Culture

United States of America

• © UNESCO/D. Hardoby
• Monticello, University of Virginia

World heritage constitutes one of the principal axes of cooperation between the United States and UNESCO in the field of culture

At present, the World Heritage List includes eight cultural sites and twelve natural sites located on US territory. The US National Commission for UNESCO has created a sub-committee for the express purpose of re-examining and finalizing the Tentative List of sites to be recommended for inscription. Moreover, a Center for World Heritage Studies was established in 2005 at the University of Minnesota to develop research and education for the protection, conservation and enhancement of cultural and natural world heritage.

As regards the protection of movable cultural property, the USA has contributed to the renovation of the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul.

In the framework of the development of cultural industries, the city of Sante Fe (New Mexico) has joined the Creative Cities Network as a UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art.

Particularly active in the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property, the USA has contributed to the development of UNESCO's international database on cultural heritage legislation.