On June 24, 2025, the International Scientific and Practical Conference
“«Soft Power» of Ukrainian Art in the Coordinates of the Modern World”,
organised by the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, the Institute for Cultural Research of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine and the Modern Art Research Institute of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, took place.

The conference was held online and was attended by foreign experts in the field of culture, practitioners, and representatives of cultural and artistic research institutions from various cities of Ukraine.
Members of the departments of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, scientists of the Institute for Cultural Research of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine and Modern Art Research Institute of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, other scientific institutions and non-governmental organisations, teachers and postgraduate students of higher educational institutions of Ukraine took an active part in the conference.

The moderation of the speeches of foreign participants was provided by Oleksandr BUTSENKO, advisor to the directorate of the Institute for Cultural Research of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine;
The event was hosted by Iryna ZUBAVINA, Doctor of Art History, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, Scientific Secretary of the Cinematography Department of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine;
Hanna CHMIL, Director of the Institute for Cultural Research of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, Academician of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, Doctor of Philosophical Sciences, Professor joined the discussion.

Participants of the scientific event comprehensively explored and discussed the role, potential, and strategies for using Ukrainian art as a tool of “soft power” to shape a positive image of Ukraine on the world stage, promote national interests, strengthen cultural influence, and promote intercultural dialogue in the face of modern global challenges.

The following spoke at the conference:

Chris BALDWIN, Professor, theater director, playwright, writer.

Victor SYDORENKO, President of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, Academician of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, People’s Artist of Ukraine, Ph.D. in Art History, Professor.

Oles SANIN, Vice President of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, Film Director, People’s Artist of Ukraine.

Andrii ARTEMENKO, Doctor of Philosophical Sciences, Professor, Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts, Professor of the Department of Methodologies of Cross-Cultural Practices. (presentation)

Manos TSANGARIS, The President of the Akademie der Künste in Berlin; the President of the European Alliance of Academies, Professor.

Olga PETROVA, Doctor of Philosophical Sciences, Professor, Chief Researcher of the Modern Art Research Institute, Honored Artist of Ukraine, Honorary Academician of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine.

Oles YANCHUK, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, senior lecturer at the Department of Organisation of Theater Affairs of Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary University of Theater, Cinema and Television, People’s Artist of Ukraine, member of the European Film Academy, film director, producer.

Natalia VLADYMIROVA, Doctor of Art History, Professor, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine.

Andrii NYKYFOROV, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Fine Arts and Design, Sumy State Pedagogical University named after A. S. Makarenko. (presentation)

Inna PROKOPCHUK, Ph.D. in Art History, Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Design, Ukrainian National Forestry University (Lviv). (presentation)

Maria PETRUSHKEVYCH, Doctor of Philosophical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Philosophy and Cultural Management, National University of Ostroh Academy.

Vyacheslav TURYANYTSYA, candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary University of Theater, Cinema and Television (Department of Film Studies).

Maryna POLYAKOVA, Doctor of Philosophy, Research Fellow, Department of Theory and History of Culture, Modern Art Research Institute of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine. (presentation)

Dmytro BAZIV, postgraduate student of the Department of Film Studies, Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary University of Theater, Cinema and Television.

Taras FROLOV/strong>, postgraduate student of the Modern Art Research Institute of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine. (presentation)

Vira SARNAVSKA, Bachelor’s degree student, Rivne State Humanities University.

Oksana CHEPELIK, Ph.D., Leading Researcher of the Department of Socio-Cultural Studies of Art, Modern Art Research Institute of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine.

Serhii SMIRNOV, Bachelor’s degree student, Rivne State Humanities University.

Serhii VYTKALOV, Doctor of Culturology, Professor, Professor of the Department of Event Industries, Cultural Studies and Museology, Rivne State Humanities University.

The conference covered a wide range of scientific, theoretical and practical issues, including: theoretical and methodological principles of researching the “soft power” of art; historical dimension of the “soft power” of Ukrainian art; Ukrainian contemporary art as a tool of cultural diplomacy; institutional support and strategies for the promotion of Ukrainian art in the world; Ukrainian art in the context of war and post-conflict recovery; education, science and popularization of Ukrainian art.

The participants’ speeches were accompanied by lively discussions and debates.

To sum up, the conference demonstrated the need to join forces of scientists, artists, curators, diplomats, representatives of cultural institutions, and the public to develop practical recommendations for the effective use of Ukraine’s cultural potential in the world.

Conference program (in Ukrainian) (PDF)