With $19 million in funding, the World Monuments Fund (WMF) will launch the Suzanne Deal Booth Institute for Heritage Preservation as part of the organization’s broader $60 million endowment campaign marking its 60th anniversary.
The institute, established through a $10 million endowment gift from philanthropist, collector, vintner, and ARTnews Top 200 collector Suzanne Deal Booth, will serve as a global hub for research, training, and innovation in heritage preservation. Additional support from the Gerard B. Lambert Foundation, Denise Littlefield Sobel, and Virginia James brings total funding for the Institute to $19 million, bolstering programs focused on greenspace stewardship, digital preservation, and workforce development.
Bénédicte de Montlaur, WMF President and CEO, told ARTnews the institute will strengthen the World Monuments Fund’s mission to support heritage professionals around the world by investing in advanced training, academic partnerships, and digital access initiatives.
“Through the Suzanne Deal Booth Institute, we’re expanding our ability to equip heritage experts with the tools and knowledge needed to protect and sustain the world’s most significant sites,” de Montlaur said. She added that new efforts such as the Greenspace Heritage Training initiative, supported by the Gerard B. Lambert Foundation, will address the care of historic gardens and landscapes affected by climate change, while existing programs like Bridge to Crafts Careers will continue providing practical training for young artisans.
With 75 percent of its $60 million campaign goal already secured, WMF’s anniversary initiative represents one of the most ambitious efforts in the organization’s history.
