National Trust launches Historic Preservation Fund

The National Trust for the Cayman Islands is the non-government entity charged with the vital task of preserving Cayman’s historic, natural and maritime heritage and needs considerable funding to do this. They have therefore launched a new Historic Preservation Fund which will allow the community to directly contribute to the upkeep of some of Cayman’s most precious sites.

The National Trust helps to preserve 12 historic sites across the Cayman Islands, which includes areas, sites, buildings, structures and objects of historic or cultural significance, including the Mission House in Bodden Town and Fort George in George Town.

Its Historic Preservation Fund now gives people and organisations an alternative convenient method by which to financially contribute and directly support the preservation, protection and promotion of built heritage throughout the Cayman Islands.

Annick Jackman, Executive Director of the National Trust, said: “We encourage our community to contribute to the Historic Preservation Fund and, by so doing, join the NTCI’s legacy of protecting Cayman’s treasured historic sites. There has always been a need for specific funding to protect the historic structures from our past, which in many instances require a substantial amount of maintenance and care.”

A fundamental part of the National Trust’s Historic Programme involves documenting the buildings from Cayman’s past that bear a special significance as a result of distinguishing characteristics, such as the material used in their construction, the people who built them, the time at which they were built and the events that took place in the location.

In addition, its Historic Programme offers an educational component through visiting schools, preparing educational materials, and providing tours to historic properties, as well as by ensuring the preservation of historic sites that are safeguarded by the National Trust.

Ms jackman said it was very important that efforts were made to reach out to the public for assistance at this time, as Cayman’s culture and heritage had never been so at risk by the rapid pace of development and a deficit of general knowledge around the area of Cayman built heritage.

The 12 historic sites that make up the National Trust’s inventory require continuous maintenance, advocacy, oversight, research and data collection, as well as fundraising. However, there are scores more (which are not owned or managed by the National Trust) that could benefit greatly from the reach/remit of its Historic Programme and the newly launched Historic Preservation Fund, she added.