On June 15, 2023, the Institute for Cultural Research of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine together with the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Humanitarian and Information Policy, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, the Institute of Philosophy named after H.S. Skovoroda of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Souspilnist Foundation and the Development Center “Democracy through Culture” held an online conference

“The creative potential of the economy of culture in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.”

Hanna CHMIL, Director of the Institute for Cultural Research of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, Doctor of philosophical sciences, professor, Full Member of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine

Ernesto OTTONE RAMIREZ Deputy Director General of UNESCO for Culture (screenshot from the video message)

Mykyta POTURAEV, Chairman of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Humanitarian and Information Policy

The conference participants were addressed with a welcome speech by: Hanna Chmil, director of the Institute for Cultural Research of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, Ernesto Ottone Ramirez Deputy Director General of UNESCO for Culture, Mykyta Poturaev, Chairman of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Humanitarian Affairs and information policy; Halyna Hryhorenko, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.

The aspects and role of the creative potential of the economy of culture were revealed in their reports by David Throsby (Australia), Galina Grigorenko (Ukraine), Milena Dragicevic-Sešic (Serbia), Chris Baldwin (Great Britain-Spain-Bulgaria), Simon Mundy (Scotland-Wales).

David THROSBY, Emeritus Professor of Economics, McGuire University (Sydney, Australia)

David Throsby revealed the importance of economic tools for protecting community values, preserving cultural heritage and social development.

Milena DRAGIČEVYCH-SEŠIĆ, Head of the UNESCO Department of Cultural Policy and Management (Interculturalism and Mediation of the Balkans), professor at the University of Arts (Belgrade, Serbia)

Milena Dragičević-Sešić emphasized the role of art as a voice of the community (both in the territories of hostilities and in the status of refugees), and also outlined problems Ukrainian society may face on the example of the post-war life of the Balkan countries.

Chris BALDWIN, British director and curator of performances, professor and writer (UK-Spain-Bulgaria)

Chris Baldwin demonstrated how art can overcome collective trauma in society as “we understand our life through the story we tell” (Chris Baldwin). And this was illustrated by the implementation of large-scale artistic projects implemented within the framework of the “European Capital of Culture” program.

Simon Mundy, Writer, art and music journalist (Scotland-Wales)

Simon Mundy, starting with the practical experience of advocating cultural projects before investors and the government (in particular, together with Charles Landry), substantiated why the work of public, scientific and artistic sectors is important during war.

The Ukrainian participants of the conference shared the problems that the cultural sphere is currently facing, and expressed specific proposals for further actions.

As noted by the Chairman of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Humanitarian and Information Policy Mykyta Poturaev, “This conference is extremely important, as it is the first step on the way to our victory and revival.”

Lesya KOTSUR, Ph.D. in history, Associate Professor of the Department of Political Science at Skovoroda University in Pereyaslav

Andriy ZAETS, director of the Kamianets-Podilskyi International Film Festival “Brukivka”

The Ukrainian perspective and various aspects of practical implementation problems were voiced in the speeches: Lesya Kotsur, Ph.D. in history, (Skovoroda University in Pereyaslav) indicated the threat of the influence of Russian narratives in public, urban and Internet spaces; Andriy Zayets, founder of Kamianets-Podilskyi International Film Festival “Brukivka” revealed the practical experience of organizing international festivals in the conditions of the pandemic and during the war; Yurii Smalius highlighted the role of creative economy in cultural policy.

Oleksandr BUTSENKO, adviser to the directorate of the Institute for Cultural Research of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine

Thank you all for participating!