The American Express Partners in Preservation program, announced in June 2006, builds on the company's decade-long relationship with the World Monuments Fund. “With our new program, American Express Partners in Preservation, we continue our commitment to historic preservation because we understand how critically important it is to secure cultural assets such as the National Museum of Quinta da Boa Vista for the future” said Jose Leme, Vice President, American Express, Brazil. “Not only are sites such as this a great source of local pride, but they are a witness to our shared history, and by attracting visitors from all over the world, they promote a better understanding of that history.”

Constructed in 1803 by local aristocrat Elias Antônio Lopes, the original Quinta da Boa Vista was home to the Brazilian imperial family for much of the nineteenth century. The palace now houses the collections of the National Museum.  Its interiors reflect the changing tastes of members of the imperial family, including Empress Leopoldina, whose private quarters in the south wing of the palace have elaborate molded plaster work and painted decoration. The rooms to be restored first belonged to the Empress Leopoldina, mother of D. Pedro II, and later the Empress Dona Tereza Cristina. This conservation plan is the first to restore historical and artistic elements within the museum since architectural restoration began in 1996.

In addition to enabling this important restoration work, the $100,000 grant from American Express, made through the World Monuments Fund, will help draw attention to the plight of historic sites and monuments, and encourage additional support to help save and preserve important cultural treasures. “We are very happy to partner with American Express in our mission to preserve architectural and cultural heritage around the world,” remarked Bonnie Burhham, President of the World Monuments Fund. “Projects such as this one often need catalytic support from the international community. The American Express Partners in Preservation program opens the door to expanded partnerships among the corporate sector, nonprofit organizations worldwide and local champions of the site. In the case of the Quinta da Boa Vista, we are delighted to help preserve this key piece of Brazilian history, and are grateful for the support of American Express.”

“This restoration is of great importance for the Museum,” explained Sergio Alex Azevedo, Director of the National Museum. “Until now, all restoration projects were dedicated to the structure of the museum. This is the first project to restore the important historical and artistic aspects of the palace.”

Partners in Preservation Program
In June 2006, American Express announced its $10 million, five-year commitment to historic preservation through the American Express Partners in Preservation program. Partners in Preservation, which expands the company's focus on securing the use of cultural assets for the future, was launched with two critical partners, the World Monuments Fund and the U.S. National Trust for Historic Preservation. The program is dedicated to preserving sites both in the U.S. and around the world. Sites supported through the partnership with WMF are selected from the biennial World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites as well as from among other sites identified by WMF. Each of the partners will receive $5 million in support from American Express over the next five years.

American Express was the founding sponsor of WMF's World Monuments Watch program, which was established in 1995 to call international attention to and ensure the preservation of cultural heritage sites around the world threatened by neglect, vandalism, armed conflict or natural disaster. American Express contributed more than $10 million between 1996 and 2005 to help preserve 119 historic sites in 59 countries placed on the World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites. American Express' 10-year commitment to this program has enabled WMF to leverage millions of dollars of additional funding from local and national governments, global corporations, foundations, and individuals, and has encouraged new preservation activism worldwide.

Since 1965, the private nonprofit World Monuments Fund, a global organization headquartered in New York City, has been preserving and safeguarding endangered architectural and cultural heritage sites around the world.

Headquartered in New York City, American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850.

Contacts:
Keri Buster
212.640.6193
Keri.K.Buster@aexp.com