What challenges does the war pose to Ukrainian culture? How can key cultural institutions be preserved and developed in the new environment? What should be the state policy for the protection of cultural heritage? And how can cultural diplomacy counter Russian narratives? These questions were answered by the speakers and guests of the discussion panel "Culture as one of the tools of our victory" held as part of the joint project of LB.ua and EFI Group New Country.
Speakers of the discussion:
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Mykola Tochytskyy, Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications;
Mykola Tochytskyy
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Olena Kovalska, Deputy Head of the President's Office;
Olena Kovalska
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Maksym Holenko, Acting General Director-Artistic Director of the National Theatre named after Mariya Zankovetska;
Maksym Holenko
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Nataliya Kryvda, Professor of KNU named after T. G. Shevchenko, Head of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation;
Nataliya Kryvda
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Ihor Liski, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the investment company EFI Group;
Ihor Liski
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Cultural figures, representatives of the public sector, MPs, etc…
"Ukrainian culture and identity are a phenomenal thing. And not only the territory, but, first of all, our identity has become an object of aggression. Putin believed that somewhere in his delusions and constructions of history that he told us that someone created Ukraine, Ukrainian identity. In fact, the Russian army has become convinced that Ukraine is a real phenomenon, a part of European culture," said Mykola Tochytskyy, Minister of Culture, during a discussion on New Country.
And among the ministry's tasks is to clearly communicate that this phenomenon is part of the great European culture, and we are one of those who created a great democratic Europe, to spread it around the world with the help of partners, the minister stressed.
Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Olena Kovalska noted the "new quality of cultural diplomacy" with the start of the full-scale invasion.
"The international direction, the cultural direction, is a powerful weapon. And it is not the Ministry of Culture that should learn diplomacy, but diplomats should teach the Ministry of Culture how to work," said the OP representative.
Nataliya Kryvda, director of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, emphasised the need for synergy between government efforts, partners and businesses in the development of Ukrainian cultural products.
"Our foreign partners say: we are ready to help, but we want to see the goodwill of the state. The state must invest in its culture. In order to promote Ukraine abroad, we need to produce this product here. To produce a product, to objectify it, to engage in the objectification of values, meanings, the formation of texts, cultural events, etc. And the state cannot say, "I'm not investing in this.”
Because, in the end, it pains me to say this, but the war is going on in the highest sense - for the existence of us as a nation, a European nation, as a culture," the professor said.
According to Maksym Holenko, the director of the Mariya Zankovetska National Theatre, today Ukrainians are discovering "incredible layers of Ukrainian culture and the shot revival". In fact, the conventional new Ukrainian theatre educates the audience and is a way of energising the war.
"Theatre is alive, and the audience comes for it. Additionally, this space has begun to open up in a new way, to carry a new meaning. And we have learnt to talk about it. People really needed this during the war. They really work through their traumas. And if it is done in an adequate form, it is perceived," the director said.
Culture should help Ukraine win the fight for the minds of Ukrainians for the first time, says businessman Ihor Liski, by constantly reminding us what we are fighting for.
"This can only be done by culture or, excuse me, propaganda or strategic communications, as we call them. ...If our soldiers do not understand why they are paying with their blood, because words just don't work anymore, money just doesn't work.
On the one hand, it's much easier for us: we are fighting for the truth, for the country, for the future, but it needs to be tied very strongly to the largest possible number of people, Ukrainians," Liski said.
Expect full speeches of the speakers on LB.ua soon.