6 THE BUILDING CONSERVATION DIRECTORY 2024 CATHEDRAL COMMUNICATIONS Foreword Sixty years ago, the organization that would become World Monuments Fund (WMF) was founded by retired US Army Colonel James A Gray. His mission was clear: to fill the need for a non-governmental organization capable of mobilizing to safeguard the cultural treasures not just of one country but of humanity as a whole. Those early years saw the launch of projects at some of the world’s most iconic heritage places. At Rapa Nui (also known as Easter Island), Chile, we launched the Moai Conservation Project to preserve the island’s extraordinary sculptures. At the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia, we documented and stabilized the fragile stone structures, one of the most important religious sites on the African continent. And at Venice, we mounted a campaign to save the city’s irreplaceable architectural gems in the wake of the disastrous flooding of 1966, which left contaminated seawater sloshing across palace floors and seeping into priceless works of art. Decades on, we are still guided by the belief that working together to preserve our shared cultural heritage can ensure a better future for humanity. Through initiatives like the World Monuments Watch, our flagship advocacy program, we have championed a bottom-up, people-first approach to preservation, working alongside and in accordance with the needs of the local communities who care for these places. Since our founding, we have worked at 700 sites in 112 countries, undertaking everything from physical conservation interventions to oral history projects to educational programming. Indeed, the latest cycle of the World Monuments Watch even included the Moon, spotlighting timely conversations around the preservation of the first lunar missions’ landing sites as we enter a second Space Age. Though our project portfolio may be diverse, it is united by a desire to use preservation to tackle the most urgent challenges facing society today. Through efforts like our Climate Heritage Initiative, doubling down on our longtime commitment to work at the climate-heritage nexus. The initiative has so far committed over $15 million towards projects that use conservation to mitigate the impacts of climate change, from rehabilitating traditional stepwells in India to pioneering strategies for hardier historic gardens in France. The threats facing cultural heritage continue to evolve, but our field has risen to meet them. The contents of this issue of The Building Conservation Directory are a testament to innovation in the face of novel challenges. Today, WMF is part of a global movement of people united in a commitment to safeguarding the world’s most treasured places. We are grateful for all those who share our dedication to protecting our shared heritage, whatever form it takes. Bénédicte de Montlaur President and CEO, World Monuments Fund
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