The German Government has been supporting the preservation of cultural heritage abroad since 1981 through the Cultural Preservation Programme of the Federal Foreign Office. In this way, Germany is helping to ensure that historically important cultural heritage can continue to be enjoyed in the future, as well as promoting knowledge transfer and fostering intercultural dialogue.

Strengthened cultural identity increases the resilience of societies in partner countries - also against the background of threats from climate change, crises and conflicts.

Projects for the preservation of cultural heritage in countries eligible for public development cooperation (“ODA countries”) as well as projects for the preservation of German cultural heritage abroad are funded. The Federal Ministry of the Interior (Bundesministerium des Innern, Graurheindorfer Straße 198, 53117 Bonn, Mail: HI9@bmi.bund.de) supports projects to preserve German cultural heritage in historical German settlement areas in eastern Europe.

The programme covers a wide range of activities, including:

• Restoring and conserving historic buildings and objects
• Supporting the restoration and conservation of World Heritage sites
• Collecting and documenting oral traditions in music and literature
• Conserving and digitising historic manuscripts and film/audio archives, as well as data on cultural property
• Documenting endangered cultural heritage (films, publications)
• Providing vocational and further training for restoration experts, archivists, museum experts and researchers

Further information on project funding and the Cultural Preservation Programme can be found here (in German)

Prerequisites for project funding