Each time World Monuments Fund takes on a new project, a chain of events begins that will produce impacts that go far beyond the conservation work being supported. Our work is catalytic not only in the financial investments that our projects attract from others, but also for the transformative effect that it has on local communities and their residents. e work that WMF completed in 2012 is united by that common feature.
Chaque fois que le WMF se charge d’un nouveau projet, une dynamique se met en place et va au delà de la restauration proprement dite à laquelle il apporte son soutien. Le travail de notre organisation catalyse non seulement les investissements financiers tiers attirés par nos projets, mais également les retombées positives que ceux-ci exercent sur les communautés locales et leurs habitants. Cette caractéristique est commune aux réalisations du WMF en 2012.
Cada vez que el World Monuments Fund emprende un nuevo proyecto, se inicia una cadena de eventos que provoca un impacto que excede el trabajo de conservación al que está apoyando. Nuestra tarea es catalítica, no sólo por las inversiones financieras que atraen nuestros proyectos, sino también por el efecto transformador que tienen sobre las comunidades y residentes locales. El trabajo ejecutado por el WMF en el año 2012 cuenta con esta característica en común.
Chaque année, Le WMF soutient dans le monde entier des projets qui permettent à des sites historiques nécessitant des restaurations urgentes de devenir des lieux vivants et riches d’enseignements pour l’agrément de tous. Dans certains cas notre engagement est de courte durée et vise à stimuler d’autres actions de la part d’autres acteurs : c’est le cas d’un grand nombre de sites concernés par notre programme mondial de soutien en faveur du patrimoine, le World Monuments Watch®.
Each year WMF supports work around the world that transforms historic places in urgent need of care into vibrant centers of activity, places to learn from and to enjoy. Sometimes our engagement is short-term and catalytic, as it is with many sites in our global advocacy program, the World Monuments Watch® . The goal of the Watch is to call attention to the needs of the place, and boost the efforts of local advocates who are trying to save it. In other cases, WMF undertakes a sustained effort that may last for many years.
World Monuments Fund has a record of achievements that never ceases to impress me. I am continually amazed at both the quality and the breadth of our projects. We work all over the globe, not just protecting and restoring great monuments, but also nurturing the economic opportunities that these sites provide for the local population.
In the pages of this annual report you will find beautiful monuments in the heart of historic cities, such as the church of St. Trophime in Arles, France, whereWMF is struggling to reduce the impact of environmental pollution and excessive tourism. You will also find small villages such as Bafut, Cameroon, where vernacular architecture defines the place and unites the community around a common tradition that is at risk of being lost. There are innovative works whose future conservation depends on the solutions to complex technical problems, such as buildings by Frank LloydWright.
The places mankind has built define our history on Earth. Our structures tell the story of our past; they frame our accomplishments and reflect our cultural and artistic aspirations. They are a testament to humanity’s extraordinary creativity in adapting the world’s diverse and multifaceted environment for our own use. The “built environment,” humanity’s contributions to the planet, is one of our greatest achievements.
The year 2007 provided opportunities both to consider our record of past achievements and to break new ground. WMF has grown exponentially in the last decade, thanks in large part to the artful guidance and stewardship of Dr. Marilyn Perry, who served as chairman of WMF for 17 years. In June, she was elected chairman emerita and W. L. Lyons Brown, former U.S. Ambassador to Austria, successful businessman, and dedicated philanthropist, assumed the chairmanship.
The World Monuments Fund’s fortieth anniversary Hadrian Award lunch in October 2005 was the occasion for a thrilling announcement.
Robert W. Wilson, WMF’s most generous donor, agreed to raise the level of funding for his Robert W. Wilson Challenge to Conserve Our Heritage from $50 million to $100 million.