World Monuments Fund commits $7M to 21 heritage sites globally

World Monuments Fund Commits $7 Million to 21 Heritage Projects Across Five Continents

The World Monuments Fund announced Monday a $7 million commitment to support 21 heritage preservation projects launching in 2026, expanding the New York-based organization’s efforts to protect threatened cultural sites from climate change, natural disasters, and the erosion of traditional knowledge.wmf

The funding represents a major investment in sites featured on WMF’s 2025 World Monuments Watch list, the biennial advocacy program that spotlights endangered heritage locations worldwide. Projects span from earthquake-damaged sites in Japan and Turkey to Mughal gardens in India and a modernist cinema in Angola.hintonmagazine

Diverse Sites, Urgent Challenges

“Around the world, communities are confronting profound challenges, from climate-related disasters and environmental change to the long aftermath of conflict and crisis,” said Bénédicte de Montlaur, WMF’s president and CEO, in a statement. “By working alongside local partners, we are advancing preservation efforts that support recovery, adaptation and long-term stewardship of places that matter deeply to the people connected to them.”theartnewspaper

The portfolio reflects three primary approaches: physical conservation work, heritage management and community engagement, and workforce training programs. In Paris, WMF is partnering with the City of Paris to restore the Chapel of the Sorbonne, which has remained largely inaccessible for decades due to structural issues. In New Delhi, funding will support the restoration of Safdar Jang’s Tomb, including its Mughal charbagh garden system facing climate stress.hintonmagazine

Other projects include Cinema Studio Namibe in Angola, a modernist landmark requiring a comprehensive conservation plan, and recovery efforts on Japan’s Noto Peninsula following the January 2024 earthquake that damaged historic streetscapes and shrines.artnews

Belfast Assembly Rooms Among Recipients

Belfast’s Assembly Rooms, a Grade B1 listed building vacant since 2000, will receive £200,000 for documentation, emergency conservation, and planning for sustainable reuse. The 18th-century structure was acquired by Belfast City Council in 2025 following its inclusion on the 2025 Watch list.yahoo

A WMF spokesperson called the building “an important civic structure that has been integral to the cultural fabric of the city for many years.”bbc

American Initiative Launched

Alongside the global projects, WMF announced Irreplaceable America, a new initiative tied to the United States’ 250th anniversary. The program will recognize 10 American heritage sites through a public nomination process, with selections announced July 2. Funding comes from partners including AXA Foundation for Human Progress, Accor, the Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust, and the Freeman Foundation.theartnewspaper