World Monuments Fund Announces Major Grant from the U.S. Department of State for Work in Ayutthaya, Thailand

World Monuments Fund (WMF) President Bonnie Burnham announced today receipt of a grant of $131,800 from the United States State Department’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation and the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok for work at Wat Chaiwatthanaram, a Buddhist temple in the historic city of Ayutthaya, Thailand.

Ms. Burnham stated: “Support from the State Department’s Ambassadors Fund will assist the Thai Department of Fine Arts with continuing efforts to protect the site in light of increasingly severe flooding in the region and will advance conservation activities at the temple. In addition to the funds received from the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, WMF has secured support from the Robert W. Wilson Challenge to Conserve Our Heritage toward this project that will provide approximately $330,000 for on-site conservation activities, matching significant commitments from the Thai Government. WMF anticipates that the investment in conservation will have a catalytic effect for generating greater attention to the needs of Ayutthaya’s for the benefit of the community and visitors that value and treasure it.”