The U.S. Embassy has announced that the Living Traditions Museum is this year's recipient of funding from the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP).

With a grant totaling $95,800 USD, (around Rs 71 Lakh) this project will support restoration of the deteriorating historic buildings that surround the ancient Changu Narayan temple complex in Bhaktapur district, one of seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Embassy  to inform about the funding on Wednesday.

This project will restore approximately many of buildings that form the temple courtyard.  After restoration, the Living Traditions Museum plans to install a self-supporting cultural museum, which would maintain the buildings in good condition.  The project will not only preserve of one of Nepal's most unique architectural monuments, but it will also include a comprehensive permanent display of ethnographic art including demonstration, recording and training of traditional Nepali art processes, added the release.

Over the past nine years, the U.S. Government has committed $1,434,851 dollars (approximately 10 Crore 76 Lakh Nepali rupees) to restore and preserve eleven cultural sites throughout Nepal.  Projects previously supported by the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation include the restoration of Kal Bhairav and Kageshwor Temples in Kathmandu's Durbar Square, restoration of Nag Bahal Hiti in Lalitpur, renovating ancient Buddhist chhortens in upper Mustang, and continuing the restoration of Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur and ancient monastery in Pangboche, Solukhumbhu.

Established by Congress in 2001 and administered by the U.S. Department of State, the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation annually provides direct grant support for the preservation of cultural sites, cultural objects and collections, and forms of traditional cultural expression in countries around the world selected through a highly competitive process. nepalnews.com