The U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) awards grants for the preservation of cultural sites, cultural objects and collections, and forms of traditional cultural expression, such as music, dance, and language in more than 130 countries around the world. Administered by the Cultural Heritage Center, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, and funded from Diplomatic and Consular Program funds, the AFCP offers the U.S. a meaningful opportunity to show its respect for the cultural heritage of other countries. Since 2007, the U.S. Embassy in Pristina has awarded over three million dollars for cultural preservation projects and activities, including the restoration of heritage sites like Prizren Fortress and the Museum of Archaeology.
Projects in Kosovo
2012 Restoration of the 16th‐Century Hammam in Vushtrri $132,475
To support restoration of the 16th‐century Ottoman hammam, one of the few surviving historic
structures in the city of Vushtrri. Used for centuries as a public bath in the city’s once bustling market district, the hammam currently sits vacant in an area undergoing rapid redevelopment. This project involves a comprehensive condition assessment of the hammam, the consolidation of its masonry exterior, and the restoration and adaptation of its interior for modern use.
2010 Preservation of the 6th‐Century Vushtrri Castle $53,870
To support the preservation of the castle remains which are in urgent need of critical repairs due to age and other factors. The castle is located in the city center of Vushtrri, once a major trading post along the Adriatic coastal region. The project includes a comprehensive site survey and conservation assessment, consolidation of the site remains, and installation of multi‐lingual interpretive panels describing the conservation efforts and outlining the history of the castle.
2008 Restoration of the 19th‐Century Kulla of Haxhi Zeka in the Village of Leshan $56,352
To support the restoration of an unusual 19th‐century brick kulla, a traditional Albanian fortified tower house type in Kosovo. Customarily built in stone, the kulla flourished from the 18th to the early 20th century. One of the objectives of the project is to raise public awareness of the importance and benefits of safeguarding cultural heritage sites.
2007 Restoration of the 19th‐Century Mansion and Home of the Gjakova Ethnographic Museum $60,554
To support the restoration of a 19th‐century mansion for reuse as a regional ethnographic museum.Objects once displayed in this rare and deteriorating wooden building sit in temporary storage, where they are inaccessible to the public. This project involves critical repairs to the roof, restoration of decorative ceiling panels, the installation of a drainage system to protect the building foundations, and the partial reconstruction of the wall surrounding the site.
2006 Preventive Conservation of the Collections in the Museum of Kosovo $30,000
To provide equipment and materials for the Museum of Kosovo, the principal cultural repository, to upgrade its storage facilities. The project will begin with an assessment to establish priorities to stabilize the collection, and will digitize the museum’s inventory. The collection includes a late Neolithic ceramic “magna mater” figurine, which has become a beloved symbol of Kosovo’s cultural identity.
2005 Preventive Conservation of 16th‐Century and Other Manuscripts and Books in the Library of Gazi Mehmed Pasha in Prizren $17,512
To support the conservation of historic manuscripts and books and to provide proper storage, climate control, and display. The Library of Gazi Mehmed Pasha was founded in the 16th century in the historic center of Prizren, a significant part of which dates from the Ottoman Empire. The library largely consists of religious and scientific works, and has been a regional center for research.
