THE United States Embassy to Guyana has announced the opening of the 2012 competition for projects under the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP). The Embassy is now accepting proposals for projects promoting cultural preservation in Guyana, which will be due by December 15, 2011. Funding for such projects typically ranges from US$10,000 to US$100,000.

The Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation seeks to support activities that preserve significant cultural sites, objects or traditions, giving top priority to project activities that are in keeping with international standards for the preservation of cultural heritage.
Qualified entities are reputable and accountable non-governmental organizations, museums, ministries of culture, or similar institutions and organizations that are able to demonstrate that they have the requisite experience and capacity to manage projects to preserve cultural heritage. 

Guyana has benefited significantly from the AFCP, with a total of US$57,296 being awarded over the last ten years to two major projects. 
A 2002 project received a grant to support the preservation and restoration of the New Amsterdam Town Hall, the most visible historical landmark building in eastern Guyana. The Tudor style building was constructed in 1868 and still acts as the seat of municipal government. Based on the recommendations of a structural report, the project rehabilitated the civic hall and balcony.
The National Art Gallery received funding in 2006 for a project to enable the preservation of the collections through production of an updated National Collection inventory, digital copying of archival records related to the collection and its artists, and upgrading the gallery’s storage facilities. 

More information about the AFCP can be found on the Embassy’s website http://georgetown.usembassy.gov; or the AFCP website http://exchanges.state.gov/heritage/afcp.html; or by contacting the Public Affairs Section at PDGeorge@state.gov.