LONDON.- Bank of America Merrill Lynch has today announced that its 2011 Art Conservation Project is open for applications from arts and cultural institutions.

Following the success of the inaugural 2010 project that was launched in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, this major initiative will provide grants to restore cherished art works in order to preserve their cultural value for future generations. Applications are welcome from non-profit cultural institutions across EMEA, the U.S. and Asia Pacific. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, 30 June 2011.

This project is part of Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s continuing commitment to supporting arts and culture on an international scale. The company’s programme of support is underpinned by the firm belief that the arts play a crucial role in fostering global cultural awareness and understanding.

Rena De Sisto, Global Arts and Culture executive at Bank of America, said: “After the success of the 2010 Art Conservation Project, it is with great pleasure that we announce the launch of this initiative for the second year running. Our first year demonstrated a real and immediate need to preserve works of art that play a critical part in shaping our cultural heritage. As a result, we are thrilled that this year’s project will go even further, supporting organisations across the U.S. and Asia Pacific, as well as EMEA.”

In 2010, works from 10 countries received funding for conservation, including Pablo Picasso’s Mujer en azul (Woman in Blue) from the collection at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid, Peter Paul Rubens’ Cain Slaying Abel from the collection of The Courtauld Gallery in London, a collection of handmade beaded aprons at the Wits Art Museum in Johannesburg, and photographs from the archives of The Arab Image Foundation.

De Sisto continued: “Museums around the world are full of treasures that either represent significant cultural value to that region or play their part in the history of art internationally. It is extremely important to preserve these treasures for future generations to experience to gain an increased understanding of the diversity of artistic traditions around the world. We encourage all non-profit institutions with significant works of art requiring conservation to apply and potentially benefit from this unique project.”

Dr. Ernst Vegelin, Head of The Courtauld Gallery, said: “Through the Bank of America Art Conservation Project we are able to preserve an extremely important work by one of the world’s best-known artists, Cain Slaying Abel by Peter Paul Rubens. The Project is vital as it is not only helping to ensure that this painting can once more be on display for the benefit and enjoyment of our many visitors, but is also raising awareness of the very real need to support art conservation efforts around the world.”