“Cultural Treasure” Grants Program

Under the “Cultural Treasure” Grants Program, projects have been implemented focusing on risk assessment and analysis of conditions at cultural heritage sites, conservation and restoration of historic structures, and planning for long‑term preservation and protection.

  • In 2019, in collaboration with Mongolian research institutions, a study was conducted on the impact of social and natural factors on the Bogd Khan Palace Museum.
  • That same year, with the engagement of U.S. heritage conservation architect Stephen Kelly, a damage assessment was carried out for the Choijin Lama Temple Museum. As a result, a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) was developed in 2020. During his time in Ulaanbaatar, Stephen Kelly also conducted a 14‑day training on Architectural Heritage Diagnosis and Conservation, attended by more than 30 Mongolian specialists.
  • A project to clean and protect the buildings of Amarbayasgalant Monastery from biological contamination was implemented in 2019 to improve its conservation.
  • Augmented Reality (AR) digital exhibits were developed for both the Zanabazar Museum and the Choijin Lama Temple Museum, accessible through smart glasses and Android/iOS tablets.
  • A comprehensive landscape improvement project for 2 hectares of the Choijin Lama Temple Museum grounds was implemented with a budget of MNT 1.1 billion, featuring 8,500 m² of green space with shrubs, a 1,500 m² parking area, and 1,600 m² of pedestrian pathways, along with lighting and facade enhancements to improve the site’s presentation.
  • Architectural restoration designs were prepared for the Yadam Temple and Middle Gate buildings at the Choijin Lama Temple Museum, making them ready for future conservation work.

As part of the “Cultural Treasure” Grants Program activities in 2020–2021, the Choijin Lama Temple Museum was listed as one of the World Monuments Fund’s “World Monuments Watch 2020” sites requiring urgent conservation. Through international promotion and advocacy, funding was secured from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), establishing support for the restoration of the Yadam Temple building in partnership with the World Monuments Fund for work in 2021–2022.