WMF marks 35-year conservation triumph with temple transfers

THE US-based World Monuments Fund (WMF) recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of conservation and capacity-building initiatives within the Angkor Archaeological Park by transferring three historically significant restoration sites over to stewardship and care of the APSARA National Authority (ANA).

This momentous handover, including the richly detailed Ta Som Temple, the expansive jungle-set Preah Khan Temple, and the Churning of the Ocean of Milk Gallery in the Angkor Wat Temple with its prominent bas-relief, occurred on January 26.

Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona presided over the ceremony, expressing ANA’s commitment to the perpetual maintenance of these temples. She said Cambodia gratefully acknowledges WMF’s enduring contribution to the protection of its invaluable cultural heritage.

“We look forward to ongoing collaboration across diverse areas. This encompasses skill exchange in conservation, engaging youth through forums on heritage management, conductingarchaeologicalresearch and facilitating joint workshops to share mutually valuable experiences,” she said.

Benedicte de Montlaur, president and CEO of the WMF, revealed during the ceremony that the fund’s involvement in restoring temples within the Angkor Archaeological Park dates back to 1989. Commencing with a meticulous field mission, the initiative aimed to assess the temples’ state, prompted by the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk’s request to address foundational preservation concerns.

“Subsequently, the monuments fund crafted an extensive conservation and training programme to augment the initiatives of the recently reopened Royal University of Fine Arts [RUFA],” she recalled.

Long Kosal, deputy directorgeneral and spokesman of the ANA, said on January 28 that the WMF immediately set to work restoring the prominent bas-relief gallery in Angkor Wat, along with a large jungle temple complex and a smaller, detailed complex.

“The [WMF] initiated operations in the early 1990s, concluding in 2023. However, the comprehensive restoration was finalised in early 2024, reverting the monuments to ANA oversight and protection,” he said.

Kosal noted that the WMF is presently engaged in the ongoing restoration of Phnom Bakheng Temple. As this work is still in progress, the completion date remains undetermined. Underscoring the need for precise adherence to exacting standards and preserving the original style without deviation, he said