From 6-7 June, the International Conference ‘Towards the Recovery of the Culture Sector of Ukraine’ was held in Vilnius, hosted by the Lithuanian government and UNESCO. The conference concluded with the symbolic “Vilnius Call for Action”, endorsed by 30 countries to support Ukraine’s cultural sector, which has suffered over €10 billion in losses and damages according to the World Bank. The conference published a strategic action plan and outlined priority cooperation areas identified by the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture. These can be useful reference points for planning projects in the Ukrainian cultural sector and include securing museum exhibits, revitalising the National Research and Restoration Centre of Ukraine, launching educational programmes for restorers, and creating shelters in art spaces.
At the Berlin Recovery Conference from 11-12 June a separate panel was dedicated to culture for the first time in three wartime recovery conferences. Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Culture, Anastasia Bondar, advocated for 20% of recovery funds to be allocated to human capital development, including culture. “Culture should not compete with other sectors, but should take its rightful place,” she stated.
On 25 June in Luxembourg, just days before the Hungarian Presidency began, the EU officially opened accession negotiations with Ukraine. The negotiating framework emphasises the continuation of civil society dialogue and cultural cooperation between the EU and Ukraine. This development is timely, as the Media strand of Creative Europe has recently become accessible to Ukraine following the harmonisation of its legislation with the Audiovisual Media Services Directive.
