1. Cultural policy system
Ukraine
Last update: November, 2017
After the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917, a "Ukrainian People's Republic" was proclaimed and was led by outstanding personalities from the cultural field. According to the Presidential Edict #17/2016 of 22 January 2016, the year 2017 was announced as a Year of the Ukrainian Revolution 1917–1921. The Edict determined the commemoration of events and prominent participants of the Ukrainian Revolution 1917–1921 as one of the priorities in state agency activities for 2017–2021. The list of events and personalities was prepared by the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance jointly with the National Academy of Sciences and representatives of civil society.
Unfortunately,
the first Ukrainian state was short lived. Just four years later, in
1921, Ukraine came under Soviet totalitarian rule which lasted for 70
years. Although the official Soviet propaganda declared this period the
"Golden Age" of national cultures it was in fact characterised by the
forced deportation of entire cultural communities (Crimean Tatars,
German settlers in Ukraine) and severe repression of the national
intelligentsia. As N. Khruschov reported at the special closed XX
Congress of the Communist Party of the USSR, Stalin had intended to
deport all Ukrainian people. Compared to other territories of the former
Soviet Empire, the persecution of the bearers of national ideas in
Ukraine was more wide-spread and of greater brutality. Whereas the
population of the Ukrainian SSR constituted only about 17% of the total
Soviet Union population, the share of Ukrainians among the "prisoners of
conscience" in the Soviet GULAGs (concentration and labour camps) was
more than 50%. In 2017, 80 years has passed since the Soviet executions
in Sandarmokh, the forest massif in the Republic of Karelia, where over
9,500 people of more than 58 nationalities were shot and buried in 236
communal pits over a 14-month period in 1937 and 1938. There, prominent
Ukrainian intellectuals, brilliant writers, poets and playwrights,
scientists and politicians, commanders and leaders, the real cream of
the Ukrainian nation, were shot. Also, in October-November of 1937, 1111
victims were shot, among which there were 170 Ukrainians.
Shortly after the Second World War and during the first half of the 1950s, Ukrainian cultural policy was subject to the principles of the totalitarian state. This included strict centralism. Cultural institutions acted as intermediaries between the official state ideology and society. Through the ideological departments of the central and local communist party committees, the state decided which kind of culture was necessary for the people, and saw to it that cultural and artistic events remained on the "correct" political course. All artists' associations and unions (writers, painters, theatre workers, and architects) were administrated by the state through respective party units operating within these institutions. Independent artists or artists' organisations could not exist outside of this framework. The state also controlled all amateur arts, popular and other non-professional or voluntary organisations in the cultural field. Private cultural entrepreneurship officially didn't exist.
Though the Soviet ideological machine was oriented to brainwashing, disseminating the achievements of “correct and democratic” world culture, it was possible to read “between the lines”, absorbing modern ideas and a “wind of change”. At the same time, special attention was paid to the cultural education of young people and to the development of young talents. There was also broad support for amateur and folk art activities and for book publishing. At the regional level, a vast landscape of cultural infrastructure was created and supported by additional budget subsidies. Their operations were not, however, guided by principles of efficiency or meeting the real needs of the communities involved.
On the 24th August, 1991, the Ukraine became an independent national state, signified by the Parliaments (Verkhovna Rada) approval of the Declaration of Independence of the Ukraine. This Act coupled with the results of the All-Ukrainian Referendum of 1 December 1991, when more than 92% of the citizens voted for independence, put an end to ideological dictatorship and created the conditions necessary for the comprehensive development of a national culture.
There was, however, a drastic decrease in public support for culture due to political instability, the economic crisis, and contradictions between democratic goals and market conditions. The lack of a clear medium-term and long-term cultural development strategy resulted in the creation of ad hoc policies at the central and local levels. They are aimed, in most cases, at preserving the existing situation. This situation, along with declarations about false achievements, has provoked indifference and distrust in a large part among the artistic community towards the government.
Dissatisfaction within Ukrainian society became apparent, especially after the events of the so called "Orange Revolution". During the first "post-Orange" months, many meetings, conferences and round tables were organised by dissatisfied artists and cultural producers. Many appeals, requests and letters to change the situation were adopted and submitted to the President and the government. As a result, some new structures (public boards) were established at the Ministry of Culture and in the Presidential Secretariat.
The Presidential Edict of 24 November 2005, N 1647/2005, proclaimed that "ensuring the enrichment and development of culture and spiritual heritage of the Ukrainian society is one of the high-priority tasks of the Cabinet of Ministers". One of the first laws signed by the President V. Yuschenko was the Law of Ukraine on the Conceptual Framework of the Public Cultural Policy of Ukraine (2005) which proclaimed that the main outcome of the Conceptual Framework implementation should be the recognition of culture as a key factor of social and economic development on the national and local level, and cultural policy as a strategic priority direction of the overall state policy.
In May 2007, the Council of Europe adopted the National Report on Cultural Policy in Ukraine (CDCULT(2007)14), along with the Experts' Review (CDCULT(2007)15), becoming the 27th country to complete this procedure for the CoE. (You can find both texts of the National Report and the Experts' Report on https://www.coe.int/en/web/culture-and-heritage/national-reviews#{%2219677858%22:[11]} or on http://www.mincult.gov.ua – Ukrainian versions).
By the end of 2008, the government adopted the draft Concept of the State targeted programme for innovative development of Ukrainian culture in 2009-2013. The Programme will improve the budget allocation process, increase the share and effectiveness of cultural expenditure, modernise mechanisms for attracting non-budget funds, regulate legislation, and modernise the governance system. Despite the good intentions outlined in the Programme, it is till in draft form, and like the Law of Ukraine on Culture (2011) – see below – could become outdated.
On 14 December 2010, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the new Law on Culture which was gradually developed and improved since 2005. After being signed by the President of Ukraine on 6 January 2011, the new Law on Culture (№ 2778–VI) replaces the former Fundamentals of the Legislation on Culture of Ukraine (1992, with amendments). The new law determines the legal foundations of cultural activities, regulates social interrelations related to creation, use and protection of cultural values, and defines priorities of public cultural policy. See also above and chapter 2.1.
Social and political confrontation in Ukraine started in November 2013, which led to the "Revolution of Dignity", and complete reform of the government, including the Ministry of Culture. The gap between official and informal culture became apparent and threatened to deepen. On 27 February, a new Cabinet of Ministers was elected by the parliament after previous approval by the popular assembly at Maidan. The new Minister of Culture, the “voice of
Maidan”, Yevhen Nyschuk, declared that the whole structure of the former ministry would be changed as well as the national cultural strategy. However, this declaration didn’t lead to any sensible result.
After extraordinary elections of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Parliament) at the end of October 2014, the new government was formed at the beginning of December 2014, including the Ministry of Culture. Viacheslav Kyrylenko, a well-known politician, took up the post of Minister of Culture and Vice Prime Minister on humanitarian issues, at the same time.
The renewed ministry, including new deputy ministers, continues to develop a long-term cultural strategy, as well as short-term tasks, based upon the groundwork of their forerunners (particularly, strategic working group: http://culture2025.org.ua/), Cabinet of Ministers' Action Programme and the Coalition Agreement between policy parties.
In February 2016, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Long-term Development Strategy of Ukrainian Culture (Strategy of Reforms) based on extensive culture research by public and non-governmental organizations. The Strategy states “determines the main activities which should take culture out of margins” and lays a reliable foundation for sustainable innovative and cultural development of Ukraine.
On 14 April 2016, the Verkhovha Rada of Ukraine assigned a new Government (Cabinet of Ministers) and appointed, again, as a Minister of Culture Yevhen Nyschuk. Restructuring was declared as a main task and priority of cultural policy.
In 2016 and 2017, several laws were adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the cultural sector: The Law of Ukraine On Some Amendments to Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning the Introduction of Contractual Forms in Culture and the Competition Procedure for Appointing Managers of Public and Communal Cultural Establishments (2016); the Law of Ukraine On Some Amendments to Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning Improvement of Public Management in Book Publishing (2016); and the Law of Ukraine On Ukrainian Cultural Endowment (2017, see also chapters 1.2.1, 1.2.6). Governmental decrees and ministerial decisions have created preconditions for infrastructural and strategic changes. However, the top-down controlled and, in many cases, non-transparent and engaged process, politically committed decisions and controversial results are not leading to efficient results.
Main features of the current cultural policy model
Existing cultural policy is based on the Constitution of the Ukraine (1996, 2004, 2010, 2015), the Law of Ukraine on Culture (2011, 2015), the Law on Local Self-Governance (1997, 2015), the Budget Code of Ukraine (2011, with amendments in 2014 and 2016), the Tax Code of Ukraine (2010, with amendments in December 2014 and in 2016), the Cabinet of Ministers' Action Programme and the Coalition Agreement between policy parties, the Cabinet of Ministers' Regulation on the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine of 3 September 2014, Law of Ukraine On Some Amendments to Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning the Introduction of Contractual Forms in Culture and the Competition Procedure for Appointing Managers of Public and Communal Cultural Establishments (2016), the Law of Ukraine On Some Amendments to Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning Improvement of Public Management in Book Publishing (2016), the Law of Ukraine On Ukrainian Cultural Endowment (2017), the Law of Ukraine On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine on Artistic Tours in Ukraine (2017), etc.
Article 4 of the Law of Ukraine on Culture establishes that priorities of public cultural policy shall be determined by state programmes of social and economic development of Ukraine which should take into account aspects of cultural development. "The government shall create on a priority basis conditions for: development of culture of the Ukrainian nation, indigenous peoples and national minorities of Ukraine; maintenance, restoration and protection of the historical environment; aesthetic education of citizens, first of all, children and young people; and enlargement of the cultural infrastructure in rural areas."
Article 6 (point 1) of the Law of Ukraine On Principles of State Regional Policy (2015) establishes that one of priorities of the state regional policy is “stimulation and promotion of local initiatives related to the efficient use of internal capacities of regions for creating and supporting a full-fledged living environment and improving living standards”. The explanation to the law indicates that internal capacities of regions consist mainly of culture and cultural heritage (tangible and intangible).
Cultural policy objectives
The Law of Ukraine on Culture (2011) proclaims the following objectives or main principles:
- acknowledgement of culture as one of main factors for self-expression of the Ukrainian nation, all indigenous peoples and national minorities;
- contribution to the establishment of an integrated cultural space of Ukraine, preservation of culture integrity;
- protection and preservation of cultural heritage as a basis of national culture, concern for cultural development;
- efforts in strengthening humanistic ideas, high moral principles in social life;
- providing freedom of creativity, protection of incorporeal rights, copyright and neighbouring rights;
- assurance of civic rights in culture;
- create conditions for individual creative development; increase cultural level; aesthetic education of citizens; availability of cultural education for children and youth, broadening of educational programmes through national museums, galleries, reserves, etc.; meeting the cultural needs of the Ukrainian nation, indigenous peoples, and national minorities; development of cultural institutions irrespective of form of ownership; attraction of investments; money from paid services; donations, other sources allowed by Law to Culture;
- assistance in activity of professional associations and social culture organisations; creation of domestic (national) cultural product in the Ukrainian language and functioning of the Ukrainian language in the cultural space all over Ukraine; access of citizens to cultural goods;
- determination of aesthetic education of children and youth as a priority of culture development;
- assurance of activity of the basic network of cultural institutions, educational cultural establishments;
- support of cultural activities related to production and distribution of electronic and print media, audio and visual products, development of computer technologies and an increase in their potential for enlargement of access and involvement of citizenship to cultural activities, etc.;
- promotion of Ukrainian national culture in all its diversity abroad and global cultural achievements in Ukraine;
- support of national cultural producers;
- support of Ukrainian cultural life all over the world;
- encouraging a Ukrainian character in the modern entertainment industry;
- support of regional cultures and increasing importance of regional, district centres, cities with historic cultural traditions;
- development of international cultural collaboration; and
- establishment of an insurance fund for documentation on cultural values and documents on cultural heritage objects.
The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has prepared in September 2017 the necessary documents for a Presidential Edict to announce 2018 year as the Year of Ukrainian Cultural Heritage, which will coincide with the Year of European Heritage announced by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament. It means, as the Minister of Culture stated, that each town should envisage funds for renovation of its museums, reserves, palaces and monuments, even of local significance”. At the same time, one will expect that the main goals of the European Year will be “to promote cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and social cohesion”.
A Ukraine Cultural Policy Peer Review prepared by the Council of Europe in 2017 (13-15 March) states that the Government, besides others, needs to establish a clear vision for cultural decentralization. It needs to be clear about the benefits that will be achieved. The Ministry of Culture should develop a communication strategy aimed at local authorities and stakeholders to convey its vision and promote culture as a driver of local social and economic development. The Ministry of Culture should be resourced to control implementation of the reform, notably with a view to:
- control maintenance and repair work on historical sites deemed of national importance;
- monitor impact of decentralization in regions notably on the functioning of local cultural centres, museums and libraries, in relation to set objectives; and
- be able to influence legislative and regulatory development (in the field of regional and economic development, finance, education and tourism) which may affect the provision of cultural services, cultural production or distribution and artistic education.
Last update: November, 2017
Recently, cultural policy in Ukraine has rested upon three pillars: government (Cabinet of Ministers), Parliament (Committee on Culture and Religions) and the President's Administration. The fourth pillar will appear in 2018, after the adoption in 2017 of the Law of Ukraine On Ukrainian Cultural Endowment (see chapter 1.1 and chapter 1.2.2) and reservation in the Draft State Budget-2018 UAH 200 mn for this aim. One of the main objectives of the Endowment (Article 3.1) is to promote the realization of public policy in culture and arts, enhancement of modern culture and art activities, development of domestic (national) cultural product that is competitive in the world market.
The general scheme of cultural policy-making in Ukraine is presented in the organigram below. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is an active player in formulating international cultural policy and the cultural image of Ukraine. On 22 June 2017, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine agreed with the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the founding of the state establishment "Ukrainian Institute" for promoting Ukraine abroad. The Ministry of Information develops communication policy using cultural resources, the State Committee on Information Policy, TV and Radio Broadcasting plays an important role in the interaction of culture with the media.
Last update: November, 2017
Cultural institutions and their responsibilities are regulated by the Constitution and by special laws.
According to the Constitution (Article 85), the responsibilities of the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) are to:
- approve laws (including laws on culture);
- adopt the state budget;
- develop guidelines on national and foreign policies;
- approve national programmes of social and cultural development; and
- approve lists of units not subject to privatisation.
The Permanent Committee on Culture and Religions of the Verkhovna Rada is the main body responsible for the design and development of cultural laws.
Three bodies hold executive power over cultural matters:
- the Chief Department for Humanitarian Policy of the President’s Administration (according to the Presidential Edict #592/2014 “Issues of the President’s Administration” as of 14.07.2014); since 2014 there is a special Presidential Adviser on cultural issues as an independent office in the Administration;
- the Department for Humanitarian and Social Policy of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers (Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine #564 “On Adoption of the Structure of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine” as of 23.08.2016); and
- the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine (According to the Cabinet of Ministers’ Decree #495 of 3 September 2014, with amendments in 2015 and 2017).
The Ministry of Culture has operated as mainly a financial administrative unit up to now, which allocates funds to more than 100 state cultural institutions of national importance (theatres, museums, libraries, film studios, higher schools, etc.) and to a number of nation-wide festivals, events and projects, including international festivals and forums. The Ministry organizes also competitions for top managers of cultural institutions under its competence, tenders for book purchases for libraries, art pieces, etc., and submits proposals to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Parliament) concerning legislative acts.
In relation to libraries, the Ministry of Culture directly manages and funds four national and two state libraries. Other libraries are under the financial responsibility of local authorities (regions or cities) but must follow the rules and minimum standards provided by the Ministry (Ukraine Cultural Policy Peer Review).
The Ministerial staff consisted of about 160 employees as of 1 Jan 2017. The State Film Agency is external to the ministerial structure but is subordinated directly to the Minister of Culture. The Ministry has an advisory and controlling public body called the Collegium, which consists of heads of ministry departments, parliamentarians and representatives of cultural institutions, high schools and associations.
According to the Cabinet of Ministers’ decision concerning governmental reform and on the basis of the Ministry of Culture Orders #742/0/17-17 and #743/0/17-17 of 11.09.2017, two supplementary structures will be established at the Ministry (as one of 10 pilot ministries), two directorates for formulating state policy and long-term strategy in culture, especially, the Directorate for Strategic Planning and European Integration and the Directorate for Linguistic Policy. It is envisaged that these structures will be established by the end of 2017.
According to the Law of Ukraine #1976-VIII “On Ukrainian Cultural Endowment” of 23.03.2017, the objective of the Ukrainian Cultural Endowment is “to enhance the development of culture and arts of Ukraine, to provide favourable conditions for the development of intellectual and spiritual potentials of individuals and society, wide access for citizens to cultural wealth, and to support cultural diversity and integration of Ukrainian culture into the global cultural space.
At the same time, the Ukrainian Humanitarian Development Foundation was created in 2017 by a group of civil society activists who have considered that their efforts to create a progressive endowment able to change cardinally “the dynamics of Ukrainian society and to provide humanitarian freedoms for our compatriots like in the most developed European countries” failed “because of hostile reaction from the power structures” (http://ukr-hdf.org/en/values/; see chapter 1.4.1). The mission of the Foundation is “to project realization for developing human potential and humanitarian urban and rural structures, and preservation of the historical heritage of Ukraine as a component of a responsible way to the future”.
On the basis of the Orders of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine #292 “On Provisions of a Public Council” of 04.05.2016 (with amendments in 2017) and #591 “On Adoption of the Public Council Composition” of 22.07.2016, the Public Council at the Ministry of Culture was established to represent the public, civil society, private cultural and religious organizations.
Last update: November, 2017
The system of public administration for culture has been reduced after the annexing of Crimea and occupation of the part of Donesk and Luhansk oblasts by the Russian Federation. However, it is still made up of 24 oblasts (regions) and one city (Kyiv). The basic units of administration are rayons (counties) together with united territorial communities (established on the basis of the Law of Ukraine “On Voluntary Unification of Territorial Communities” as of 09.04.2015 with amendments in 2017) which are under the supervision of the oblast or city cultural administrations. During last 2 years, 367 united territorial communities were established (at 01.01.2017 – see chapter 1.2.6) reflecting the main objective of the decentralization process in Ukraine: to remove authority, resources, possibilities and responsibility to the lower level of public power. However, till now there is no clear configuration of public administration for culture in new territorial units which could have an unfavourable impact on local cultural policies, cultural heritage issues and public funding for culture.
Last update: November, 2017
It is expected, as Ukraine Cultural Policy Peer Review notes, that the Ministry of Culture will elaborate a single comprehensive document, aimed at local authorities with a view to governing the respective competences. Local authorities are looking for guidelines from the Ministry to update policies that often date from Soviet time.
See chapter 2.5.1, chapter 2.6 and chapter 2.9.
Last update: November, 2017
A number of ministries and public agencies are involved in cultural affairs (including funding and large-scale, especially, international projects’ realization). However, it is difficult to identify sustainable and systematic inter-ministerial cooperation in culture or cultural heritage programmes, except for some ad hoc or politically-oriented initiatives. This is why the term “integrated approach” is used now regularly as a desired perspective at different meetings related either to local development projects through cultural heritage (like COMUS – see chapter 1.4.2) or to inter-sectoral initiatives (like cultural startups, see chapter 1.4.1).
According to the Long-term Development Strategy of Ukrainian Culture (Strategy of Reforms, 2016), emphasis will be placed on “the strengthening of the role of culture in the social and economic development of Ukraine through interaction and increasing the responsibility of public agencies and civil society; the highest participation of stakeholders in development and realisation of state cultural policy”.
In 2017, cultural issues constituted a part of the programmes of the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Municipality (cultural decentralization), the Ministry of Education and Science (pre-school and formal cultural education), the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sport (informal cultural education), the State Committee on TV and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, the State Archive Service, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and others.
The principal partners of the Ministry of Culture, according to the Budget 2017, are:
- Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Municipality (decentralization);
- State Archive Service (documentation);
- State Committee on TV and Radio Broadcasting (culture communication);
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (international relations and promotion of Ukrainian culture abroad).
Different national cultural programmes or events are carried out in co-operation with regional, rayon or city authorities. For example, concert programmes in Mariupol were organised in 2015-2016 jointly by the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Defence, Donetsk oblast administration and city administration.
After 2010, the number of local governments increased to 12 052 which was the largest in Europe apart from France (36 118). By 2015, after the annex of Crimea and armed conflict in the eastern part of Ukraine, the number of local governments decreased to 10 036.
On 1 April 2014, the Government of Ukraine adopted the “Concept of Reforming Local Self-Government and Territorial Power Organisation” (Cabinet of Ministers’ Decree #333-p). According to this Concept, it is envisaged to not only delegate authorities and resources to self-governments, like village and city councils, but also to create capable territorial communities able to realize delegated responsibilities”.
Picture 1: Decentralization in Ukraine”: united territorial communities (as of 01.01.2017)
Source: A. Melnychuk, P. Ostapenko. Decentralization of Power: Reform #1. Analytical Notes. Kyiv, 2016 (www.tdukr.com).
Last update: November, 2017
The Law on Culture (2011) defines the actors in the cultural field as follows: "physical or legal entities practising cultural activity or realising authorities in the sphere of culture".
During the last years, amendments to the Law on Culture and special laws (On Libraries, On Museums, On Cinematography, On Theatre) as well as new concepts, laws, government decrees and presidential edicts were aimed to restructure and to reload the administrative system in culture, de-centralise public responsibilities for culture and to delegate basic tasks and responsibilities to the local government level, transferring some services to private or non-government organisations, creating wider and more equal opportunities for all players in the cultural field. Of particular interest in this area are the Law of Ukraine On Some Amendments to Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning the Introduction of Contractual Forms in Culture and the Competition Procedure for Appointing Managers of Public and Communal Cultural Establishments (2016), the Law of Ukraine On Some Amendments to Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning Improvement of the Public Management in Book Publishing (2016), the Law of Ukraine On Ukrainian Cultural Endowment (2017), the Law of Ukraine On Principles of State Regional Policy (2015), the Law of Ukraine On Voluntary Unification of Territorial Communities (2015), and the Long-term Development Strategy of Ukrainian Culture (Strategy of Reforms, 2016), etc.
The newly and actively emerging private and non-government sector of culture (including art galleries, design centres, events, publishing houses, hubs, co-working centres and the media) has started gradually to play a more visible role in policy-making decisions and funds allocation through various public committees, councils, and programmes.
Last update: November, 2017
Table 17: Cultural institutions financed by public authorities, by domain
| Domain | Cultural institutions (subdomains) | Number (Year: 2016) | Trend (++ to --) compared to the previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cultural heritage | Cultural heritage sites (recognised) | 64 (reserves) | ++ |
| Museums (organisations) | 576 | ++ | |
| Archives (of public authorities) | 656 | -- | |
| Visual arts | Public art galleries / exhibition halls | Above 200 | -- |
| Art academies (or universities) | 73 | ++ | |
| Performing arts | Symphonic orchestras | 85 | ++ |
| Music and art schools | 1 296 | -- | |
| Music / theatre academies (or universities) | 8 | ++ | |
| Dramatic theatres | 45 | ++ | |
| Music theatres, opera houses | 24+7 | ++ | |
| Dance and ballet companies | 7 professional ballet companies | ++ | |
| Books and Libraries | Libraries | 17 003 | -- |
| Audiovisual | Broadcasting organisations | 1 245 | -- |
| Interdisciplinary | Socio-cultural centres / cultural houses | 17 100 | -- |
Sources: State Statistics Committee, National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, State Archive Committee, 2017.
Last update: November, 2017
A cultural institution that has been granted a "national" status is entitled to receive direct financial support from the central government and special standards of material provision. From 1992-1994 the decision to grant this status was the prerogative of the Presidential Administration, through the Cabinet of Ministers. A presidential edict of 1994 reserved the right to grant this status to the President only.
The most important national cultural institutions are:
- National Academy T. Shevchenko Opera Theatre;
- National Academy I.Franko Drama Theatre;
- National Academy L.Ukrayinka Russian Drama Theatre;
- National Philharmonic Society;
- Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre;
- Kyiv National Academy Operetta Theatre;
- Ukrainian National Academy Folk Choir Named after H. Veriovka;
- National Merited Dance Company Named after P. Virsky;
- National Merited Bandura Players Company Named after H. Maiboroda;
- National Merited Academy Choir "Dumka";
- National Merited Academy Symphony Orchestra;
- National Folkloric Orchestra;
- National House of Organ and Chamber Music;
- National Circus;
- National Company of Soloists "Chamerate of Kyiv";
- Lviv State Academy M. Zankovetska Ukrainian Drama Theatre;
- Lviv Oblast Philharmonic Society;
- Luhansk Oblast Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theatre;
- State Dance and Symphony Orchestra;
- State Brass Band;
- Odesa State Philarmonic Orchestra;
- State Theatre Centre Named after L. Kurbas;
- State Enterprise "State Circus Company of Ukraine";
- Touring Administration of Circus Companies of Ukraine;
- Donets State Circus; and State Circus of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvy Rig, Luhansk, Odessa, Lviv, Sevastopol, Simferopol, Kharkiv; and
- Administration of the House of Art Companies (Kyiv).
In addition to the national institutions, the following major cultural institutions are directly under the authority of the Ministry of Culture:
- Enterprise "International Agency Ukraine-Art";
- Ukrainian Centre of Festivals and Concert Programmes;
- Film Studio "Ukrainian Animation";
- National Kinematics of Ukraine;
- Ukrainian Newsreel Studio;
- Odesa Film Studio;
- National History Museum of Ukraine;
- National Art Museum;
- National 1941-1945 War History Museum;
- State Museum of Literature;
- State Open-Air Museum of Architecture;
- Administration of Art Exhibitions;
- National Parliament Library;
- State Historical Library;
- Kharkiv State Scientific Library;
- Odesa State Scientific Library;
- State Children's Library;
- Kyiv State Choreographic Scool;
- Lviv Cinema Technical School;
- National Chaikovsky Music Academy;
- Odesa State Conservatory;
- Ukrainian Academy of Art;
- Kyiv Theatre Institute;
- Kyiv State University of Culture; and
- National Academy for Managing Personnel in Culture and Art.
In July 2017, the Ministry of the Economy and Trade of Ukraine announced the intention to privatise all state companies related to circus activities. In particular, this related to the National Circus of Ukraine, state companies Kharkiv State Circus named after Yashynov, Dnipropetrovsky State Circus, Odesky State Circus, Zaporizky State Circus, Kryvorizky State Circus, Lvivsky State Circus, State Circus Company of Ukraine, Touring Administration of Circus Companies of Ukraine, Ukrainian Creative Administration for Circus Attractions and Tricks.
Last update: November, 2017
In recent years, responsibility for international cultural collaboration has been distributed on the central level mainly between the following agencies:
- Ministry of Culture (cultural organisations and events, arts and cultural education, exchanges, heritage, diaspora, minorities, cultural values, international collaboration and intercultural dialogue);
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (promotion and international relations; coordination of international multilateral programmes; Ukrainian Institute);
- State Committee on Information Policy, TV and Radio Broadcasting (media, TV, advertisement);
- Ministry of Education and Science, Youth and Sport (student culture and education, youth culture, intercultural dialogue, sport); and
- Ministry of Information (communication policy, information security).
The Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Municipality is empowered to develop international cultural collaboration on the regional level, especially, in the area of the cultural economy and cultural heritage. At the same time, regional or local authorities can develop international collaboration independently or with support from central governmental agencies e.g. organising artistic tours, festivals, conferences, etc.
During 2016-2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Academy for Diplomacy of Ukraine and the Kyiv Office of the Kennan Institute held three Forums on Cultural Diplomacy, in which different stakeholders, from local and national culture and civil society organizations to foreign and international institutions and foundations, took part discussing different aspects, challenges and methods of cultural diplomacy under modern conditions (https://kennankyiv.org/).
The Ukrainian Humanitarian Development Foundation (see chapter 3.2), jointly with the Kyiv Office of the Kennan Institute and the Institute for Social and Economic Research” (ISER), a non-governmental think-and-do tank, introduced the initiative “Diplomatic breakfast”. The first of such events was held on 5 April 2017, under the title “Humanitarian default as a thread to the national security of Ukraine” where diplomats from 12 countries and public activists participated.
International cultural agencies and institutes play a very important role in the Ukraine, by developing cultural dialogue and supporting Ukrainian artists through different projects. Besides artistic events (e.g. concerts, exhibitions, master classes, film weeks), the British Council, Goethe Institute, Swedish Institute, French Institute, European Cultural Foundation and the Polish Institute support linguistic, educational and culture business and arts management courses, organise cultural events and conferences, study tours and exchange visits.
In 2013, the Swedish Institute supported several initiatives in Ukraine related to traditional and modern art as well as improvement of cultural governance and development of intercultural dialogue. For example, one of the projects was initiated by the Development Centre "Democracy through Culture", city councils of Lutsk and Pavlograd (Ukraine) and the municipality of Botkyrka (Sweden) under the title "Breaking down stereotypes" and was aimed at discovery and collecting existing traditional stereotype images and perceptions in Ukrainian and Swedish communities which could be expressed further by means of art. In 2014, representatives of Pavlograd and Lutsk visited Botkyrka, taking part in workshops and cultural events and discussed possible common projects. In May 2016, representatives from Botkyrka visited Ukraine (Lutsk) realizing joint artistic projects (dance and film-making) - https://www.facebook.com/pg/breakingdownstereotypes/videos/?ref=page_internal.
The British Council/Ukraine launched the Programme “Creative Enterprise Ukraine” in 2015. Over two years, they have delivered 8 training sessions for 179 young entrepreneurs in 6 cities across the country. Participants come from business or startups in the following sectors: publishing, design, fashion, architecture, visual arts, music, theatre/dance, film, radio/TV, photography, video games, digital media, festival management, creative hubs, IT solutions for cultural/creative initiatives, crafts, etc. Supporting the development of Ukraine’s creative economy was one of the programme’s key objectives. Creative Enterprise Ukraine was designed for entrepreneurs at the very start of their business career. It was recommended that participants were either established entrepreneurs with no more than 2 years of experience, or people at a pre-trading stage, with a creative idea which they wish to turn into a business.
In 2016, the Ukrainian EFFE Hub was established at the Development Centre "Democracy through Culture". The EFFE project was launched in 2014 with the support of the European Parliament and European Commission. It is an initiative and brand of the European Festival Association (EFA), the umbrella organisation for cultural festivals across Europe and beyond. On 18 October 2016, the European Festivals Association (EFA) and the European Commission confirmed the next two editions of the EFFE Label and the EFFE Award for the years 2017-2020 in a contractual agreement. EFFE – Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe has received the support of the European Parliament for 3 years with an annual work plan and budget to be approved by the Parliament and the European Commission. The EFFE Hubs remain the core partners in this next phase of the EFFE Community. The aim therefore is to further develop the EFFE Community by renewing the existing or establishing new partnerships with an EFFE Hub in each of the 28 EU Member States and additionally, Norway, Iceland, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Israel (countries participating in the EU Creative Europe programme). In 2017, three Ukrainian festivals received the EFFE Label 2017–2 018 as ‘remarkable festivals’ in Europe GogolFEST (Kyiv), Faine Misto (Ternopil) and Yavoriv Fun (Yavoriv, Lviv region): (http://www.effe.eu/festivals?title=&date%5Bmin%5D%5Bdate%5D=&date%5Bmax%5D%5Bdate%5D=&country=537&genre=All&sort_by=field_festival_date_value&sort_order=ASC).
For the last ten years Gogolfest has been Kyiv's main outlet for contemporary and experimental arts. The EFFE jury said, “in a country with no tradition of contemporary culture... this festival has a huge impact on Ukrainian society. These festival makers are fearless and courageous. The companies who perform at the festival often cover the costs themselves. They perform because of the ethics of the festival.” Gogolfest includes, or is happy to include almost every genre of work that falls outside the mainstream, from circus to rock music to street theatre and performance art. “It's a kind of guerilla festival,” said the EFFE jury.
The impact of Gogolfest has not just been on the streets of Kyiv, however, or in the fact that it has provided a space for experimental work outside the still old fashioned state structures. Oleksandr Butsenko, who is a spokesman for EFFE's Ukrainian Festival hub, says Gogolfest has gained its importance because it has become a symbol of the country's energy in contemporary culture and is representing that to the world.
For those who have been part of the journey of Gogolfest's growth over the past decade, the importance has been even greater. Simon Mundy stated in this context for EFA: "Many of the artists and performers effectively started their careers in the festival as participants and then have gone on to start their own activity. Gogolfest is starting to have an effect all across Ukraine – not only directly but indirectly as well."
Last update: November, 2017
The Creative Europe Programme office was established in Ukraine in 2015 after the competition for the desk chief organized by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. During 2016-2017, the Ukrainian desk was funded from the ministerial budget distributing information about the programme and grant opportunities through numerous meetings and workshops in different cities and towns.
In 2015, the EU/Council of Europe project Community-led Urban Strategies in Historic Towns (COMUS) started in Ukraine, as well as in other Eastern Partnership countries, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Belarus. COMUS was implemented as part of the Eastern Partnership Programme for exploring and testing innovative planning models for small- and medium-sized historic towns capable of improving the quality of life and ensure sustainable social and economic development. Ukraine was represented in the project by three pilot towns (the largest number): Lutsk, Zhovkva and Pryluky. The project was realized in partnership with the Organisation of World Heritage Cities (http://pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/comus/home).
The EU project CHOICE – Cultural Heritage: Opportunity for Improving Civic Engagement – has been developed and implemented (2015–2017) in the four Eastern Partnership countries: Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. CHOICE is aimed at enhancing civil society’s role and building its capacities to develop a heritage-friendly living environment. A partner consortium was made up of the following entities: the Association of Local Democracy Agencies, ALDA (France); the International Non-Governmental Organisation EuroBelarus (Vilnius, Lithuania); the Centre for Cultural Management (Lviv, Ukraine); the National ICOM Committee (Chisinau, Moldova); the Educational Research Foundation Millennium (Yerevan, Armenia); and the Public Association Centre for Social Innovations (Minsk, Belarus).
In November 2017, the Third Summit of the Eastern Partnership Programme "Culture and Creativity" ("Culture II") Supervisory Board was held in Brussels, summarizing the achievements. As the first Vice Minister of Culture of Ukraine, S. Fomenko, stated, the programme became an important tool for developing cultural and creative industries in Ukraine. A set of projects and initiatives were realised within the frames of the programme, including the project "UNESCO Culture for Development Indicators" defining the interrelationship between culture and general development, sectoral findings of cultural management (http://mincult.kmu.gov.ua/control/uk/publish/article?art_id=245304524&cat_id=244913751). Culture for Development Indicators for Ukraine was an initiative by the European Union-Eastern Partnership Culture and Creativity Programme, funded by the European Union. The initiative is based upon UNESCO's Culture for Development Indicators methodology, which has been successfully implemented in many countries across the world. Implementation of the CDIS project in Ukraine began in March 2016 and ended in March 2017. It was realized by the Development Centre “Democracy through Culture” acting as the National Leading Partner.
Ukraine became a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on 12 May 1954. Ukraine's Permanent mission to UNESCO has operated since December 1962, with its headquarters in Paris. Ukraine has ratified UNESCO conventions concerning cultural heritage (architectural, underwater and intangible), diversity of cultural expressions. In 2014, Ukraine submitted to the Secretariat of UNESCO the regular report on implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions prepared by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Centre for Cultural Studies. It states, among others, the following:
For efficient implementation of the provisions of the Convention 2005, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine worked out and adopted an Action Plan for 2013-2014 which was approved by the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine on humanitarian issues. All stakeholders in culture were involved to develop this Action Plan and its implementation, such as local authorities, municipalities and civil society.
In 2015, Ukraine submitted to the Secretariat of UNESCO its Periodic Report on the Implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, presented in December 2016 at the 11th Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Addis Ababa. In 2017, Ukraine joined the Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe under the auspices of UNESCO in Sofia (Bulgaria), at the last session of the General Assembly. So far, there are 14 member states: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and Ukraine.
Last update: November, 2017
Professional co-operation is developed in five main ways:
- Cultural exchanges supported by international foundations and/or domestic donors and participation in cultural events, competitions or festivals. For example: A worldwide contemporary art festival GogolFest (http://www.gogolfest.org.ua/eng/news; see also chapter 1.4.2) or the International Poetry Festival Meridian Czernowitz (http://www.meridiancz.com/de/festival/), or the International Festival “Porto Franko” (http://portofrankofest.com/en/).
- Commercial projects: for example, Ukrainian Fashion Week (http://fashionweek.ua/en/).
- Days of culture, weeks of culture, months of culture or years of culture, when events with cultural professionals are organised by public bodies. For example: Year of Lithuania in Ukraine (2016) or Year of Japan in Ukraine (2017: http://dsk.kievcity.gov.ua/content/2017-rik-yaponii-v-ukraini.html).
- Cultural events between local communities within the framework of traditional programmes like town-twinning, cross-border co-operation, etc. For example, the annual International Literature and Arts Festival “Krolevetski Rushnyky” in the town of Krolevets (Sumy region) in 2017, with representatives from Poland’s Gmina Malbork and the Estonian region of Setomaa (https://www.facebook.com/Rushnyki/?hc_ref=ARTCWavhcG74oi_sFXnzjHDRIgM8nu-Ql1sCdD11GHRCuk6dBYHa8dONzSsw1Wp_d0Y).
- Art and culture residences, for example, Nad Bogom (Vinnytsia) - https://www.facebook.com/pg/nadbogom/about/?ref=page_internal.