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Director General of the War Museum Yurii Savchuk and Chief Custodian Oksana Yankovenko participated in a two-day international conference entitled “From Crisis to Future: New Responsibilities for Museums in Ukraine” in Berlin (Germany).

The event was one of the most significant for Ukrainian museum employees since the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion. More than 180 institutions from Ukraine, Germany, and Poland gathered at the James-Simon-Gallery on Museum Island. The OBMIN Foundation organized the meeting to discuss the needs and role of Ukrainian museums in rebuilding the country.

“In 10 days, for the first time since the beginning of the full-scale invasion and for the first time in the third year of the war, the word “culture” will be heard at an international conference dedicated to the restoration of Ukraine. This marks a significant transformation, and I believe it is a major achievement for us,” said Anastasia Bondar, Deputy Minister for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitalization at the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.

The conference also discussed ways to increase international awareness of Ukrainian culture and to show support for Ukrainians. Museums aim to be involved in rebuilding Ukraine, acting as a platform for dialogue to strengthen civil society. Ensuring that museum spaces are accessible is a top priority.

Currently, Ukrainian museum employees have developed ten proposals to rebuild museum buildings damaged by the russians, resume work, and develop the entire industry.

“They will be presented by the OBMIN Foundation at the annual UNESCO conference in Vilnius on June 6-7 and included in the work of the Berlin conference on the restoration of Ukraine on June 11-12,” said Małgorzata Ławrowska - von Thadden, CEO of the OBMIN Foundation.

Let’s rebuild Ukraine together!