The U.S. Embassy announced on Thursday that Ambassador Hans Klemm is donating $59,300 to the Superior Consistory of the Evangelic Church Sibiu under the auspices of the special U.S. Department of State program called the “Ambassador Fund for Cultural Preservation.”
The grant is being provided to help restore the Medieval Fortified Churches of Movile, Agarbiciu (both in Sibiu) and Daia (Mures).
Ambassador Hans Klemm and Bishop Reinhard Guib held a ceremony at the fortified medieval church in the village of Movile on Thursday morning.
“Our cultural heritage is a reminder of the contributions and historical experiences of humanity. By taking a leading role in efforts to preserve cultural heritage, the United States expresses its profound respect for cultures other than its own. The medieval fortified churches of Transylvania are monuments to Europe’s cultural heritage,” said ambassador Klemm.
Movile
Local officials, representatives of the Evangelical Church, of the Fortified Churches Foundation, of the Democratic Forum of Germans in Transylvania, archaeologists and construction experts were present at the ceremony.
Daia. Photo credit: plecatdeacasa.net
The U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) supports the preservation of cultural sites, cultural objects, and forms of traditional cultural expression in more than 100 countries around the world. Romanian projects financed through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation include:
- 2016 – 2017: Restoration of the fortified churches in the villages of Movile and Daia, in Sibiu County – Funds have been granted to Superior Consistory of the Evangelic Church A.C. Romania in order to preserve the 13th century old fortified churches as monuments, using appropriate techniques and materials. ($59,300)
- 2012: Adaptive Reuse of the Former Hinech Neorim Orthodox Synagogue in Oradea – funds have been granted to the Jewish Community in Oradea in order to restore one of the most important and historically valuable synagogues in Oradea and to also modify it in order to transform it into a museum of the Jewish community in Oradea and Bihor County. ($129,585)
- 2010: Restoration of the fortified church of the village Moardas in the Sibiu area – Funds have been granted to the Coordination Office for Fortified Churches, in order to preserve the 13th century old fortified church of Moardas as a monument, using appropriate techniques and materials. ($39,185)
- 2009: Preservation of Artifacts from the Alba-Iulia Fortress Archaeological Site – Funds were granted to the Hyeronimus Cultural Association in order to help creating the documentation and inventory of approx. 4500 artifacts found at the site of the Roman Catholic cathedral St. Michael and the Bishop’s Palace of Alba Iulia city, which were stored in southern tower of the cathedral. ($30,000)
- 2008: Restoration and Interpretation of Historic Buildings in Rimetea (Discovering hidden treasures of Rimetea) – Funds were granted to the Transylvania Trust Foundation for the restoration works on several historic houses in the Rimetea village (in the core of Transylvania region, between Cluj-Napoca and Alba-Iulia), in order to put the locality on the touristic map of Romania and of Europe. ($30,777)
- 2007: The Collection of Objects and Recording of Romania’s Traditional Cultural Expressions – Funds were granted to the NGO “The Association for Dialogue and Civic Education” to assist in preserving Romani cultural heritage by first and foremost documenting it so that resources on Roma culture can be provided. By the end of this project, over 10,000 pictures were taken and 800 archive photos were gathered. The result of the hard work, creativity and passion of the participants is an art album containing the most expressive pictures and thoughts of the contributors. ($30,000)
- 2006: Restoration of the National Museum of Art in Cluj-Napoca – The funds have been destined to support the restoration of the west façade of the Banffi Palace, which holds the Museum of Art and was built between the years 1774 and 1785, being one of the most important baroque buildings in Cluj-Napoca, and a listed historic monument. This part of the building, which includes a balcony, columns and massive stone sculptures, would have been subject to constant and irreversible decaying without an immediate intervention. ($30,000)
- 2005: “Dimitrie Gusti” Digital Library of Ethnographic Images of the “Dimitrie Gusti” National Village Museum in Bucharest – Funds support the preservation of photos and negatives on film and glass, and to provide storage for the images. Professor Dimitrie Gusti, a highly respected Romanian Ethnographer, developed the photos and negatives of people, artifacts, and architectural objects from 1928-1936. The images have been digitized to allow public and academic access to the collection via the internet. ($21,000)
- 2004: Documentary Film on Romanian Artisan Craft Traditions – To enable the production of a documentary film depicting Romanian artisan craft-making traditions which are disappearing. The film will show how ethnic minorities have influenced traditions, and demonstrate to youth how employment can be generated in rural areas by maintaining traditions. ($30,000)
- 2003: Restoration of Stavropoleos Monastery Courtyard in Bucharest – Funds support the restoration of the courtyard associated with the Stavropoleos Monastery, built in the 18th century. The monastery and courtyard are in a rare architectural style combining elements from Ottoman, Byzantine and Romanian pastoral motifs. This courtyard is used by the local populace for art and architecture classes and as a simple refuge of calm and beauty for city residents and travelers. ($27,000)
- 2002: Restoration of the Murals of St. Nicholas Church in Densus – Funds were used for eliminating a humidity problem, a conservation assessment and plan, and the actual conservation of the frescoes in the 13th Century Romanian Orthodox Church, which is considered one of Romania’s most unusual historic sites. ($15,000)
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