Nomination Guidelines

Launched in 1996 and issued every two years, the World Monuments Watch is an international call to action for cultural heritage around the world that is at risk from the forces of nature and the impact of social, political, and economic change.

The deadline for nominating to the 2012 Watch was March 15, 2011. The 2012 World Monuments Watch will be announced on October 5, 2011. Nominations to the 2014 Watch will be accepted beginning Fall 2012.

Watch listing provides an opportunity for sites and their nominators to raise public awareness, foster local participation, advance innovation and collaboration, and demonstrate effective solutions. The announcement of the 2010 Watch was covered by over 1500 news outlets, reaching more than 250 million people worldwide. The international attention drawn to Watch sites provides a vital tool for local entities to leverage funding from a variety of sources. Increased awareness can also help bolster legislative efforts, foster partnerships, improve monitoring, and valorize connections between communities and their heritage.

In some instances, inclusion in the World Monuments Watch provides opportunities for WMF to assist with select projects. Since the program’s inception, more than 600 sites have been included on the Watch. Nearly 40% have developed into WMF projects, with direct WMF funding totally over $86 million. Much additional funding and technical assistance is offered by other agencies as a result of the awareness raised within communities and internationally by the Watch. WMF contributed $2.2 million to projects at 2010 Watch sites, and others provided more than $25 million to sites included in the 2010 Watch by national, regional, and municipal governments, foundations, corporate sponsors, international aid, and private donors.

As the flagship advocacy program of World Monuments Fund, the Watch is emblematic of WMF’s commitment to inspiring heritage stewardship, forging partnerships, and advancing conservation. In sponsoring the Watch program, WMF seeks to highlight emerging issues and opportunities in the field, confront urgent challenges, foster community engagement, and build capacities and constituencies for sustaining heritage protection in the long-term.

ELIGIBILITY

Heritage sites from all time periods are eligible for inclusion in the Watch. Sites may include residential, civic, commercial, military or religious architecture; engineering and industrial works; cultural landscapes; archaeological sites; and townscapes and historic city centers. Privately and publicly owned sites may be Watch listed; however WMF cannot provide financial support for projects at privately owned sites.

NOMINATORS

Sites are nominated to the Watch by a private individual or by a representative of a government agency, nonprofit, or other non-governmental organization who is familiar with the site.

SELECTION PROCESS

Nominations undergo an initial review by WMF staff and heritage professionals at large. Eligible nominations are then reviewed for selection by a panel of experts in the field, including scholars, conservators, archaeologists, architects, and representatives of major cultural organizations. Evaluation of nominations to the Watch is based on the significance of the site, the urgency of the conditions, and the viability of feasible action.

WATCH CYCLE

Selected sites are on the Watch for a two-year period. Sites may be re-nominated and are considered for re-listing as part of the general review of Watch nominations.

The Watch does not confer historic landmark status or permanent recognition on a site. Nor does inclusion on the Watch reflect poor management or stewardship of a site. Rather, by featuring new sites every two years, the Watch seeks to focus attention on issues, ideas, conservation challenges and opportunities emerging from a wide range of sites.