Ukraine – the USA: the questions of return and a restitution of cultural values

Abstract

The purpose of the research. The article is devoted to a problem of return and a restitution of cultural values in the context of the Ukrainian-American cooperation. The review of the cultural values returned from the USA by the Ukrainian diaspora is carried out. It is analysed a current state of affairs and legislative base in a question of return and a restitution of cultural values within the Ukrainian-American dialogue. The main objectives of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine in the field of return and a restitution of cultural values are given. The return prospects from the USA to Ukraine of the picture of the famous French artist of the XVIII century Pierre Louis Goudro «Lovers» lost by the National Museum of Arts of Bogdan and Varvara Hanenko during nazi occupation of Kiev in 1943, and graphic works of Yakov Gnizdovsky are designated. The methodology of research is based on a historical method, the analysis and synthesis, a specification and culturological approach. The called methodological ways allow to study concrete culturological measurements of professional activity on return of cultural values, to carry out the art criticism analysis of such values and to define their component in interrelation with the past, present and future. Scientific novelty of the research is that for the first time the author made an attempt of partial systematization of information on the cultural values returned to Ukraine from America, and the analysis of legislative base of two countries in questions of return and restitution of the specified monuments. Conclusions. In modern conditions of eurointegration processes of Ukraine the question of return of cultural values plays extremely great value and is the perspective direction of bilateral cooperation. It is important especially from the perspective of enriching the cultural values of the state, as a result of such activity Ukrainian cultural treasury is replenished with unique works of fine and decorative arts, rare archival materials and book collections.