Themes by tag: culture

On July 23, the final removal of the protective coverings and professional cleaning of the Mykola Lysenko monument will take place near the National Opera of Ukraine in Kyiv. The event continues the “Weeks of Improvement for Kyiv’s Historic Monuments” initiative, under which the capital’s landmark monuments are being uncovered after protective conservation and restored to a well-maintained condition.

The initiative is organized by the Department of Culture of the Kyiv City State Administration and the Shevchenkivskyi District State Administration in Kyiv, with support from the service company INWHITE (LLC “INWHITE”).

The first stage of the initiative began on June 25 at Mykhailivska Square with the professional cleaning of the monument to Princess Olha. The next site will be the monument to Mykola Lysenko — composer, pianist, conductor, educator, folklorist, and one of the key figures of Ukrainian musical culture. His name is closely associated with the development of Ukrainian classical music, the preservation of folk song traditions, and the formation of Ukraine’s national school of music.

Journalists are required to obtain accreditation.

Background: The work is being carried out on a charitable basis without the use of municipal budget funds. For INWHITE, participation in the project is a continuation of its Clean Day social initiative and a charitable contribution to the city as the company marks its 20th anniversary.

• culture
• Kyiv

Zoia Sever was born in Lviv but moved to Israel with her family as a teenager. For more than 15 years, she has dedicated herself to art, running her own painting and sculpture studios.

She is also actively involved in volunteer work. Following the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, she founded a charitable foundation supporting Ukrainian service members. She has also been traveling regularly to Ukraine as a volunteer and trainer with the Israel Trauma Coalition. During one of these visits, she came up with the idea for the “Window to Peace” project. Together with children, Zoia paints bomb shelters in schools, hospitals, and boarding schools, transforming them into more welcoming spaces. One of the project’s completed works is the bomb shelter at Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt National Children’s Specialized Hospital.

The project does not have a permanent team, and volunteer artists frequently join its activities.

Zoia Sever is available for interviews both online and in person in Lviv until July 27, by prior arrangement.

• culture
• volunteers
• women
• Lviv

On July 19, the Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Drama Theatre will host a performance of the tragicomedy “The Elevator Director,” based on the real-life stories of Ukrainian defenders undergoing rehabilitation at the UNBROKEN Center.

The play offers an intimate look into life inside a rehabilitation center, capturing its rhythm and the warmth of the relationships between patients and staff. Every scene takes place inside an elevator, where chance encounters lead to moving and often humorous conversations.

“The Elevator Director” was created as part of the Theatre of the Unbroken initiative at UNBROKEN. The play was written by veterans Pylyp Khvorostiankin, Ruslan Pryhoda, and Roman Onuchko in collaboration with playwright Iryna Harets.

Journalists are invited to attend the premiere and share the stories of Ukrainian service members for whom theatre has become a way to cope with trauma and adapt to life in new circumstances.

Media accreditation is required.

• culture
• Kyiv

From July 19 to August 9, Kyiv will host “Guardians of Freedom,” an exhibition of large-scale paper cuttings by Ukrainian artist Daria Alyoshkina. The exhibition features seven monumental works, each measuring up to 2.5 meters, brought to life through light, shadow, and Ukrainian symbolism.

Throughout the exhibition, visitors will be able to support the “Lovchyky” project, which organizes educational and cultural trips for the children of Ukrainian defenders from the 46th Podilska Brigade whose parents were killed, are being held in captivity, or are listed as missing. In September, 20 children will travel to Disneyland Paris. Funds raised will cover transportation, accommodation, meals, and admission to museums and cultural sites.

• culture
• Kyiv

On July 21, Kyiv will host the lecture and discussion Woman. War. Art. Oleksandra Ekster and the First World War, presented by Anna Lodyhina, author of a groundbreaking study of the renowned Futurist artist and creator of an original guided tour of places in Kyiv associated with Ekster.

The lecture will offer a glimpse into the creative process during a time of profound change, highlighting women’s resilience and sensitivity.

The discussion will also feature contemporary Ukrainian artist Polina Kuznietsova, who will speak about how the war has influenced her artistic practice and creative process, as well as share the experiences of fellow women artists.

The discussion will be moderated by Roman Kabachii, Head of the First World War Research Department at the War Museum.

• culture
• Kyiv

On July 18, veterans from the Kyiv Military Hub will take part in the SUBARU TRIATMAN SERIES swimming race in Kyiv, where they will complete a 1-kilometer open-water swim.

Just a few months ago, many of the veterans never imagined they would be able to swim such a distance. Thanks to regular training in the pool and open water under the guidance of coaches from the K-TEAM swimming school, they succeeded.

A major milestone came during the international Oceanman Kyiv 2026 competition on Obolonskyi Island, where the Kyiv Military Hub veterans successfully completed a 1-kilometer open-water swim for the first time in their lives.

• culture
• Kyiv

On July 11, Odesa will host the opening of “Kherson: NOT/Stolen”, an exhibition based on studies and homages inspired by artworks stolen by russia. The project was conceived as an exploration of the collection of the looted Kherson Art Museum and was created by artists who continue to live and work in Ukraine despite ongoing russian attacks and destruction.

In art, a study is both an exploration and a preparatory sketch. A homage is a work created as a tribute to another artist. It is neither an exact copy nor a replica, but rather an expression of respect and gratitude to those who made the world a better place through their art.

The exhibition “NOT/Stolen. Studies and Homages” was shown from November to December 2025 at Zenyk Art Gallery in Lviv, from February to April 2026 at the War Museum in Kyiv, and from May to June 2026 at the Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation KUMF Gallery in Toronto, Canada.

On July 11, Kherson will be brought to Odesa through new works by Ukrainian artists.

• culture
• occupation
• russian crimes
• Odesa

Over the course of eight days, the festival will present more than 30 new Ukrainian plays. The programme includes works by graduates of the theatre’s third cohort, plays by graduates of previous years, and plays written by Ukrainian service members who are currently serving on the front line.

The festival’s main events are staged readings of plays written by veterans who have just completed the Veterans’ Theatre educational programme and created their first literary works. This is how the festival got its name — the Festival of First Plays.

Over the past two years, a genuine community has formed around the Veterans’ Theatre. Artists who have taken part in the educational programme have become close partners, sharing the theatre’s mission and values, supporting emerging playwrights and encouraging veterans as they take their first steps in a new creative field. The festival has also seen the emergence of successful playwrights — graduates of the first cohorts who continued writing after their debut, developed as authors, and are now returning to the festival with new plays. Their experience is living proof that the Veterans’ Theatre is an effective pathway to a new profession and a place where veterans can pursue new aspirations.

Background: The festival is organised by TRO Media and the Veterans’ Theatre — a team that believes Ukraine’s war for independence should be told as truthfully as possible by those who directly participated in the historic events and battles.

• culture
• Kyiv

For dozens of veterans, KSE ProfTech (Kyiv School of Economics Professional Education) has become the place where a new professional chapter began after military service. Since the centre was established, 55 veterans have completed training in new technical professions.

In the summer of 2026, KSE ProfTech launched “Your Change”, a free professional retraining programme for veterans in Kyiv that combines vocational education with employment support. The programme’s distinctive feature is its comprehensive approach to veterans’ professional reintegration. In addition to training, participants receive individual career guidance, support for those planning to start their own businesses, mentoring, and assistance in securing grant funding. The programme also includes training in psychological resilience, communication, and teamwork.

The programme has already delivered its first results: two veterans have successfully completed the programme and are now entering the job market, while 15 more are currently training as CNC machine operators, electronics assemblers, and 3D modelling specialists.

The centre plans to continue expanding the “Your Change” programme so that more veterans can gain new professional skills, return to active civilian life, and find employment.

By prior arrangement, journalists can visit the “Your Change” vocational retraining programme in Kyiv and speak with participants and programme organisers.

Background: The “Your Change” programme is implemented by KSE ProfTech with the support of Chernovetskyi Investment Group, in partnership with KSE Foundation. Training takes place in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast.

• culture
• Kyiv

A ceremonial handover of a unique vyshyvanka (traditional embroidered shirt) created for Hero of Ukraine Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov as part of the Vyshyvanka for a Hero project will take place in Kyiv on July 15.

The Vyshyvanka for a Hero project symbolically unites Ukrainian traditions, spirituality, and contemporary history. Every stitch, embroidered by librarians, military chaplains, children, writers, artists, volunteers, and friends of the library, represents love for Ukraine, faith in victory, and gratitude to Ukrainian defenders.

The event will feature:

• presentation of replica vyshyvankas created for Heroes of Ukraine and transferred to the collections of the War Museum;
• screening of a video about the embroidery process accompanied by original incantation songs;
• remarks by distinguished guests;
• performance by the Zvytiaha Dance Ensemble;
• collective embroidery session for the fourth vyshyvanka in the project, dedicated to Hero of Ukraine Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine Oleksandr Pivnenko, with the participation of ceremony attendees.

Invited participants include representatives of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, members of the Board of Trustees of the National Library of Ukraine for Children, and the NGO Union of Television and Film Industry Entrepreneurs.

Media accreditation is required.

• culture
• Kyiv