The U.S. Congress approved the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation in 2000 and the program has since funded more than 640 cultural preservation projects in over 100 countries, representing a contribution of nearly $26 million towards cultural heritage preservation worldwide.
The Fund supports a wide range of projects that work to preserve cultural heritage including the restoration of historic buildings, assessment and conservation of museum collections, archaeological site preservation, documentation of vanishing traditional craft techniques, improved storage conditions for archives and manuscripts, and documentation of indigenous languages.
In Armenia the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation has supported the following projects:
2005 – The Armenian National Film and Photo Archive: creation of climate controlled storage space for the Armenian film, photo, and audio archives. Project implementer: Armenian National Film Archives.
2007 – The Tatev Scholarly Center in Syunik Region: the clearing and preservation of the Center’s compound. Project implementer: Goris city municipality
2009 – Noratus Medieval Cemetery and Collection of Khachkars: the mapping and cataloging of the site and fence installation. Grant implementer: AMAP Human Development NGO
2010 – Documentation of Traditional Armenian Music and Dance – Cataloging Armenian folklore in remote areas of Armenia and recording it on DVDs for public distribution. Grant implementer: Gagik Ginosyan, Artistic Director of KARIN Folk Dance and Song Ensemble.
2011 – Reinforcement and preservation of the 11th century medieval masonry bridge on river Azat. The bridge is located in the Garni gorge and connects major historical and cultural sites in this area: Garni and Khosrov Forest State Preserve which is home for 11-13th century Havuts Tar Monastery, 13th century Aghjots Vank Monastery, 10th century Kakavaberd Fortress, remains of ancient settlements, etc. Project implementer: “Historical-Cultural Reserve-Museums and Historical Habitat Protection Service” SNCO.
2013 – Preservation of Areni cave and artifacts from the Copper Age through installation of a protective fence around the site; installation of pathways leading to the cave and continuing inside the cave; installation of special secure lighting in the cave; and conservation of cultural strata dating back to 5000 – 4000 BC located in the first hall of the cave, to protect it from deterioration. Grant implementer: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.
2013 – Preservation of Rafayel Atoyan mural “On the Way to the Watermill” (5.75m x 3.30 m, circa 1972-75)by removing them from abandoned building and displaying it safely in new public venue. The mural remained in the city of Gyumri and is mounted in the Youth Center of Gyumri. Grant implementer: Minas Avetisyan Foundation.
2013 – Preservation of Dashtadem Fortress through preventive conservation of fortress walls, foundations and medieval structures inside the complex, medieval reservoir and traditionally preserved houses; etc. Grant implementer: AMAP Human Development NGO.
2015 – Preservation of a twentieth century Armenian mural “In the Mountains/Milkmen” by Hakob Hakobyan by removing it from an abandoned building and displaying it safely in the Drama Theater in Gyumri. Grant implementer: Minas Avetisyan Foundation.
2016 – Preservation of Saint Hovhannes Medieval Church and Restoration of its Frescoes in Meghri. Grant implementer: AMAP Human Development NGO
2017 – Preservation of the Ruins of the 10th century Dashtadem Fortress. Grant implementer: AMAP Human Development NGO.
