| Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC July 13, 2001 Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation Awards for 2001The Department of State is pleased to announce that the Department will fund cultural preservation projects in 61 countries through the $1 million Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation. Newly established by Congress in fiscal year 2001, the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation aims to assist less developed countries in preserving their cultural heritage and to demonstrate U.S. respect for other cultures. As Congress noted, "Cultural preservation offers an opportunity to show a different American face to other countries, one that is non-commercial, non-political, and non-military. By taking a leading role in efforts to preserve cultural heritage, we show our respect for other cultures." The Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has joined with the Department’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer to implement the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs promotes cooperation with other countries to reduce the threat of pillage of irreplaceable cultural heritage, and to create opportunities to develop long-term strategies for preserving cultural property through training and conservation, museum development, law enforcement, and public education. U.S. Ambassadors in 96 of the 119 eligible countries in the developing world responded to the call for award proposals. Many countries submitted multiple proposals, bringing the total to 146. The dollar value of the 96 proposals considered reached $1.85 million and the dollar value of all proposals approached $3 million. The proposals were for projects supporting the preservation of cultural sites; objects in a site, museum or similar institution; or forms of traditional cultural expression. The proposals encompassed such areas as museum needs, historic buildings, collections, archaeological sites, rare manuscripts, traditional music and language. For additional information, contact: Catherine Stearns, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, phone (202) 203-5107 or e-mail cstearns@pd.state.gov. |
 | |||
|
