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The EU made 2018 the European Year of Cultural Heritage to highlight the diversity, shared history and rich cultures that make Europe today. Cultural heritage plays an important role in the history and identity of Europe’s countries and indeed of the continent as a whole. It is a vital part of Europe’s economy and promoting cultural treasures will help to boost growth and employment. 
The European Year of Cultural Heritage aims to enhance the contribution of Europe’s rich cultural traditions to economy and society, and to promote culture as an important element of the EU’s international presence. The promotion of the value of cultural heritage is also a direct response to the deliberate destruction of cultural treasures in the Middle East of late.
Throughout the year thousands of activities took place across Europe to involve people more closely with cultural heritage at local, regional, national and European levels. 
A European Commission study shows that an estimated 300,000 people work directly in the EU’s cultural sector and as many as 7.8 million jobs are created indirectly by the sector. According to a Eurobarometer survey, more than eight out of ten Europeans think cultural heritage is important to them personally and to their local community. Eight out of ten think cultural heritage is important for the European Union. Almost eight out of ten respondents agree Europe’s cultural heritage or cultural heritage-related activities create jobs in the EU. 
Vatican City issued four stamps depicting four statues located in the Vatican Museums to mark the European Year of Cultural Heritage: The €0,10 stamp depicts the Belvedere Apollo, a statue from the post-Hellenistic era in the later 2nd century A.D. The €0,15 value is a photo of the Augustus of Prima Porta, a Roman white marble statue which was located in the Villa of Livia Drusilla, wife of Emperor Augustus (27 B.C-14 A.D.). The €0.30 stamp depicts a terra cotta statue, Charity with Four Putti by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680). The €0,95 stamp has a marble statue by Antonio Canova (1757-1822), Perseus Triumphant, created between 1797-1801. This sculpture depicts a myth from antiquity with Perseus holding the severed head of the Medusa, a Gorgon, a winged female monster whose hair was of snakes and whose glance turned a victim to stone.

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