U.S. Continues to Support the Protection of Honduras' Cultural Patrimony

July 23, 2008

Public Affairs Officer Chantal Dalton presents the 2008 Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation award to the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports and the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History. (State Dept. Photo)

TEGUCIGALPA – Public Affairs Officer (PAO) Chantal S. Dalton presented the 2008 Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation award to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Sports, Dr. Rodolfo Pastor Fasquelle, and to the Assistant Manager for Patrimony of the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History, Archaeologist Eva Martinez.  The US$ 31,288 award is to carry out the project "Preservation of Cultural Patrimony in Comayagua and Santa Rosa de Copan," submitted by the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History (IHAH).

The Project "Preservation of Cultural Patrimony in Comayagua and Santa Rosa de Copan" was one of the 68 projects approved to receive funding this year from 184 that competed from 97 eligible countries around the world.  The purpose of the project is to identify and document the traditions, ceremonies and customs which guarantee the protection of ecclesiastical cultural property in Comayagua and Santa Rosa de Copan.  The funds will be used to conduct research, organize workshops within the communities to involve them in the protection of their cultural patrimony, and document and publish the results of the investigations.

Through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, the Department of State helps eligible countries to preserve their archaeological sites, historic buildings, museum and archival collections, and traditional forms of music, dance and language.  The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs administers the Fund established by the U.S. Congress in 2001, which this year distributed more than US$ 6.5 million.  The Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation is the only U.S. government program providing direct small grant support to heritage preservation in less-developed countries.

Since the Fund was established in 2001, Honduras has been awarded a grant on seven occasions, of which the last four have been for projects submitted by the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History (IHAH).  The projects awarded are:

• In 2001, US$ 15,000 for the project "The Garifuna: Rescuing Cultural Roots through Language Preservation," submitted by the Intercultural Bilingual Education Project (PIEB).
• In 2002, US$ 18,920 for the project "Educating Tawahka Teachers," submitted by the Tawahka Intercultural Bilingual Education Project, IHAH.
• In 2004, US$ 21,000 for the project "The Voice and Image of the Indigenous and Garifuna People of Honduras," submitted by the Department of Linguistics at National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) with the collaboration of IHAH.
• In 2005, US$ 30,000 for the project "Protection and Development of the Rock Art Cultural Itinerary of Honduras," submitted by IHAH.
• In 2006, US$ 30,000 for the project "Preservation of the Archaeological Site of Curruste."
• In 2007, US$ 30,000 for the Project "Development of Cerro Palenque:  The North Coast-Santa Barbara Cultural Circuit," and now,
• In 2008, US$ 31,288 for the project "Preservation of Cultural Patrimony in Comayagua and Santa Rosa de Copan."