Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Watch?
- Does the Watch provide project support?
- What does inclusion on the Watch mean?
- How do I nominate a site to the Watch?
- How are sites selected for the Watch?
The World Monuments Watch is World Monuments Fund’s flagship advocacy program. It was launched in 1996 with support from founding sponsor American Express to call international attention to cultural heritage around the globe threatened by the forces of nature or the impact of social, political, and economic change. Every two years, WMF accepts nominations for sites in need of international awareness. For many historic sites, inclusion on the Watch provides an opportunity to raise public awareness, foster local participation in preservation, leverage resources for conservation, advance innovation and collaboration, and demonstrate effective solutions. Since its inception, the Watch has provided support for more than 600 sites, and has become a powerful vehicle for understanding and addressing the range of challenges confronting the field of heritage conservation today.
Inclusion on the Watch does not guarantee funding from WMF. However, many sites have been able to use the attention drawn from the Watch to promote their cause and raise funds. By capitalizing on the Watch as a platform for visibility and community engagement, local entities have leveraged public and private support for Watch sites totaling over $240 million since the creation of the program in 1996. WMF has contributed an additional $100 million toward projects at more than 275 Watch sites.
The Watch is not a permanent designation, nor does inclusion on the Watch reflect poor management or stewardship of a site. By featuring new sites every two years, the Watch focuses attention on a wide range of conservation challenges and opportunities around the globe.
Anyone can nominate a site to the Watch, including private individuals or representatives of government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofits, or other non-governmental organizations familiar with a site.
The Watch has an online nomination process. We are currently not accepting nominations. To receive a notification when the next call for nominations goes out, subscribe to our e-newsletter at the end of the page, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
Sites are nominated to the Watch and evaluated using the following criteria:
- Significance of the site
- Urgency of the conditions or opportunities for change
- Viability of a feasible plan of action
Nominations undergo a rigorous review process conducted by WMF staff, independent experts around the world, and a final selection panel.