U.S. AMBASSADORS FUND FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR 2009

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine is pleased to announce a call for proposals for the 2009 Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Program. Proposals are due at 5:30 PM, November 30, 2008. The Ambassadors Fund provides small grants throughout the world to help preserve cultural heritage in countries around the globe. The average grant ranges from $15,000 - $38,000 and supports projects lasting 12 - 18 months.

The Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation was established in 2001, and is the only U.S. government program providing direct small grant support to heritage preservation internationally. The Ambassador's Fund, which has supported more than 500 projects worldwide totaling $13.4 million, emphasizes the importance of preserving the world's cultural patrimony as an integral component of U.S. foreign relations. The program supports projects that focus on the preservation of objects, museum and archival collections, and forms of traditional expression.

In Ukraine, awards have previously gone to the following projects:

• to Lviv Tourism Development Association for conservation and display of icons in the Studion Icon Collection;
• to Lviv History Museum for the conservation and restoration of the 12th century manuscript Khrystynopilsky Apostol;
• to assist in the restoration of the roof of the historic St. Nikolas wooden church in the Transcarpathian village of Kolodne;
• the excavation of the Cossack fortification Mykytynska Sich buried beneath the town of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast;
• the preservation and promotion of Crimean Tatar culture though collection and digitalization of ancient songs, historical manuscripts and handicrafts;
• the purchase of a leaf casting machine by the Oblast State Historical Archives in Khmelnytsky.

Funds cannot be used for any new construction, nor can they be used for the conservation or purchase of privately owned property or collections. Funds may also be used only to support projects concerning cultural and not natural heritage.

More information on this competition is available via the U.S. Embassy website:
kyiv.usembassy.gov/main_eng.html
kyiv.usembassy.gov/files/cult_preservation2009_eng.html