Municipality of Mar del Plata) as the winner of the 2024 World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize, recognizing the commission’s thoughtful and detailed conservation of la Casa sobre el Arroyo (the House on the Stream). Read the full press release here. 

January 30, 2024 – World Monuments Fund (WMF) recently announced the full transfer of future preservation work at three longstanding project sites within Angkor Archaeological Park, Cambodia, to the Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor (APSARA) where conservation work has been completed. Read the full press release here. 

January 17, 2024 — World Monuments Fund (WMF) today announced an ambitious set of projects to address the greatest threats facing humanity and cultural heritage sites around the globe, with a special emphasis on adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Read the full press release here. 

Last night, on Wednesday, October 25, World Monuments Fund (WMF) – the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the world’s most treasured places – hosted its 34th annual Hadrian Gala at the iconic Rainbow Room in New York City. Read the full press release here.

New York, NY, October 17, 2023—World Monuments Fund (WMF) and Global Heritage Fund (GHF) announce a strategic affiliation to grow their impact in protecting cultural heritage around the world. The groundbreaking affiliation will see WMF and GHF unite efforts to protect endangered heritage as global challenges increasingly threaten vital sites and the well-being of communities around them. To read the full press release, click here. 

New York, NY, September 29, 2023—World Monuments Fund (WMF)––the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the world’s most treasured places––will honor The Krehbiel Family, Maryvonne Pinault, and Tata Sons at the 34th annual Hadrian Gala. The event will take place in the iconic Rainbow Room in New York City on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. To read the full press release, click here. 

FRANCE, JUNE 30, 2023—World Monuments Fund (WMF) announces the reopening of a branch in France and unveils its new affiliate during the European Heritage Days planned for September 16 and 17, 2023. To read the full press release, click here.

New York, NY, May 18, 2023—World Monuments Fund (WMF) will honor Dr. Marwa Al-Sabouni, architect and author, and Prof. Dr. Zeynep Gül Ünal, Vice President, International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and International Scientific Committee on Risk Preparedness (ICORP), for their work advocating for cultural heritage in Syria and Türkiye in the wake of crises. To read the full press release, click here. 

NEW YORK, NY, May 15, 2023— Magnus von Wistinghausen has been appointed Executive Director of World Monuments Fund Britain (WMFB), replacing John Darlington, who takes up a new role as Director of Projects. Magnus starts in his position in May 2023, bringing with him more than 25 years’ senior-level experience working in the arts and heritage sector as well as arts higher education. To read the full press release, click here. 

New York, NY – February 16, 2023 – World Monuments Fund (WMF) today announced a commitment from funders of more than US$10 million toward safeguarding treasured places around the globe in urgent need of intervention. Ranging from winterization efforts at Ukrainian heritage sites damaged by conflict to documenting oral histories with survivors of one of Australia’s past Aboriginal child ‘training institutions', the new suite of projects launching in 2023 build on WMF’s commitment to working in partnership with communities to address the greatest threats and challenges to heritage today—namely, conflict, climate change, and underrepresentation.  To read the full press release, click here. 

New York, NY – January 14, 2023 – World Monuments Fund (WMF) today announced the completion of a major conservation program at Osmania University College for Women, capping a 20-year initiative to restore the first institute of higher education for women in Andhra Pradesh, India. The completion represents over two decades of work and an investment of $2,700,000 thanks to funding from a number of generous supporters listed below. To read the full press release, click here.

New York, NY, October 24, 2022—World Monuments Fund (WMF) and Magnum Foundation today announce a unique global collaboration aimed at showcasing the talents of emerging, local photographers as they tell the stories of cultural heritage sites from the perspectives of local stakeholders. To read the full press release, click here.

New York, NY, Sept 28, 2022—World Monuments Fund (WMF)––the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the world’s most treasured places––will host the 33rd annual Hadrian Gala at the iconic Rainbow Room in New York City on Monday, October 24, 2022. The evening will honor Dr. Elizabeth Alexander, President of the Mellon Foundation; philanthropist Suzanne Deal Booth; and designer, entrepreneur and businessman Christian Louboutin. To read the full press release, click here.

New York, May 23, 2022—The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the World Monuments Fund (WMF) announced today a collaboration to create digital resources that will be featured throughout the African Art galleries in The Met's new Michael C. Rockefeller Wing—which is currently closed for renovation—that aim to provide gallery visitors and online audiences alike with a more expansive view of the richness of artistic and architectural expression on the continent and to provide deep context to the Museum’s collection of sub-Saharan African art. To read the full press release, click here.

NEW YORK, NY, July 12, 2022—World Monuments Fund (WMF) today announced the launch of four new projects as part of its recently established Ukraine Heritage Response Fund to address the immediate, critical needs of heritage professionals in Ukraine and to lay the groundwork for the future rehabilitation and long-term recovery of cultural heritage in the country. To read the full press release, click here. 

May 11, 2022, New York, NY—Today World Monuments Fund (WMF) and Tiffany & Co. announce the launch of Japan’s first professional gold leaf craftsman training program in Kanazawa, a coastal city north-east of Kyoto. The project aims to collaborate with the city of Kanazawa in ensuring the sustainable preservation of traditional craftsmanship of Kanazawa Haku gold leaf production, which was recently inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. To read the full press release, click here.

May 4, 2022—World Monuments Fund (WMF) and Arts Council of Mongolia (ACM) today announced the start of physical conservation on the Yadam Temple, situated within the enclosed Choijin Lama Temple complex in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, funded with support from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP). To read the full press release, click here.

April 20, 2022–World Monuments Fund (WMF) today announced the relocation of its global headquarters to Rockefeller Center’s 600 Fifth Avenue. To read the full press release, click here.

April 6, 2022 - World Monuments Fund (WMF) today announced the launch of the Ukraine Heritage Response Fund. The fund aims to address the immediate critical needs of heritage professionals in the country and to lay the groundwork for future rehabilitation. The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation has committed $500,000 in initial funds to support this initiative. To read the full press release, click here.

March 17, 2022–The project to transform Moseley Road Baths and Balsall Heath Library has entered a new phase, transitioning from a bold idea to the reality of major building conservation work. To read the full press release, click here.

February 14, 2022 – World Monuments Fund (WMF) announced today the launch of a major initiative to address the growing water crisis for communities across India through the revitalization of traditional water management systems and the reinforcement of Indigenous knowledge. To read the full press release, click here.

November 18, 2021 – World Monuments Fund (WMF) today announced John Puttick Associates has been awarded the 2021 World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize, recognizing its thoughtful and detailed conservation of Preston Bus Station, located in Preston, UK, a civic monument of central importance that serves as a hub for mass transit. To read the full press release, click here.