In Vilnius, the international community will discuss the recovery of Ukraine’s cultural sector
On 7 June, the international conference Towards the recovery of the culture sector of Ukraine will be held in Vilnius. The conference is being organised by Lithuania in cooperation with Ukraine and UNESCO.
The objectives of the conference are to increase awareness of the impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine’s cultural sector, highlight the importance of culture to the country’s recovery, and consolidate international support for Ukraine’s stabilisation and recovery from the war’s consequences, including immediate assistance for specific cultural areas and the Ukrainian regions that have suffered the most.
“We have never doubted that Ukraine is a full-fledged part of European civilisation. Seeing the widening gap between two civilisations on the battlefield in Ukraine, along with all the security and military matters, we also have to ensure the continued cultivation of culture in Ukraine. Cultivating culture in wartime and afterwards will contribute not only to solidifying the identity of the Ukrainian people itself, but also to opportunities for Ukrainians to return to an ordinary rhythm of life and put at least some distance between themselves and the terrible experiences of the recent past,” says Giedrė Balčytytė, Chancellor of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
“It is very important for the international community to agree and foresee the appropriate place for recovery of Ukraine’s cultural sector in the general process of the country’s stabilisation, recovery, and rebuilding. It is also essential to discuss possible tools for attracting international donors. We are seeking to mobilise the international community’s attention and efforts to restore Ukraine’s cultural sector, so devastated by Russia’s aggression. Culture is already recognised as one axis of sustainable development, and its importance in ensuring society’s resilience is unquestionable,” says Minister of Culture Simonas Kairys.
The conference will bring together up to 200 participants from various countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Germany, Japan, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and others) in support of war-torn Ukraine, including government representatives, ministers of culture, representatives of international and non-governmental organisations, and experts. Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone Ramirez as well as high-ranking representatives of other international organisations and countries plan to participate in the event.
Topics to be discussed at the conference include the harm done by Russia’s war to Ukraine’s cultural sector, the most important needs, specific joint actions to be taken by countries and organisations, and commitments to the recovery of Ukraine’s culture.
The planned outcomes of this conference include an updated document prepared by UNESCO and international experts, Action Plan for Culture in Ukraine, and a concluding document for the conference prepared by the ministries of culture of Lithuania and Ukraine, Vilnius Call for Action on the Recovery of the Culture Sector of Ukraine.
The outcomes of the Vilnius conference will be presented at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, to be held in Berlin on 11–12 June.
To register media representatives for the conference: https://conference.unesco.lt/media-registration/
To learn more about UNESCO support for Ukraine: https://www.unesco.org/en/ukraine-war
Photograph courtesy of Yuliia Mashuta
Last updated: 17-01-2025