Today, Ukraine is eight months out of the war, and the Ukrainian people have been fighting for their freedom and identity. Ukraine faces a battle to defend itself against an existential threat that seems set to blaspheme its culture.
The battle on the cultural front was at the heart of this year’s Sheffield DocFest. Because a documentary from Ukraine reveals the horrors of war. In one scene in eastern Ukraine, a boy is sitting reading in what used to be his home, looking for a place on earth that has turned into hell: the rubble and ruins of the ordinary. Around him, his world is broken, but he’s alive and trying to find meaning.
His story is one of many that have been released to the public for the first time during the British/Ukrainian Culture Season by the British Council and the Ukrainian Institute. These are stories of loss and trauma, but also stories of resilience, love, hope and courage. They depict cultural structures fueled by war.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UK and Ukraine, we have started preparing for the UK/Ukraine season in 2019. At the time, no one could have imagined that they would be supporting Ukrainians in their struggle for freedom of expression and the survival of their cultural independence and identity.
A now-destroyed Ukrainian mosaic projected on the wall of the former Royal Naval College building in Greenwich, London, as part of the British/Ukrainian cultural season Courtesy of the British Council
Against this background, the season acquires new significance as a means of responding to the changing needs and priorities of the Ukrainian cultural sector. It is not only a platform for UK and Ukrainian artists, cultural organizations and people to connect through various arts and cultural activities, and for building links between the two countries, but also for Ukrainian creatives to tell their stories and their values. It is also a great opportunity to claim identity on the international stage.
After the war, Ukrainian cultural identity took on new meaning as a symbol of resistance and a source of inspiration for Ukraine’s future. Ukraine’s cultural sector, for example, is integral to how the country rebuilds after the war by enabling people to process trauma, share common identities, and articulate shared experiences.
A strong foundation can be laid for the survival of Ukrainian culture as the war rages on. Providing resources and experts to preserve Ukrainian cultural heritage, non-profits using technology to preserve or digitize historical records, and creative organizations to tell stories of heritage and culture during and after the war. You can promote Ukrainian artists who share
As an organization founded in 1934 as a bulwark against fascism, the British Council’s role in building trust through cultural relationships has never been more important. Through art and culture, we continue to connect people across borders in both calm and turbulent times. We are ready to work with the entire British cultural sector to support and protect the Ukrainian cultural sector.
A threat to Ukrainian identity is a threat to all who believe in a free, fair and democratic world. This isn’t just a little boy sitting thousands of miles away trying to make his way through the ruins of his home. It’s about the shape of our collective future.
• Scott Macdonald is the Chief Executive Officer of the British Council
• British/Ukrainian Cultural Season Operates until March 2023
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