World Monuments Fund Receives Grants from U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation

World Monuments Fund (WMF) announced today that it has received two major grants from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation for projects at Phnom Bakheng in Cambodia and Kilwa Kisiwani in Tanzania.

Phnom Bakheng, built between the late-ninth and early tenth centuries as a state temple for a city later absorbed into Angkor, is one of the oldest temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park. The award of $450,000 will complete a conservation project begun in 2009 with a prior $1 million Ambassadors Fund grant. The temple is one of the most popular at Angkor, especially at sunset, for the view it affords of Angkor Wat. Heavy foot traffic from tourists has created serious conservation issues at the site, which are being addressed with the Ambassadors Fund support as well as an additional $150,000 committed by WMF through its Robert W. Wilson Challenge to Conserve Our Heritage. In addition to conserving the temple, WMF’s project, in collaboration with APSARA National Authority, is reviewing all needs at the site from management of rainwater runoff to improving the visitor experience.