On Saturday, visitors to the Lavra Art Gallery had the opportunity to learn about EU-funded projects in Ukraine, watch a film, and participate in workshops.
The Cultural Mosaic Art Open-Air is part of the European Union’s communication campaign “Together, We Create. Together, We Preserve”.
It also presented projects related to education and educational exchanges between countries, such as Erasmus, Euroquiz and House of Europe.
“The campaign aims to inform Ukrainians about EU support in the field of culture, as Ukrainian culture is part of the European cultural space,” said Nadiya Vertebna, Communications Coordinator at the European Union Delegation to Ukraine. “We aim to help Ukraine preserve and develop it.”
The visitors could attend the Creative Space, where they learned about handicrafts and the secrets of restoration. They also attended master classes on making postcards, weaving and knitting dolls, making jewellery, etc.
The topics of the workshops were related to EU-supported projects and were taught by the programme participants themselves.
For example, the master class “Secrets of Restoration” was organised by the Hryhorii Halahan Chernihiv Regional Art Museum, and “Knitted Doll and Folk Toy” was held by Natalia Svyrydiuk, founder of the OTOLOVKO Creative Hub (Poltava).
A master class on the potter’s wheel, “Magic Ceramics,” was held by Honoured Masters of Folk Art of Ukraine Ivan Reshta and Danylo Reshta (Yurii Bukhanchuk Museum of Fine Arts, Kmytiv, Zhytomyr region).
The Dukh i Litera Publishing House and children’s book illustrator Liliia Martyniuk presented Ukrainian printmaking.
“We are very proud to host such an event. It is not the first time our venue has hosted such projects. It is always open to national and international events,” said Tetiana Mironova, Director of the Lavra Art Gallery. “We also try to promote the exhibition of our artists’ works in European cities and cooperation with foreign artists.”
In the Cinema Hall, visitors watched contemporary documentaries produced or coproduced by Ukraine. In particular, Wounded Earth and The House Made of Splinters. After the screenings, they talked to the filmmakers and held discussions.
There was also the first public screening of one of the four films made by Ukrainians with the support of the EU as part of the “Together, We Create. Together, We Preserve” campaign – “Culture in Time of War. The West”.
On the Theatre Lawn, adults and children watched performances by the Ravlyk Puppet Theatre, and took improvisation and acting lessons run by the Na Varti Playback Theatre.
In the Kids’ Corner, children drew, danced and created an art wall. Also, everyone could send a postcard to the defenders of Ukraine.
As a reminder, the Lavra Art Gallery is hosting an exhibition called “The Same Words,” which showcases contemporary authors’ war art and raises funds for medical tourniquets for soldiers.
Oleksandra Plakina, “Evening Kyiv”, photo by the author.