On February 22, 2024, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ (ECA) Cultural Heritage Center (CHC) convened a meeting of the interagency Cultural Heritage Coordinating Committee (CHCC) to discuss threats to Palestinian cultural heritage stemming from the conflict in Gaza; U.S. support for Ukraine’s efforts to protect its cultural heritage from Russian aggression; multilateral engagements with UNESCO and the Group of 20 (G20); and other ongoing initiatives. CHC Director Eric Catalfamo chaired the meeting on behalf of Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield.
The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA) led the Committee’s discussion on reports of extensive damage to Gaza’s cultural heritage. NEA informed the Committee members about efforts to monitor such damage and the importance of military operations being conducted consistent with the law of war, which includes protections for cultural heritage.
CHC Director Catalfamo acknowledged the two-year mark of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and updated members on ECA’s Ukraine Cultural Heritage Response Initiative (UCHRI). This $10.5 million program, launched in 2023, supports Ukraine’s efforts to protect and repair damage to Ukrainian cultural heritage sites and collections, while expanding public-private partnerships with civil society in Ukraine. Two new UCHRI projects were launched in February. As part of the State Department’s renewed commitment to UNESCO, ECA is providing $3 million to UNESCO to conserve and restore paintings of the renowned Ukrainian folk artist Maria Prymachenko, whose works were damaged as a result of Russia’s attack on Ivankiv. ECA is also providing a $640,000 grant to the ALIPH Foundation to help the State Archival Services of Ukraine expand its project to preserve and digitize archival collections to 20 important regional archives.
CHC’s Director then briefed the Committee on U.S. participation in the 42nd UNESCO General Conference in November, where the United States was elected to UNESCO’s Executive Board, as well as upcoming G20 and G7 Culture Working Group meetings. CHCC’s constituent agencies will continue to provide input to guide U.S. government engagement at the G20 Culture Ministerial in Salvador, Brazil, and the G7 Culture Ministerial in Positano, Italy, later this year.
