The international U.S. preservation and cultural organization, Friends of Vieilles Maisons Françaises (FVMF) has announced it will fund six new historic restoration projects in the U.S. The grants will coincide with the organization's upcoming 20th anniversary celebration in 2002. Each of the six awarded U.S. projects will be in the $20,000–$25,000 range.

To be considered for a grant, the restoration project should:
• Have architectural and historical merit
• Be landmarked
• Be open to the public
• Have a "French" connection or a strong reason why FVMF's mission statement would allow support for it
• Have funds matching the proposed contribution from FVMF in place or applied for.

Organizations interested in applying for a grant should also include the following information in their proposals:
• A specific grant request amount
• The project's restoration should be described in detail with an estimated cost of works to be carried out.

FVMF is a 501c(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organization dedicated to preserving French architectural and cultural heritage. Programs include preservation grants to restore historic architecture, the jointly sponsored Friends of Vieilles Maisons Françaises-AIA Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship, seminars on French decorative arts, and student exchange programs between the U.S. and France. The organization includes 2,000 members and is composed of 14 chapters in both countries. Notable funded restoration projects in the U.S. include the Amoureux House, St. Genevieve, Mo.; the Laura Plantation, New Orleans; the President's Room of City Hall, New York City; the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House; and the Elms Mansion in Newport, R.I..

For more information on the grant application process or membership, contact: Carron Leon, Friends of Vieilles Maisons Françaises, 14 East 60th Street, Suite 605, New York, NY 10022; phone, 212-759-6846; email, carron@FVMFNYC.org

Copyright 2001 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.