World Monuments Fund
January 2011
Work at Babylon Featured in New York Times 2010 was an excellent year for World Monuments Fund's project in Babylon, Iraq. The Future of Babylon project received a boost in November when the U.S. State Department contributed an additional $2 million to the project. In early January, The New York Times ran a front-page story about the conservation efforts of WMF and the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage at the site. A video story accompanying the printed feature can be viewed on our website.
Machiya Project Completed in Kyoto
The first phase of World Monuments Fund's Kyoto Machiya Initiative was recently completed. An individual machiya--a historic wooden townhouse--in Kyoto was restored using traditional construction methods and materials. The building is now used as a community resource center for machiya owners. New machiya construction has been banned since World War II, so machiya owners can learn a great deal about sensitively restoring their own homes through this new center. The public opening of the restored structure generated a great deal of publicity, with stories running in the major regional and national newspapers.
Subotica Synagogue's Roof Repaired
Over the past decade, World Monuments Fund has supported documentation and restoration efforts at Subotica Synagogue in Serbia, an important Art Nouveau structure built in the early 20th century. The synagogue was on the 1996, 2000, 2002, and 2006 Watch lists, and since 1999 WMF has committed more than $200,000 to the conservation of the structure. In November 2010, all of the restoration work on the roof surfaces--including its water drainage system, central dome, and cupolas--was completed, rendering the structure waterproof after years of chronic leakage.
National Park for Dolmens Created in Jordan
A new archaeological park in the Jordan Valley will save hundreds of dolmens from destruction. Intensive quarrying in the area threatened to obliterate these Early Bronze Age tombs, which led to the inclusion of the Damiya Dolmen Field on our 2010 Watch. The new Damiya Dolmen Archaeological Park, announced in December by Jordan's Department of Antiquities, will protect dozens of dolmens in situ, and 23 others within the development concession will be relocated to the new park to spare them from destruction.
Cast Your Vote for WMF!

You can still vote for us every week in online public voting campaign that will present the winners of each category with a $200,000 prize. If we win this round, we will be able to assist some of the 2010 American Watch sites. This is the very last round, so please spread the word and be sure to vote


GAZPROM TOWER SCRAPPED

Controversial plans by Gazprom to build a huge tower near the historic center of St. Petersburg have been canceled. The plans to build the tower prompted WMF to Watch-list St. Petersburg's historic skyline in 2008.

EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS

The Emperor's Private Paradise at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York opens February 1


Modernism at Risk in Montreal, Canada

2012 WATCH

Nomination Forms for the 2012 Watch are online. The deadline  for submissions is March 15.

WMF IN THE NEWS

The New York Times:
 
A Triage to Save the Ruins of Babylon

CNN:
Iraq Tourism Hangs in Balance at Babylon

The Guardian:
Haiti: Rocked to Its Foundations

WNYC:
Egypt Questions Condition of Central Park Antiquity
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