World Monument Foundation - Definition and Overview

The World Monuments Fund (WMF) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic art and architecture worldwide through fieldwork, advocacy, grantmaking, education, and training. Since 1965, the New York-based World Monuments Foundation has worked with local communities and partners to stem the loss of more than 420 irreplaceable sites in 80 countries including the Temple of Preah Khan at Angkor. Beginning in 1996 with the support of American Express, WMF has published biennially the World Monuments Watch list of 100 Most Endangered Sites.

The latest list included sites such as:

• Historic Lower Manhattan, New York City
• The Great Wall of China
• The Valley of the Kings, Thebes, Egypt
• St. Pierre de Beauvais Cathedral, France
• The Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy
• Selby Abbey and Brading Roman Villa, England
• Nineveh Palace, Iraq
• Petra, Jordan

External links

• World Monuments Fund home page (http://www.wmf.org/)
• American Express - World Monuments Fund (http://home3.americanexpress.com/corp/gb/wmf.asp)