EXCELLENCE IN HERITAGE EDUCATION: BRIDGE TO CRAFTS CAREERS (B2CC) WINS MAJOR AWARD

We are thrilled to announce that the Bridge to Crafts Careers (B2CC) program has been selected for the 2023 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award, a prize given each year by the Preservation League of New York State to honor heritage professionals whose exemplary work in historic preservation is improving lives. Ann Cuss, Regional Director, North America of World Monuments Fund (WMF), will accept the award on Monday, December 4, at a ceremony held at New York City’s Century Association. 

“I’m very proud that the League has selected to honor Bridge to Crafts Careers with the Excellence in Historic Preservation Award,” said Ann Cuss, who manages the program. “B2CC offers something incredibly unique and valuable: a paid opportunity for young people to get hands-on experience in craft skills. This award is a testament to the hard work of our partners and interns over the years.”  

“The preservation of heritage skills—as well as physical sites—has long been a key part of our mission at World Monuments Fund,” said Bénédicte de Montlaur, WMF President and CEO. “Through the incredible work of Ann and our partners, we’ve been able to train a new generation of craft professionals to care for America’s historic places in the years to come.” 

Established in 2015, B2CC offers youth aged 18-27 in the New York City area hands-on training in historic preservation with the opportunity for placement in a stable career. Since its initial pilot at New York City’s Woodlawn Cemetery—undertaken in partnership with Woodlawn Conservancy and the International Masonry Institute (IMI)—the program has expanded to Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn and Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.  

B2CC is a rare example of a paid training opportunity in the field of craft careers, and it places great emphasis on hands-on skill building, using National Historic Landmark sites, as “classrooms” for practicing key masonry and restoration techniques. Almost 500 interns have completed the program, representing over 140,000 of training. Alumni of the program, which has a 99% graduation rate, have gone on to secure work in construction, architecture, and related fields. B2CC places particular emphasis on fostering an inclusive environment, working to make the fields of heritage preservation and restoration welcoming for all. 

2023 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award
Excellence Award Spotlight: Bridge to Crafts Careers
Katy Peace | November 7, 2023 

Learn More 

World Monuments Fund safeguards cultural heritage around the globe, ensuring our treasured places are preserved for present and future generations.  

Sign up for our newsletter to receive regular updates on our projects, stories from the field, upcoming events, and more!