2026 Hiss Award Honoring World Monuments Fund Lecture

2026 Philip Hanson Hiss Award Honoring World Monuments Fund Lecture

Lecture Title: Modernism Program

Dr. Jonathan Bell, Senior Vice President, World Monuments Fund

Thursday, March 12, 2026

6:00 - 7:00 pm

Sarasota Art Museum

1001 South Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, FL 34236

ABOUT THE PHILIP HANSON HISS AWARD

Architecture Sarasota’s prestigious annual award honors today’s pioneers and champions of innovative design within the global built environment and commemorates the legacy of Philip Hanson Hiss III (1910-1988). Hiss was a driving force and major proponent of the Sarasota School of Architecture. Past Award recipients include architects Toshiko Mori and Lord Norman Foster.

Philip Hiss believed good design was integral to a larger set of values and practices that defined the Sarasota School. These principles included designs adapted to the natural environment and responsive to the socio-cultural context; a spirit of experimentation, innovation, and transformation; and a commitment to democratic ideals and civic responsibility, including accessibility for all. Presented annually, the recipient makes a presentation and the award is bestowed at a dinner celebration.

ABOUT WORLD MONUMENTS FUND

World Monuments Fund is the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the world's most treasured places.

World Monuments Fund (WMF) seeks to enrich people's lives and build mutual understanding across cultures and communities. The organization is headquartered in New York City with offices and affiliates in Cambodia, China, France, India, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Since 1965 their global team of experts has preserved the world's diverse cultural heritage using the highest international standards at more than 700 sites in 112 countries.

WMF's Modernism Program champions the preservation of modernist architecture, which is increasingly at-risk. The program draws international attention to at-risk modernist sites through advocacy and physical conservation. At the cutting-edge of architecture and design when it emerged in the 20th century, Modernist architecture is known for its bold experimentation, innovative engineering, and a vision for a better future. Yet today, many landmark modernist structures face critical threats from urban development pressures, deferred maintenance, and a lack of public awareness about their cultural value. WMF's Modernism Program first launched as the "Modernism at Risk" initiative in 2006. Since then, they have supported the conservation and preservation of 55 modernist projects across the world.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Jonathan S. Bell, PhD is the Senior Vice President of Global Preservation Strategy and Director of the Suzanne Deal Booth Institute. Dr. Bell came to World Monuments Fund from National Geographic Society, where he oversaw a large portfolio of projects that included archaeological research and cultural heritage. Over the course of his career, he worked with the Getty Conservation Institute on World Heritage Sites in China and Egypt, evaluated cultural site management from Kazakhstan to Colombia, and oversaw strategic planning for largescale flood infrastructure for the County of Los Angeles. Dr. Bell serves on multiple ICOMOS scientific committees as an expert member and sits on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Architectural Conservation. He holds a BA from Harvard University, a DEA from the Sorbonne, an MSc in Historic Preservation from Columbia University, and a PhD in Urban Planning from UCLA.

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