TIMELINE

The Arts Council of Mongolia (ACM), in partnership with the World Monuments Fund, successfully completed the architectural design and budget planning for the restoration of the Undur Gegeen Temple at the Choijin Lama Temple Museum. The project included a detailed damage assessment and initiated preparatory work for the conservation and restoration activities. A dedicated project team has been established to oversee approval of the designs, coordinate implementation, and select the restoration contractors, ensuring all preparatory measures are in place for the upcoming restoration work.

Starting in the fall of 2024, the Arts Council of Mongolia (ACM) launched the “Access to Success” Training program aimed at enhancing the capacity of independent artists and young managers in the arts sector, developing leadership and personal growth skills, and expanding collaboration. As of 2025, the program has successfully strengthened the capacities of 23 artists.

The Arts Council of Mongolia (ACM), in collaboration with MCS Group, the Ministry of Culture, and the National Cultural Heritage Center, completed the site improvement and landscaping works for the exterior grounds of the Setsen Khan Palace Museum located in the center of Chinggis City, Khentii Province.

The Arts Council of Mongolia (ACM), with support from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) and in partnership with the World Monuments Fund, successfully completed the restoration project for the Yadam Temple at the Choijin Lama Temple Museum, which had been implemented since 2021. The restoration work preserved the original architectural structure and decorative elements, maintaining the temple’s historical form and character.

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.

In order to increase the participation and voice of individuals with diverse developmental differences in today’s society, the Arts Council of Mongolia, in collaboration with the Australian Embassy in Mongolia, launched a short film production project titled We Can — We Are Talented. During this initiative, a total of three short films were produced, engaging more than 80 educators and individuals with developmental differences, contributing to their self-confidence and empowerment.

Since 2015, the Ulaanbaatar International Media Arts Festival has been held regularly, with the aim of developing diverse cultural expressions, expanding international collaboration, enhancing the skills of domestic artists, and presenting outstanding Mongolian and international media artworks that utilize advanced techniques and technologies. The festival has played a distinctive role in contributing to the development of contemporary arts in Mongolia. After nine successful years, the festival expanded its scope and continues today as the Ulaanbaatar Biennale.

The Arts Council of Mongolia, in collaboration with the Mongol American Cultural Association, established the Future Talent Scholarship Program to provide educational scholarships to financially disadvantaged students who are successfully studying in critically needed and rare artistic disciplines in Mongolia. The program aims to contribute to the development of future skilled professionals in the arts. Now in its 15th year, the program has awarded scholarships to a total of 61 students and pupils.

A comprehensive project was developed to ensure fire prevention and antitheft security at the 300-year-old Amarbayasgalant Monastery. Within the framework of the project, fire-prevention training was conducted, and advanced fireretardant technology was introduced to protect the monastery’s wooden structures, in cooperation with the Embassy of the United States of America.

The Cultural Festival was successfully organized from 2008 to 2023 with the aim of promoting Mongolian arts and culture both domestically and internationally; expanding cultural programs and services associated with the National Naadam Festival; strengthening the capacity of artists; and presenting Mongolia’s culture, customs, and traditions to the public in engaging and accessible formats.

In celebration of the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Great Mongol State, this project was successfully implemented among more than 300 children and youth in five provinces and the city of Ulaanbaatar. The project aimed to enhance knowledge of cultural heritage and foster creative thinking among young people. As part of the initiative, 88 horse sculptures were created, and educational materials related to horses were developed and used in training programs.

Implemented with funding from the U.S. Embassy, this project focused on the preservation and protection of the Danzanravjaa Museum’s collections. Within the framework of the project, capacity was strengthened in the conservation and restoration of paper and textile artifacts, a series of training programs were organized for museum staff, and the handbook “Museum Collection Preservation” was developed.

This is the first arts education project launched with the goal of enhancing children’s cognitive development and nurturing them into creatively minded individuals through programs in music, visual arts, and dance.

The Arts Council of Mongolia was established as a non-governmental, non-profit organization with the mission of supporting the sustainable development of Mongolian arts and culture, and preserving and safeguarding cultural heritage.