US WMF Restores Glory & Hands Over Three Angkor Temples Upon Maintenance Completion

• Sommana Yan
• 30 January 2024
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In a momentous ceremony marking the 35th anniversary of its mission, the United States World Monument Fund (WMF) officially handed back three meticulously restored Angkor temples to the Apsara Authority. Presided over by Dr Pheung Sakona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, the handover on 26 January 2024, signifies the successful completion of extensive restoration work undertaken by the WMF.

The three temples—Ta Som Temple, Preah Khan Temple, and the flagpole of Angkor Wat—now stand as exemplars of meticulous preservation. The Apsara Authority assumes the responsibility of managing and maintaining these cultural treasures, ensuring their continued splendour for future generations.

Minister Pheung Sakona expressed gratitude for the collaboration, emphasising the ministry’s commitment to further engagement with the WMF. Plans include skill exchange programs on conservation, youth forums for heritage management, collaborative archaeological research, and joint workshops aimed at sharing valuable experiences.

Initiated in 1989, the WMF’s mission to restore these temples was a response to the request of King Father Norodom Sihanouk. Over the years, the organisation developed a comprehensive conservation and training program, complementing the efforts of the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA).

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