Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of World Monuments Fund (WMF), joins Paul R. Davis, Curator of Collections at the Menil Collection, to take you on a fascinating journey to some of the world's most extraordinary cultural sites.
From the remote landscapes of Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile, home to the iconic moai statues, to Koutammakou, a living cultural landscape shaped by the earthen tower-houses of the Batammariba people in Benin and Togo, and back to the gallery spaces, de Montlaur and Davis will trace the vital thread that keeps the world’s heritage alive.
Combining conservation case studies with a discussion of the museum’s role in shaping our understanding of the past, the conversation will deepen our appreciation for cultural heritage in all its forms.
This event is free and open to the public.
Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of World Monuments Fund (WMF), joins Paul R. Davis, Curator of Collections at the Menil Collection, to take you on a fascinating journey to some of the world's most extraordinary cultural sites.
From the remote landscapes of Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile, home to the iconic moai statues, to Koutammakou, a living cultural landscape shaped by the earthen tower-houses of the Batammariba people in Benin and Togo, and back to the gallery spaces, de Montlaur and Davis will trace the vital thread that keeps the world’s heritage alive.
Combining conservation case studies with a discussion of the museum’s role in shaping our understanding of the past, the conversation will deepen our appreciation for cultural heritage in all its forms.
This event is free and open to the public.
Speakers
Paul R. Davis
Curator of Collections, Menil CollectionPaul R. Davis is Curator of Collections at the Menil Collection. His work focuses on responsible stewardship and curation, collections management, and fostering access to art across cultural contexts. His projects include exhibitions, publications, and institutional initiatives that emphasize collaboration, ethical practice, and the long-term preservation of cultural heritage.
Bénédicte de Montlaur
President and CEO, World Monuments FundBénédicte de Montlaur is President and CEO of World Monuments Fund (WMF), the leading organization dedicated to safeguarding irreplaceable heritage. With a background that spans diplomacy and culture, she leads WMF’s team across over 50 active projects around the globe, harnessing preservation to tackle the most pressing issues of our time.