Mykola Tochytskyy, Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications, said that every 5th cultural figure who travels abroad with permission from the Ministry of Culture does not return. He spoke about this during a discussion by the New Country project of LB.ua and EFI Group entitled "Ukrainian culture as one of the main tools of our victory".
"In recent years, a framework should have been created to allow artists to travel abroad. But it doesn't exist. Every day I have to review 100 applications for travel, most of these names I do not know, and I have to spend time searching for information. I also have to note that out of 5 people who have left, 1 does not return," the minister said.
Tochytskyy also stressed that on the way to the EU, we will have to adopt and implement many necessary changes. In particular, special attention should be paid to the issue of heritage preservation. "Even now, both UNESCO and the EU have a lot of claims against us regarding the protection of our cultural heritage," the minister said. "Without implementing UNESCO's directives on the protection of cultural heritage, we will not see the EU. He also said that he does not support the idea of decentralisation and the transfer of issues related to the preservation of heritage sites, the definition of buffer zones, etc. to the local level.
During the discussion, the minister noted that each area of culture needs a separate strategy - theatres, art, libraries, etc. - and assured that the ministry is working on this and will be ready to present five strategies in March 2025.
- In September, Mykola Tochytskyy, a career diplomat, became the head of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications. Previously, it was called the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy.